Achoo!

When I sneeze, I tend to sneeze loudly and several in a row.  I've always been that and I'll always be that way.  It often takes my students a couple of weeks to figure that out.  They'll start off saying "Bless you" after each one, but eventually they realize to just wait, it'll be awhile.  Earlier in the year, I was teaching a lesson and could feel sneezes coming on.  I sneezed 5 or 6 times in a row pretty loudly and looked up to a stun class. 

"You sneeze a lot," Herman said after a couple seconds.  "It's kinda scary....could you warn us the next time that's going to happen?"

Things They Don't Teach You in College

There are some things that teachers have to learn while working in the classroom.  One of those things is how to hide your laughter.  Bethann learned this recently as she was discussing Toy Story 3 with her 6th grade students.  She was explaining to them how excited she was to see the final movie because her children had grown up watching the original.  The students weren't exactly sure what movie she was talking about until she started naming characters like Rex, Mr. Potatohead, and Buzz Lightyear.  Herman's face lit up with recognition as he proclaimed, "I remember that movie.  I have a little Woody!"

This is the point where you bite your lip and turn your head. :)

Christmas Presents from 6th Graders

In Clare's room, she has a classroom store where students can earn "money" throughout the year and buy certain things - erasers, stickers, pencils and more!  Around Christmas time last year, she reminded her students that they could buy presents for their friends and family in the classroom store as well.  Herman was checking out the supply and suggested to Clare that they buy a weed wacker to include as one of the items.  "To do yard work?" she wondered. "For my mom's pits." he replied.

Parental Saturday: Never give in!

Christie had a student pulled out of her classroom by the principal to discuss an incident reported by the bus driver.  Herman had apparently been sticking his head and arms out of the window while the bus was in motion on several occasions.  He was given a detention to serve the following day.  The next day, Herman was brought to school by his mother, who wanted to speak to the principal about the incident.
     "Herman says he didn't do it," his mother explained, "I don't think he should get in trouble for something he didn't do."
     "I interviewed several witnesses who said the same thing the bus driver did," the principal told her.
     "Well those witnesses must have been mistakened, because Herman says he didn't do it."
     The principal opened a file on his computer and a video of a bus started playing.  Herman was clearly visible with both arms and head out of the window.
     "That must be another child, because Herman says he didn't do it."

Sometimes teenagers say the darndest things

A male substitue was filling in for a high school Social Studies teacher.  One of the classes was a particularly trying group of students with a girl, the ring leader, sitting in the very front of the room.  Upon having enough, he looked at her and tried out a phrase his parents had used successfully on him growing up.  He pointed his finger at her, "Don't try me." he said.  She didn't even blink an eye and responded, "I'd love to." Not thinking he could deal with things like that on a day to day basis, he decided to become an accountant.

Thanks Georgeann!

If a word rhymes, it's pretty much the same thing

Clare was reading a story to her class about Hanukkah on the first day of the holiday.  She was explaining to the students about the popular jewish toy - the dreidel.  "I've heard of them before," Herman shouted out, "In that song that makes babies fall asleep."  "Which song are you talking about?" Clare asked him, puzzled. His reply: "You know the one. 'Rock-a-bye baby on the tree tops...when the bough breaks the dreidel will fall..."

Whoops!

Bridget was working with her math students in small groups.  There were several groups around the room and she was moving from group to group keeping track on their progress.  Herman was in a group on the other side of the room and needed the teacher's help.  He raised his hand and called out "Sugar Mama"....His face got red as he realized his mistake.  That wasn't what he meant to say.