Witnessing the becoming of a student

I have met many beloved and interesting characters working with special needs students. There was the child who insisted I call him by his initials because they spelled out a famous internet provider. And there was the 7th grade boy who named my stress-induced acne after himself. As his homeroom teacher, I was responsible for dealing with his actions and their consequences. He would come to class looking for new signs of his bad decisions making, and promised to make better choices to help clear up my zits or “Ross’s.” But today, I had a student truly warm my heart. I have been working with this child for two years in different capacities, but always knowing he could achieve more than he thought he was capable of doing. Today, he came to school in the midst of royal wedding fever and stated, “Mrs. Calamari, I think I am here both physically and mentally today!” He had finally learned what I already knew. Even though he is ADHD and dyslexic, he has a brain that might work in mysterious ways, but it does work and works well. Yes, this comes towards the close of the year, but it is the pinnacle moment of his months of hard work, determination and motivation. He came to school feeling like the student he had worked to become. Along the way, he has learned how to read, write, and self advocate. 

About the author: Josie Calamari teaches 6th grade dyslexics at The Schenck School.