Today was Graduation Day for one of my classes. As usual, every student has to come up front and say the three rules of magic. I have NEVER had a student who could not pass this test. If they forget a rule they go sit down and listen to another student come up and give the rules. Then they can come back up and try again. I DO try to get the younger ones up early so if they have a problem we find out early enough so they have a chance to listen to others.
Well, today I had TWO students with serious problems remembering the rules. One was my special ed student that has an adult helper in the room at all times. This was expected but I knew she would be able to do it eventually. She couldn't do it the first time up. But she wasn't the first one that had to sit down to try again. So she didn't feel shame or embarrassment that she might have if she was the first to have to sit down and try again. She had a little trouble remembering the second time up but did get it and I think she felt proud that she could do it. I didn't want her to let herself fail so I didn't let her off the hook and waited as she struggled through it.
The second student was way out there. He would go off on long dissertations such as putting things in boxes to make them disappear. How that had anything to do with a rule of magic was beyond me. This was headed for trouble as the students were highly entertained by his ramblings. And he wasn't doing it for laughs or being a clown. He seemed taken aback that the class laughed at his rule musings. After the second attempt I had an older student coach him while waiting to try again. This idea worked and he received his wand. I think this kid is headed for a complete breakdown of his social skills at some point in his life OR he will find a creative niche somewhere and become fabulously wealthy.