All the Drama

Iris seemed fine as she entered class. She wore a t-shirt with "Baby Girl" emblazoned on the front. And she was talking and joking with her classmates.

The class: seventh grade science. I did my intro and got the class started. Then someone asked to use the restroom.

When that girl came back, she didn't go right back to her desk. She hovered at Iris'. (Iris' desk was next to the door.) When I went to shoo her back, she informed me that Iris was crying.

Whenever I'm crying, the last thing I want is "sympathy"...

(I'm not heartless. I offered to let Iris go see her counselor or even just to sit outside. She said no and left her head on her desk.)

Another girl from across the room when to "help" Iris. I overheard something about a boy and "finding out on [her] own". I shooed girl two away.

Not five minutes later, Iris and the girl seated next her her are happily sharing a set of earbuds and discussing the music on one of their phones...

Okay, fine. If she's no longer sad, she can get to work, right? I made sure she had what she needed, and she did indeed get started.

But, she hadn't made much progress by the end of the period, when the assignment was due.

Seventh graders... Typical.