Givin' It Up for Lint

Insomnia struck last night. So... I made cupcakes for my class--chocolate. While distributing them, I arrived at Tony's desk. "No, thanks," he said. This was rather out of character.

"Oh, you don't want one, Tony? Are you O.K.?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I gave up chocolate for Lent."

"Oh, alright--good for you. Thank you for telling me," I said, moving on.

Just then another child asked, "What's Lent?"

Before Tony could answer, a third little boy interjected, "Isn't it that stuff that comes out of your belly-button?"

Lest We Forget...

I keep this quotation, attributed to J. F. Boyse, near my desk at school. It has the power to stem a rising tide of frustration, and make me take a deep breath... smile... and just "try, try again." It is a great reminder for those of us who, by parenting or chosen vocation, spend our days in the company of children...

"If, in instructing a child, you are vexed with it for want of adroitness, try, if you have never tried before, to write with your left hand, and remember that a child is all left hand."

Good Question!

First thing this morning, a boy told me that another boy, "Alex," was singing and refused to stop. Apparently the singing--however muffled--was creating a distraction.

Here's how the matter was addressed from there:

Me: Alex, please stop singing.

Alex: I ain't singing.

Me: [with emphasis] You aren't singing.

...pause...

Alex: Well, then why are you telling me to stop?

What's in a Rhyme?

My students were studying words beginning with "para--" paragraph, paradise, parallel, etc.

After each word on the page was identified we briefly discussed its meaning.

The word 'paralyze' came up, and I added it to the list on the board.

Turning to the class, I asked, "does anyone know what the word paralyze means?"

Immediately, a boy raised his hand.

"Yup, that's at the church, when they dunk you in the water."