Why "Little Tina" Touched My Heart!!!!

Being a educator in the early childhood field has so many perks: The young age group, the fun curriculum, listening to their stories and simply seeing them develop day by day. During my student teaching experience, I formed so many long lasting relationships with my students and their parents. There was one student that continues to hold a special place in my heart and I'm going to call her "Tina". "Tina" had a learning disability. She would meet with her intervention teacher once a week and my cooperating teacher would have to write up an IEP, Individualized Education Plan, to keep her on track. "Tina" was very involved with her center time activities and had great interaction with her classmates. Although she wasn't on their learning level, she had the will power to succeed just as they did. Sometimes, "Tina" would also try to use a learning disability to her advantage in certain way of speaking. My cooperating teacher and teacher assistant would ask "Tina" to sit down, clean up, or stop talking and she would not listen. They had a rough time dealing with her behavior. One day, "Tina" and I had a little talk about her behavior. She loved being up under me and expressing herself so our conversation went well. I explained to her that big girls are nice in class and do what their teachers tell them to do." I asked her if she thought that she was being a big girl and she said nodded yes." I told her that she wasn't and that she needs to show Ms. Faison better." She started to cry. I consoled her and told her that it was ok. I want to see her do better because I care. As I held her on my lap, I wiped her tears and told her to go play." From that day, her behavior started changing for the better. Yes, she still had her little moments but then didn't compare to her past behavior. I knew that "Tina" was special and that she was going to go somewhere in life as she grows up. It was something about how she called my name, how she loved being up under me, how she listened to me when I told her to do something and just her smile. I miss my little "Tina" and hope that she is doing well!!!!