Sleeping Beauty

Another funny "Tess" story is sometimes her stubbornness really comes out. She was out playing at recess and when the bell rang to come in, she decided she didn't want to finish playing. So instead she pretended to be Sleeping Beauty and laid herself down right in front of the doors so that nobody could go in or out. She was laying on her back with her eyes closed pretending to be asleep. And no matter what I tried to do to convince her to move, nothing seemed to work. She was deeply convinced that the only way she could move was to wake her up with a kiss---pucker up! Meanwhile, all the kids had to walk clear down to the other end of the school to go inside.

Short Bus

One of my favorite little students "Lacey" struggles with speech and expressing herself. She was so excited because the 2nd graders had planned a field trip for the end of the month. One thing you should know about "Lacey" is that she LOVES buses. So one day she came up to me and asked if they were going to ride the bus today. I sadly had to tell her no and that it wasn't for another week. They she started to ask all sorts of questions. "Is it a yellow one?" "Will there be a bus driver?" Then the funniest question of all "Will the it be a short bus or the long bus?" I about died when she asked this. I told her it was probably the long bus, because there will be a lot of kids going on the field trip. She jumped up and down with excitement. It's funny that she would even ask a "short bus" question...especially being in special ed.

What to do? What to do?

In starting a new year, there are many new things that await you, but this was totally unexpected. I share a classroom with another teacher for half of the day. We'll call her "Bear". She struggles sometimes although she's been teaching for almost 20 years and that's why I think this story is so funny. She had told me earlier that her ex-husbands father was dying and then over the weekend I get a call from her say that on Monday they were going to have the funeral and she would not be there (this was very thoughtful of her to let me know) I told her that was fine and then she preceeds to ask if she needed to get a substitute. I almost couldn't hold it back. Although we're in the same room we run two complete separate groups. I explained that she would need to get a sub and that I can't just take her kids all morning. Then she trys to exlain how because it was the beginning of the school year, she didn't have her schedule down and wouldn't know what the to have the sub do. it was hard not to chuckle that a teacher with 20 plus years of experience would know when she's supposed to get a sub for her students and how to throw some activities together to keep them busy for a day. :)

"Defiant Child"

I have to give a little background...I have a 3 grade student who I sometimes call my "defiant child" She acts like a three year old sometimes if she doesn't get her way. I've seen much kicking and screaming and climbing under tables from this 9 year old. Well, one day she came in after lunch to math and I noticed her zipper was down. I leaned over and whispered in her ear to zip it up. Then...Just because I was the one who said it...she said in the most sarcastic voice I've ever heard with her nose in the air. "I like it THAT way!"

Little Bo Peep

So one of my little girls "Jen" came to school today in quite the get-up. She literally looked like little bo peep. I just about died. She has on such a frilly blue dress with tons and tons of lace. I white hat and gloves to match. I know that this family doesn't have much. But it looked so out of place at school. From now on...I refer to her as "Little Bo Peep" to my roommates and they know exactly who I'm talking about.

I'm the head chairman at my school for an organization called Kids Cause. This organization help's kids receive things that they need to meet their physical needs so that they can focus on school. Usually we help kids in getting glasses, doctors appointments, dental work etc. They also have a program each fall to help make sure that kids have warm winter clothes. Well, when it started to get cold outside, "Jen" would come day after day with just a light sweater. I finally called mom because it was becoming a problem and she wouldn't go outside for recess. We were able to qualify "Jen" for the "Warm Winter Clothes" Program. So I met up with her and her mom at K-Mart and we had a $90.00 voucher. I was there to make sure they bought things specifically for her. Boy... was that an eye opening experience. The most interesting part was seeing how other people shop, especially when it wasn't their own money. I only had to resolve one fight during the experience. Mom would get her shoes with laces, because she doesn't ever tie her shoes and "Jen" didn't want velcro ones. What 11 year would? It was a very humbling experience.

Get A Tissue PLEASE!!!

I had a pretty funny experience this afternoon. This was my first year teaching and I was working with 4-5 grade self-contained students. It may seem kind of gross, but I had to try hard to hold back the laughter. One of my students, "Jen" has been getting over a cold and we were working on a math assignment. I was walking around helping some students when I hear a big sneeze behind me. I turned around to see her eyes pop out of her head. She had snot coming out of her nose. (This was not just a little dribble.) It was the longest thing I've ever seen. It was hanging clear past her knees. All the kids in the room started saying "ooooooooh" and I tried to go help her. All could say was "Get a Tissue PLEASE!" And this was her response. "My nose is so little no wonder why it wouldn't stay in!" I couldn't decide if I should be grossed out or laugh hysterically!