The Lucky Hat – Students with special needs keep our hearts
by Janie Haugen-McLane, Co-Founder PCI Education
(Second in a Series: 20+ Years Building PCI Education)
There will always be certain students whom you remember fondly. For me, the first was Russell M. in my classroom in Houston, Texas, 1987. In order to save money (in a tough economy), a teacher who resigned from the campus… “adults with special needs,” was not replaced.
All the teachers had to draw names from a hat to get four new students. I had only been there a few weeks and didn’t know any students other than the ones in my classroom. I drew the name, Russell M. and was quite surprised when a long-term teacher looked at me and with wide-eyes exclaimed, “Whew, I’m glad I didn’t get him.” That was a little scary to say the least.
I was nervous the next morning anxious to see my students when the door opened wide and they blew in. One student stopped dead still, looked over at me, and said, “A princess!” Here was this tall, early 30ish handsome man with an impish grin from ear to ear. He held out a hand to shake and said with the slightest lisp, “I’m Russell. You are pretty.”
We were crazy about each other right from the start. In fact, he became a little too infatuated with me so I had my big, burly husband, Jeff, come visit the classroom and Russell “fell” for him too! While on business trips, Jeff began sending Russell postcards from all over the country—it was the perfect win-win solution. After each trip, Russell would ask my husband if he saw any “grrrrs,” their secret word for pretty girls and when not out of town Jeff would often take off work early to come visit with Russell – some time for man talk.
In March of that year, Jeff sent a bunch of daffodils, King Alfreds, for my birthday. I told Russell that since I was a little girl, I had called them Buttercups because yellow was my favorite color… he never forgot that conversation. Even years later, Russell would talk to me or write me and mention my favorite flowers. Of course, he always called them Buttercups. How I loved him, his mischievous almost shy smile, and his entertaining stories.
I met Russell’s parents and we all became friends. When my husband decided to start a bio-tech company in San Antonio in 1988, the hardest part was leaving Russell and the other students in my class. We all cried and Russell said, “I’ll be over to see you, don’t you worry.”
And you know what? His family did come to San Antonio in their motor-home and we had a wonderful time. Russell is one of the bright lights in my life.
I thank God everyday for allowing me the honor of drawing Russell’s name from that hat. It turned out to be my lucky hat. Sometimes things just fall into place, and Russell fell into the center of my heart. I miss him greatly!
Question of the Week: Who was that first student who stole your heart and made you love teaching? Please use the first name and last initial for privacy reasons. PCI and I would love to hear your experience.
Come on board with PCI and blog your story to the world.
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Janie McLane Co-Founder PCI Education
Janie McLane Co-Founder PCI Education
Janie Haugen-McLane, creator of PCI’s flagship product, the best-selling Life Skills Programs, Series I and II, draws on her years of teaching to develop real-world, innovative educational products. She has conceived of and developed more than 95% of PCI’s proprietary products and has attracted a number of nationally recognized authors to PCI.
There wasn’t a comment form on the post below, so I’ll write my message here:
1) Janie, I love you.
2) You look exactly the same as you did “back in the day,” just with shorter hair.
3) It’s amazing how our lives twist and turn as we take those steps through side doors. I’m so glad to know you, Janie.
Wow, Leslie. That was a powerful story and a great reminder to let children read what interests them and not force “classics” on them. I hate to think that learning would stop when educating begins. But sometimes I see that glazed-over look in Kaya’s eyes. So I know it’s time to take a step back and evaluate what we’re doing and why.
Janie, you’ve got me grinning from ear to ear as I read about Russell. What a beautiful description of your relationship.
The first student who stole my heart was my oldest daughter, Kaya. (We homeschool.) Packed with energy and personality, she let me know by the time she was two that we would have our work cut out for us. Most of our educational endeavors are an uphill battle. But in those moments when she forgets that we’re “doing school” and just enjoys learning (during science and the arts, typically), my heart melts. At these times, I am reassured that we’re doing the right thing by teaching her at home. I truly believe that I am her greatest advocate and educator. I think I am creating the best learning environment for her by simply taking it one day at a time, being flexible, and teaching based on her needs and not my plans.
Thanks for the notice, Denise.
What a great story, Janie! I love that you and your husband both connected with Russell. Clearly you made a huge difference in his life!
The first student to steal my heart was named Anthony. He was in my 8th grade reading class, and he read significantly below grade level. Part of our class time was spent in a reading workshop, where students were able to choose their own book and read from that book for 15-20 minutes every day for sustained silent reading. I had a classroom with a library full of books for students to choose from, plus there was the school library, too. There really was something for everyone to read. Everyone, that is, except Anthony.
Anthony would spend his reading time pretending to look through the books. He never found one he was interested, and thus he was able to deftly avoid sustained silent reading. Once I figured out his ploy, we went to the library. Alas, there was not a single book in the library that was appealing to Anthony.
Finally, I said, tell me what you want to read, and I’ll get you the book. He looked at me, full of doubt. “You’re not going to get me a book,” he said. “Oh yes I am!” I told him. He wanted some time to think this over, so we agreed to talk the next time we had class.
Anthony walked in the next day with a huge smile on his face. “I know what I want to read about,” he grinned. “Serial killers.” I’m quite sure he expected me to balk, tell him no, change the deal, but I didn’t. I wished he had been interested in something a little more mainstream and a little less violent, but I wanted him to read. So a serial killer book was it.
I showed up the next day with a book I’d picked out for him. It fit Anthony’s request and therefore was fully Anthony approved. And although the book was a bit challenging for him, it was a book he could pick up every day and read…and enjoy reading.
I eventually found out it was the first book Anthony ever owned. And I knew in my heart I’d made a difference with Anthony. I’d given him a kind of gift he’d never befor received in that book, and more importantly, I’d given him a precious gift in learning to enjoy reading. I hope he’s still reading today, even if it is about serial killers…