Choking Larry

So....today one of my students had another student to tell my assistant and I that he was choking. He wasn't.

I later explained that when someone is choking they actually can't breathe or talk and that they turn blue. His response: "I can't turn blue. I'm brown."

Anger Issues?

Logan was called to my lunch table because Alexa said he called her a "dummy".

We asked him what happened and why he called her the name.

His response with a sad little face: "I have anger issues."

The Marine in Our Class

I had an old friend to observe in our class Monday and prior to his arrival I explained that he was in the United States Marines and that he wanted to be a teacher soon. I pretty much left it at that. The kids are all standing quietly in line after lunch waiting to go back to class when Larry raises his hand.

He looks at our guest and says in the sweetest voice, "Are you a submarine?"

All we could do was chuckle.

Getting to know your students....

One thing I need to add to my list of "thing to do" is getting to know my students. This is a fine line. If you know them too well, you're showing favoritism. If you don't get to know them, you don't care enough.

Why is it that no matter how hard you try it seems impossible to get to know some kids? What's the best way to get to know them?

I would like to implement something where I have lunch with them but then I feel like I am giving up valuable adult conversation with my assistant in order to eat with 7 and 8 year olds. Yes, this is my job, to create well-rounded children, but I have to remember that I am only human and I need my daily dose of adult conversation too.

My compromise is to seat them at the teachers table. Perhaps my presence alone will help? I can only hope to think of soemthing better....

We Teach Eachother....

It's so funny how when I graduated I thought I was going to be the teacher, going to continuing education workshops and such to continue learning myself. I really had no clue just how much the kids would teach me.

Also, I had no clue how funny the kids can be. This is a place for me to share all the teachable moments I encounter. Enjoy!