The Cheetah Game

So, recently my students have started to play a game that I can name nothing other than "The Cheetah Game". During this game the students run around growling and snarling and they pretend to claw one another, there are even hunters that the cheetahs try to "take down" So there are often cheetahs and hunters laying in the grass "playing dead" ... now this is by far the strangest game I have watched my students play but today this game once again got my attention as I heard something new ... while one student is chasing after another cheetah that I later learned to be her "sister" she yelled "Don't run away from me! I don't bite!" then she stopped in her tracks and yelled "Well, not that often!" and continued running after her "sister".

I am so glad that my students can help me stay entertained and alert during recess when I would really like to take a nap

"Well, I Guess You're Cooler Than I Thought!"

Aren't those the words that we just love to hear from children! The student who said this is famous for talking without thinking, for instance "It feels like you've had to much to drink at a wine party". So, when this came out of his mouth yesterday I was not the least bit surprised but what did surprise me is what made me cool ...

G- "Miss E do you know how to roller skate?" (completely off topic ... as always)
Me - "Yes I do, I even own a pair of roller blades."
G- "You do? Can we see them sometime."
N- "Well, I guess you're cooler than I thought."
Me- "Thank you. Now lets get back to work."

What makes you nice

This week was my schools' book fair and while standing around watching families shop the mother of a 4 year old cam up to me and said
Mom- "You're Miss E right?"
Miss E- "Yes, I am."
Mom- "My daughter thinks your are the nicest teacher in the school!"
Miss E- "Really?! Well, my class does love doing art with them on Fridays."
Mom- "Well, she came home and said "Mom, she is tall and has yellow hair ... plus it curly!" So in her mind that made you nice."
Both of us laugh

... I guess being tall with blonde curly hair is the key to niceness

"Like Being Drunk at a Wine Part" part 2

The same student who thinks the spinning thing make him feel like he was drunk at a wine party and had too much said the following to female student at recess recently

D- gets off of spinney thing and walks toward teachers and says "Whoa! I feel funny."
N- "Do you feel drunk?"
D- (funniest face ever being made at N) "No! Are you Crazy?"

... holding in laughter is so hard sometimes

3rd grade concerns

So, I babysit for a family that has a child with a severe disability that can impair his judgment and anger control. One school night I was babysitting and this child had anger control problems and the night ended with me holding the child and tying to sooth the child while the child kicked and hit at me for about an hour. Needless to say I was exhausted (but not hurt) that night and the next morning at school. Knowing that my very observant students would notice that something was wrong I told them an brief version of what happened and the were very concerned about why the child was not able to control anger. (They were also concerned about me but as soon as I told them I wasn't hurt they were more concerned about how a kid could have a problem that severe with anger control)

 ... so that is the preface to the adorable concern I got this weekOn Friday we were sitting, waiting for everyone to get to the right page in their workbooks and a student looks at me and says

A- Miss E did you babysit last night?
Me- No, Why?
A- You just seem tired today.
Me- Well I don't feel tired.
N- (blurts out) I don't think you seem tired, just chill

... it helps that N is the same student that thinks the spinning things makes you feel drunk

First signs of love

G- "What do you eat for dinner?"
Miss E- "Whatever I end up cooking."
G- "You mean your mom doesn't come and cook for you every night?"
Miss E- "No, I don't live with my mom."
G-"You mean you live alone! I never want to live alone!"
A- "Don't you have any friends you can live with?"
Miss E- "Yes I have friends but they are married or they don't live near me."
G & A- "Well you need new friends or a husband so you don't have to live alone."

... I'll take it as love and not that my kids think I'm pathetic

Sometimes you just wonder

Answer from a Social Studies worksheet when students were told to use their books,
Martin Luther King- "Enslaved black people and got their freedom." 
... hmm I have a feeling that student use their book

Same student a  week later
traders- people who trade people for something

kid goes home with math homework ... "I don't get this, she didn't teach us this!"
... conference scheduled
... hand kid same worksheet in the classroom to complete and done in 5 minutes 

The Birds and the Bees

While learning about the life cycle of animals our science book reads "When a female ostrich is an adult she can find a male ostrich and they can reproduce." This brought on A the ask, "That's only with animals right?"
Miss E.-"What's only with animals?" 
A- "Needing a male and a female to reproduce?"
Miss E.- "No, you need a male and a female for plants too."
A- "But not with humans right?"
Miss E.- "No, humans need a male and a female to reproduce."
A- "But girls have babies without being married"
Miss E.-"Yes they do but somewhere along the way there is a guy involved."
A- "How?"
Miss E.- "Just trust me animals, plants and humans need a male and a female to reproduce."
A- "Okay"
... I've never been so glad that they accept "Just trust me" as an answer

Later the same day ...
A- "Miss E, why do you wear a ring on your wedding finger every day?"
Miss E- "It is a symbol of my promise to God that I will wait patiently for my future husband."
A. & G.- "Aww, that's nice!"
D.- "You mean your imaginary husband?"
Miss E- "What? No, not my imaginary husband, the husband that I hope to have one day."
D.- Awkward stare and shoulder shrug
... I guess I am supposed to have an imaginary husband

"Like Being Drunk at a Wine Party"

Today at recess the kids were playing on the new equipment (SO EXCITING!) and a student stumbled over to me and said, "When you get off the spinny thing it feels like you are drunk at a wine party and had too much." Teacher response, "Really? How do you know about that?" Student said, "I guess I've seen it a few time." ... Oh, the joys of 3rd graders

Meet the Teacher Night

Before school starts there is a "Meet the Teacher Night" where students get to come into the classroom, unpack their supplies and pick out a seat. Needless to say as a first year teacher this night brought butterflies to my stomach. Students began to arrive, some seemed just as scared as I was but the highlight of the night came towards the end of the night. While one of my students was relaxing on the bean bag chairs his mother came to tell me "After you visited school last year I asked J what he thought of you and all he could say was that you were tall about beautiful; and he is right." Nothing like a compliment from an 8 year old and his mom to make you feel good and start the school year off in the best of ways.