A Portrait of a Typical Fourth Grade Class

America is truly a mix of all kinds of people and what better place to see that mixture than in an American classroom. Our students come from all walks of life. Please take the time to get to know this classroom full of fourth graders. The details are true, but student names have been changed.

Meet Scott. He is a cute, blond headed boy that comes from a well structured family. He has stability in his life and rarely misses a day of school. He really doesn't like school, though. This is reflected in his work and his refusal to read books. His mother bribes him with various things in order to try to get some effort and work out of him.

Here comes Aaron. He is small for his age, but it doesn't seem to bother him much. He is very quiet and is smarter than average. He probably deserves to be in the gifted and talented program, but for some reason has been passed over. He also has a good home life and comes to school most days. He is very easily influenced, though, and if not watched carefully, may stray from his good study habits as he gets older.

Then there is John. He is also small for his age, but it does bother him. He acts out trying to be tougher than what he really is. He comes from a violent and broken home. His dad lives a few hours away and he hardly ever goes to see him. When he does, he complains about how mean his dad is. He talks about how his dad hits him and how he hits back. (Yes, the counselor knows.) He has no respect for his mom, who worries more about herself and her current boyfriend than for her children. John is on ADHD medication and is in Special Education classes.

Along comes Carrie. She is quiet, but don't turn your back, she's sneaky. She's been labeled by the past teachers as a "sticky finger". She usually comes in to class with her hair wild and unruly. She is always sleepy and never has her homework completed. She has older sisters who have influenced her to start wearing heavy, black eyeliner. She has a rude attitude and seems to have too much "street smarts".

Poor Donnie. No one likes him because he has some pretty gross habits. He is in Special Education classes, although he is smart when he wants to be. He tends to be very lazy. He's been known to wear the same clothes to school for three days in a row - without them being washed. He doesn't function well in society and could very well be autistic, but his parents refuse to have him tested. They encourage his laziness by telling him he doesn't have to do his homework. He is allowed to stay up as late as he wants to during the week and boasts of eating Little Debbie's and candy bars for dinner. Last year his older sister passed away from heart complications. She had never been able to attend public school because of her severe disabilities. Donnie is very distant about his sister and rarely mentions her. He is a constant disruption in class and has had so many visits to the office that the principal now says to just ignore him and let him do "whatever". Donnie is a child that has fallen between the cracks of the system and will probably never find the help he needs.

Lyn is our new student. She takes medicine for ADHD and is a very sweet little girl. Not much is known about her family history just yet. She comes in very sleepy most mornings and is very easily distracted. Drawing is her passion. She draws her heart out while ignoring the lessons of the day.

Introducing Patty. She is smart and does well in school with just a little effort. As the year passes, she has let her friends have more of an influence on her, though. She is beginning to talk more in class and plays with paper all of the time. Her favorite past time is to fold the paper up into shapes. She also comes from a divorced home and has her life split between her two parents. Luckily, they both live in the same area and work hard to make the situation work for the children.

What about Joe? He is a cute kid with captivating eyes. He is more charming than responsible, though. He forgets his homework all of the time. He could have straight A's, but since he never turns his work in, his grades are just not up there. He also comes from a broken home. He chooses to not talk about it very much.

Here's Alana. This poor girl is so lost. She is in her own world entirely. She was in gifted and talented for a while, but it was soon discovered that she really didn't belong. She couldn't keep up with all of her regular classwork plus the gt work. She hardly ever speaks to anyone. She is very withdrawn and usually arrives at school with her hair uncombed and her homework never complete.

Hello, Ricky! This guy is an absolute doll - at first. He is witty, charming, and smart. But, watch out! He will take advantage if your back is turned. He is lazy and rebellious and is one of the boys in the class that tends to influence the other boys. It's not always influencing in a good way, either. He can't sit still. Every day he tips his chair back up on two legs. Many times he falls over backwards. Luckily, he's never been hurt, but that day may come if he's not careful.

Sue in the shadows is next. She has an older sister in sixth grade that she gets compared to. She is a good sport about it and just shrugs it off. She is smart, friendly and helpful. She can get a little talkative, though. She's a book worm! It seems like she can never get enough reading in. She comes from a broken home, as well, but it doesn't seem to affect her in a bad way. She and her sister live with their father and step-mom while their mother lives in another state. They get to see her on some long weekends and holidays. For the situation to be as it is, Sue is a very well - rounded student and very level - headed.

Okay, Kay. She is very low, but not in Special Education classes. She is easily distracted and very lazy. All she really cares about is coloring and Justin Beiber. Her parents are divorced and she hardly ever sees her dad. She lives with her mom and her boyfriend. Sometimes Kay acts as if she's seen a little too much at home. She's too mature in some ways and too immature in others.

Lovely Lyann. She is quiet and smart and, like so many of them, easily influenced by the wrong people. Dad isn't in the picture. Mom is there, but Grandma has done most of the parental duties. She has an older brother that many people know, but luckily, she's not compared to him like some students are to their siblings.

Singing Leigh. She is in choir and has good grades. She loves the girly stuff and sometimes plays a little too much in class. She wants to read and do what she's supposed to do, but when that influential friend starts talking and giggling to her, Leigh just can't resist. She often forgets her homework and sometimes she acts like she cares and sometimes she doesn't.

Trouble maker Emma. This girl comes from a family of trouble makers. Always mischievous and stirring up something. She has older brothers that have taught her terrible things and she passes them along to her friends. She doesn't care about her grades and her parents don't, either. All that really matters is how much fun she can have.

Confused Lisa. She is just as sweet and cute as can be, but is just lost as a goose. She is in Special Education classes, but she still struggles with her comprehension. She has no idea who her father is and her mother is usually too busy working to pay attention to her. Her grandmother takes care of her most of the time. When Lisa does do her work, she is as slow as a snail. This sweetie is never in a rush to do anything. She is used to her grandmother doing a lot for her. She tends to do her homework a lot for her. Her grandmother doesn't even try to hide the fact that it's her writing on the work and not Lisa's. She's given up on her and just chooses to do the work for her.

Mild Michelle. This young lady is also in Special Education classes. She is very quiet and slow. When she does open up to talk, though, she knows more than she lets on. She can answer questions and listens very well, even if it appears she can't. It's knowing how to get it out of her that is the magic key. She likes a lot of one on one and responds very well to it. She often comes to school in dirty clothes and a very disheveled look. She seems to be shoved aside at home by her parents and just overlooked.

Funny Felicia. She is Hispanic. In her earlier school years, she was tested for Special Education, although she probably just needs some extra ESL help. She is another student that functions great in a one on one setting. Once something is explained to her, she usually understands it. She gets very angry when the other students are acting up and disrupting. She wants her education, but is just struggling right now to get it. She cracks a lot of funny jokes and likes to make others laugh. She's a good hearted student to have around.

Baby Danny. This young man is something else. He is very low socially and is in Special Education classes. If he will pay attention, though, he can answer questions and participate in class. He can take vocabulary words and create fantastic sentences with them. His problem is his maturity. He acts just like a two year old. He talks baby talk (remember this is fourth grade) and cries and throws tantrums just like a two year old does. His parents are older, in their 50's, so that may have something to do with his behavior.

Cute Cameron. This is just your average male student. He is adorable and sweet and has a big heart. He hardly ever causes any problems. He's athletic and willing to please. He has a tendency to make people smile, which is much needed in this world.

Jumping Jax. Jax can be a sweet, cute kid, too. But he needs to be on his medicine. He takes ADHD medicine to keep him under control. He is overly talkative and forgets his manners by shouting out in class. He recently lost his grandfather and he has acted out more since then. He seems to need an outlet for his emotions and he sometimes can't find the right one at school.

Jolly Lena. How this girl can be so happy is a mystery. She does not know her father and lives with her mother and grandmother. Her life always seems to be in a turmoil caused by some relative. She talks about the Sheriff's Department being called out to her aunt's house when her uncle threatened to shoot her. Apparently, there was a stand off, but no one ended up getting hurt. It clearly affected her, though. She said she was so scared she hid under her bed. Lena is a large girl and some of the kids tease her, but most of the time she doesn't let it get to her. She has obvious insecurities, though. She carries a bag to school full of her favorite stuffed animals. They seem to serve as a security blanket for her. With her life the way it is, it is no surprise that she misses a lot of school and hardly ever gets her work done.

Rebellious Jasey. This young man should appreciate what he has and for whatever reason he doesn't. He is in the Gifted and Talented program and is very smart, but is a very rude, disrespectful child. He never does what he is supposed to do and gets worse when forced to work or do as he is told to do. He is very smart, but just refuses to use it in the way it should be used. Jasey is one of the class leaders and helps to create chaos every day.

Dangerous Gus. He is Jasey's partner in crime. While he is not as smart and is not in GT, he is a ring leader. He has a strong influence on the boys and the girls. The boys all want to be "cool" like Gus and the girls all want to be around him. He is obviously already a womanizer just by the way he acts and talks. He is rude and disrespectful and getting in trouble doesn't bother him at all. He rarely works. He prefers to just talk and be disruptive. His parents don't help. He is the perfect example of "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".

Quiet Doyle. This guy misses a ton of school. Letters have been sent home and no response is ever given. He is allowed to stay up late on school nights. Rarely does he ever have his homework completed. He is always sleepy in class and never wants to participate or work. He could be a smart boy, but with all the absences, it's hard to tell what his true potential is.

Finally Bo. He is super hyper every day. It is very hard for him to stay in his seat. He is eager to learn and always wants to please, but just has so much energy that it spills over. He is in everyone's business. A conversation could be taking place across the room and Bo will shout out to join in on it. He is a sweet child, just a busy body. His conduct grade was very low earlier in the year and once his parents dealt with him, he's been better. But, he still has a long way to go.

I hope this shows you just a glimpse of what a teacher deals with when it comes to the students. I only pointed out the race of the Hispanic girl because of how I think it is affecting her in class. The other students are white or a mixed race. I don't feel their races affect their behaviors, although, in past classes, I have seen race play a larger role.

If I had one wish as a teacher, it would be that I wish parents understood how they affect their children. What they say at home gets said at school. Their beliefs, what they respect and don't respect reflect in their children. If you want to know a parent, observe and get to know their children. Our children are our own mirror image.