Ivonne Cruz

My observation about a difficult child

Working with children who challenge teacher skills

HD 426

Pacific Oak College

May 11, 2015

Ivonne Cruz My observation about a difficult child 1

Just a few months ago, I had in my preschool class a very challenging behavior child by the

name of Ricardo. Ricardo is a four year old boy, whose first three years of his life was in foster

care. His parents were both drug addicts and were both incarcerated due to robbery and other

felonies. Just recently his mother was able to obtain his custody and moved in with her other

three children to her mothers and brothers apartment.

The minute Ricardo walked into our classroom, I knew this child was going to be a very

challenging student. He would push open the classroom door and start running outside. He

would purposely destroy other childrens block structures that they would be building during

exploratory time. He would grab hold of the childrens scissors and would threaten to cut their

hair. He would throw tantrums and would tend to hit his peers or staff members. Ricardo was a

hazard to our class. He always needed to be shadowed by one of the staff members.

On one occasion, during learning centers he was throwing on the floor the geometric plastic

shapes that he and other students were working with. My assistant had asked him to please pick

them up. He threw himself under the table and would refuse to get up or to even pick up the

pieces he had dropped. Then my assistant managed to ask him to sit on a chair due to his bad

behavior and for not following the class rules. The minute I approached him, he launched at me

and started to throw punches at me. I tried blocking them and he even tried to bite me. He was

out of control. As a result both of my arms were red and bruised up. All 20 children were

present and both of my assistants as well, were witnessing his behavior. I asked one of my

assistants to please take him outdoors so he could relax and become less active. This incident
Ivonne Cruz My observation about a difficult child 2

made me very angry at myself, because I knew I had never been trained to deal with this type of

behaviors. I felt hurt not only physically but also emotionally. I became fearful of this child. I

had to make a written report at the office and was asked to go to the hospital under Workers

compensation to be checked and be treated within the 24 hours of the incident. I had to

immediately talk to the childs uncle who picked him up and inform him of the situation. Then I

had to report it to my supervisor, who in return asked for this child to be transferred to another

preschool classroom which was located across from our classroom. He was transferred the next

day. I felt that this incident was not handled properly. Me and Ricardo had grown an attachment

and a great bonding. He started to be liked and be accepted by his classmates. I felt that this

action made look like a failure.

I was asked to provide all the anecdotal and notes of all incidents that Ricardo had incurred in

our classroom. Ricardo had been observed by our school psychologists and other professionals

in this matter. He also needed assistance with his speech. I personally cried when Ricardo was

transferred to the other classroom. Yes, there was more peace and tranquility, as well as more

safety in the environment, but I had preferred to continue working with Ricardo and showing

him that we loved him and wanted to help him out.