I was teaching today when the head came to my class. “May I speak with you for a minute?” I wanted to say no. I have way too much stuff to do to talk, but I know that she's interrupting class, so it must be important.

It turns out my sixth grade son has become frustrated in his new history class and is walking around crying and refusing to listen to either the teacher or the head of the school. There are 15 minutes left of my class and I am trying to at least finish chapter one of The Red Badge of Courage. M- is not interested in talking to me either.

I tell him to sit down in the waiting area chair, to be quiet, and to wait for me.

As soon as class is over, I go to find him.

He is in the history room. His teacher is attempting to give him one-on-one instruction for the work which he walked out on. He's still not listening. He's muttering under his breath. He's making faces.

Finally, I escort him from the room and take him to a small nearby room. I tell him what I “feel like” doing, since he says he doesn't “feel like listening” and doesn't “feel like” being helped. I don't do those things. Then I go into the history classroom and get the instructions for the work he missed.

I do not know what to do. When he's with me he's never stuck his fingers in his ears, not listened, made faces, and been rude. Okay, maybe one of those things. But never all of them at the same time. I just don't know what to do to keep him from going off again.

He's on no electronics of any kind for the day.

He's having to do his homework with me next to him.

So far that and a lecture is it.