By Rivka Cook
“David is escalating,” the office announced through my classroom intercom, just as I was about to get started on my lunch.
“Okay,” I replied, reluctantly leaving my turkey sandwich behind. “I’m on my way.”
David, to put it simply, was a difficult student. He could be aggressive, defiant, and lacking in empathy for his classmates. David had been suspended six times in the three years he had been at our school, and the first few months of fourth grade had been rough for both of us.
I knew if we were going to make it through the year, I’d need to focus on building our relationship. So, I had jumped in wholeheartedly, putting in a lot of effort. After six weeks, I’d thought things were finally improving. Until today.
Rivka Cook is currently working on her PhD in Education and has been in the field for over 17 years.
