Richard: Welcome, Ricky-Dude!

Reflecting back on my favorite teachers in grade school, I realize that most of them had class pets. Somehow, those teachers just seemed more fun and I actually looked forward to being in their classes.

So I decided to get a class pet of my own. I felt that the responsibility of daily feeding, plus the potential for fostering the pet over breaks, would be a great way to help my students with EBD grow, mature, and increase their positive behaviors. I also knew they would love the opportunity to play with something other than a board game (LIFE is an amazing game to reward students’ work on reading and basic computation skills, by the way!).

During our fall break, I purchased a guinea pig that, at least according to the salesperson, may have his own form of EBD. He is very active and loves to randomly run around his cage bucking like a bull and knocking things over. I was told he even “bullied” others to get to the Timothy Hay he loves so much. I instantly knew that he was the perfect pet for my students!

I introduced the guinea pig to the class last Monday and allowed them to pick its name (“Ricky-Dude”). We started with him placed in the back of the room, but I quickly found out that was a big mistake. Within two hours, my students were unable to focus due to the random noises he made scurrying around his new cage. Their constant turning around and getting up to look at the little guy became too much for me to handle. I moved him to our cool-down room next door, so he could have some peace and I could still teach. At first the kids acted out because they were mad at this decision, but eventually things improved.

I decided to use Ricky-Dude as a therapy tool for when students were in crisis, as well as a reward for good behavior: “If you get three points, you get to give RD a piece of celery—and with seven points, you can hold him for a few minutes at the end of the day.” I also keep a stash of carrots in my desk for when a student needs cool-down time. I’ll have the student take a carrot over to RD, and while he’s feeding him, talk things out with me—or as I have learned they prefer, with the guinea pig itself.

For example, one of my most explosive students came to school Friday in a very bad mood. I knew she was struggling to maintain control because she simply sat at her desk and would not speak to anyone; this was a red flag because she is the class alpha student and social butterfly. After many failed attempts to get her to talk to me, I asked if she wanted some “me time.” She simply nodded, so we got RD’s food and I let her stay with him for the first 30 minutes of the day.

When I checked on her, I saw her sitting in a chair, piece of celery in hand, pouring her heart out to Ricky-Dude. As soon as she realized I was there, she stopped. When I asked why, she said, “Mr. Williams, you just won’t get it, but he does. I just know he does. Can we be alone now?” I smiled and went back to the other students—leaving the door open so I could still keep an eye on her.

I never realized how much a six-inch-long rodent could help my students and myself, but I am truly thankful for Ricky-Dude. I am so very glad that my students now have that one “person” they can tell anything to without fear.

Now if only I, the teacher, can establish that same relationship over the coming months. I too may need some “me time” with RD to learn his secrets. Maybe it’s the whiskers?

Comments

[Alyse]

I loved having a class pet in school. I never thought of a class pet used like this thought. I really like the therapy idea. It is a very simple thing but students need a simple way to cool down. I also think that it is amusing how students have such great imaginations. They can imagine that he is understanding it. This is such a great idea!

[Alysha]

I loved when my teachers had a class pet. I think it was a great idea for you to get one for you classroom. I can see how he would be a distraction so that it great that you have another room to be able to put him. I like that you let them decide on the name. I think it's great that your students feel they are able to talk to the pet and feel that it understands them. I'm sure with time they will be able to talk to you about their problems. You could also do something like a personal journal or video diaries, if you feel that want to tell someone their problems but don't want to tell you face-to-face. Was there any special permission you needed to get to be able to have a pet in your classroom, in either the parent or school aspect?

[Nicole]

I love everything about this post! What a fantastic idea to have a class pet. There are so many benefits that you mentioned, but I think the biggest benefit is the emotional support it provides to your students. Taking care and loving an animal is therapeutic in itself. It can give students some time to quietly think while they pet him, or give him something to eat. It can show them that there is something that depends on THEM, which can teach them not only responsibility, but also that their biggest hair problem is insignificant compared to whether or not RD got food that day. I can completely see how venting to a pet would be extremely therapeutic. The student can get everything off their chest, without worrying about judgment or anything, and they can be totally honest because they know that RD won't tell a soul. It's almost like writing in a journal. You can reveal all of your deepest darkest secrets and feelings, and even if you said something that maybe you didn't really mean, you just said out of anger or sadness, no harm done. I'm sure within time, your students will come to you with their problems, which will be great so you can build those trusting relationships and offer them advice and guidance. However, I think there will always be situations where talking to RD will be best, just so they can vent.

[Alana]

Thank you so much for keeping this blog! I am studying special education for students with emotional impairments. It gives me so much hope to hear about your successes, especially with RD :) It also makes me feel like I can do it too!

[Caitlin]

Classroom pet is such a great idea! It teaches the students the responsibility of taking care of something. I used to work at a preschool and one of the teachers had a classroom pet rabbit. The students enjoyed taking care of it and playing with it of course! I love this idea and will definitly will have a classroom pet once I get my own room.

[Morgan]

I am so happy to hear about your success through having a class pet! This is such a great idea. By giving students ownership and a sense of responsibility within the classroom, they are more likely to feel like they are a contributing part of the class. I'm sure this is a good way to increase positive behaviors, and put students on a reward system when they display positive behavior. I hope I can implement something similar in my classroom in the future (I am still a student).

[Carissa]

I think this is such a great idea! Sometimes its best to talk to animals about problems because you get to get everything out that is bothering you but at the same time you do not get other opinions that sometimes you do not want to hear. Pets are very good listeners. I think that class pets can be great reward systems and teach responsibilities. With a pet can come assigning students the jobs of cleaning the cage, feeding, changing the water, etc. With a pet at home this is torture but for some reason at school it is so exciting! I hope everything works out well with the pet in the classroom and hopefully sometime soon the students will feel comfortable to talk to you like they do the pet.

[Courtney]

It sounds like this was a great solution for your classroom! I agree and I think a class pet is a great way for students with EBD to grow, mature, and increase their positive behaviors, like you said. I have also read research articles on the benefits that animals have on students with emotional problems. It's a way for students to let out their emotions and feelings without feeling judged or asked a list of questions about why they feel a certain way. Animals give us unconditional love, and a lot of times that is exactly what students need. Class pets and animals aren't just for students with emotional or behavior problems either, they can help students in regular education classrooms as well. Good idea getting a classroom pet for your students! This is something I will keep in mind when I have my own classroom one day.

[Karyssa]

I love class pets! When I was in fifth grade, our class had a population of crayfish. We lived near a lake/swampy area, so each of us was assigned to catch one with a partner. For several weeks we fed them and created mazes for them to go through. Whenever one died, we'd bury it in the field next to the playground. Our class had a lot of fun. In earlier elementary school, I also remember having a stuffed bear that we would take turns bringing to our homes. Although he wasn't a pet in the common sense, he served the same purpose. He went on all the students' "adventures" and allowed us a fun way to share them with our classmates. I'm glad you shared this experience in your own classroom, because a class pet is such a good idea! I've seen therapy reading dogs brought into classrooms, but the idea never occurred to have a pet available to students at all times. Very cool!

[Leighann]

This was a very interesting article, and one that I can really relate to. I volunteered at a daycare center for children with disabilities over the summer. There was one child who had emotional issues, and he would be very difficult to handle when he got in a certain mood. He would throw toys, punch walls, and try to run out of the room. As a way to address this, we had a similar reward system in place, where if the child was behaving positively for a specific amount of time, he would be able to go out into the hall with one of the teachers and he could spend time with the fish in the fish tank. The child would spend some time with the animals, and after that he would be much more calm. This is a great system, and one that yielded the desired results. I would use this system in my own classroom, because I have seen that it really works. Thanks for sharing your story!

[Ashley]

I am glad that Ricky-Dude was such a hit in your classroom! I can definitely understand how having a classroom pet can really comfort and provide a positive reinforcer for students and even teachers. There are times when everyone needs someone or something (Ricky-Dude) to talk to. Great idea!

[Angel Read]

Kids an animals are an awesome combination, aren't they?

[Janine Stanton]

After I got married I brought a fish to the classroom I am student teaching in (I had a gold fish in all of my centerpieces) and the students loved that they had a fish in the classroom. During Science class the students were able to write a name choice down and then voted on the name. His name became Goldy and the students loved him. We have a student who is very observant and noticed when Goldy's tank moved around the room, if he was fed, or if he was swiming. There was one day that she was starting to zone out (she does not respond when this happens) before class started and automatically she went to Goldy's tank and just watched him swim. After about three minutes of just staring at Goldy, she was able to come back with us and respond to questions. Unfortunately Goldy passed away about after a week and the students were bummed out.
I think having a pet in the classroom is a great idea because there's always a connection between students and the classroom pet. Like you said, it's someone they can talk to and know they are truly listening but not judging (even though we as teachers do that also but they don't know it).

[Kayla]

This is absolutely fantastic! I love the idea and I can totally understand how this would work! I have a little kindergarten student with a Developmental Delay label right now in my student teaching setting. We believe she will later also have an EBD or ODD label along with a DCD label. She completely had a meltdown today when I asked her to write her name. She just went and laid down on the floor and refused to come back to her chair and work. I tried to get her to come back for a minute, but then I really needed to get back to my other students who also need my service time. When they all left, this student was still on the floor and refused to leave the classroom. She laid under our work table and started kicking it and moving it across the room with her legs. We had to call our principal to come and help get her back to class. While we waited however, my teacher and I decided to clean our dirty tables. The student looked at me and said, "I want to clean the table." I was so impressed with her expressive language that I handed over my clorox wipe. She hardly ever expresses what she is feeling or what she wants so we have a hard time understanding her meltdowns. But, she happily went about the room cleaning the tables and chairs. The principal walked in when she was cleaning and when she was done, he asked if she was ready to go back to class. She grabbed her things and went nicely on her way! Obviously cleaning or helping the teacher is something she likes to do and it really deescalated her behavior! It was a relief to find an option that worked. I honestly think that if we had a class pet, that maybe she would be able to go and tell the pet what's upsetting her and use it as a therapy tool. For now, we'll have to stick to cleaning tables :) I love the idea though and I am glad that it is working so well!

[DG]

I'M LOVING IT!!!!!!