Thomas at the bat: sometimes the class clown needs a little confidence.

On the first day of school, students are typically cautious, filing quietly into the classroom. So when Thomas came sauntering in, with a big, devilish smile and a loud, "Hiya, everybody!" I noticed him right away. I don't mind a big smile on the first day, but Thomas's performance was much too deliberate.

In one of our first-day, getting-to-know-you activities, I had students sit in a circle, say their name, and tell us their favorite food. When Thomas's turn came, he created an instant uproar with his reply: "My name is Tom, and my favorite food is pizza with chocolate sauce on it."

As the first weeks of school unfolded, Thomas continued to act up. He told off-the-wall stories, fell off his chair, and made a zoo's worth of animal noises. I would put a stop to his disruptive behavior, but Thomas was clever enough to quickly find another way to entertain. Academically, however, he was significantly behind his classmates in almost every subject. And he knew it. His class-clown routine was a compensation for his shortcomings.

Each November, my class holds a Poetry Breakfast to which we invite parents. This year, we would be presenting "Casey at the Bat," Ernest L. Thayer's classic baseball epic. Thomas was not a strong oral reader, but I felt involving him in this production might show him the difference between positive and negative attention. The "Mighty Casey" character would be perfect. There wasn't a lot to read, and he would be the focal point for the audience. As we rehearsed, however, Thomas, who was a brilliant performer during class time, mumbled his few lines, missed cues, and moved woodenly. We worked hard, repeating lines again and again, but I began to have my doubts about whether I had done the right thing putting him in this position.

On that bright November morning, in a room packed with families and friends, Thomas nervously took the stage. Dressed in his Little League uniform, he was shaking. But then, standing in front of all those people, his well-practiced comic timing and expressive voice suddenly surfaced. Mighty Casey may have struck out at the bat, but Thomas was a hit onstage. The audience applauded long and hard.

After the show, I told him how well he had done. He grinned back - a real, honest grin - knowing in his heart it was true. From then on, Thomas settled down and gained tremendous ground academically. He was still fun and lively, but his swagger and constant need for attention ebbed. He had had a taste of real confidence and found it to be good.

Bob Krech, an Instructor adviser, teaches second grade at Dutch Neck School in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.