Assessment Journal #3

(TS) This was my third visit to the Boys and Girls Club, and I learned a few new things about the kids and a few things I didn’t know I could do. (SD) I expected this visit to be similar to my other ones, but it turned out there was a lot of unfamiliar territory I hadn’t yet discovered. (CM) As usual, the kids all greeted me yelling, “Hi Mr. Austin!”, so I expected them to act like they had the last few visits: polite and somewhat well behaved. (CM) The older kids met both of these standards, but when I went into the music room to work with the little kids, who are in first grade through third grade, I was shocked at how noisy and spastic they were. (SD) Because of this poor behavior, they had trouble sitting down, staying down, and keeping quiet, making this the moment I learned something new. (CM) At this time, the adult counselors and a couple of my classmates, who are also helping the Boys and Girls Club, were trying to get the children to settle down but were having trouble with this, so I decided to help. (CM) The boys were being the most disruptive and continuing to talk, so when I told them to be quiet a couple times, they listened. It took me a minute but I learned that the other counselors were female so the boys had trouble listening to them, but since I’m a boy too they didn’t mind listening to me. (SD) However, this one boy in particular had become too fond of me to the point that he didn’t take me seriously. (CM) When it’s not time to sit down and pay attention, this boy is amusing and fun to hang out with, but when the counselors want everyone to be quiet he just doesn’t listen. (CM) Surprisingly, I wasn’t mad or frustrated with him, and that is when I learned I had a high tolerance for children in general because I’ve never been aggravated at any of them. (CS) Every time I visit I gain a new experience and learn at least one new thing, so I wonder what there will be in store for me next time.