Chapters One through Three Summary and Analysis

Torey L. Hayden, author of the book, says that she is working as a resource teacher following the federal mandate that special needs children be mainstreamed. She no longer has a class of students who remain with her for the entire day, but spends a few hours each day with small groups of two to five students requiring special help in specific areas. She notes that the new position is not nearly as fulfilling as had been having her own class. Birk Jones, head of special education for the district, tells Torey that there is a seven-year-old kindergarten student who cannot be managed in a regular half-day kindergarten class and asks Torey to work with him. He'll be in her class all afternoon, every day, without time in the regular classroom. His name is Boothe...