Happy things

Over explaining kindergartners

The kindergartners use the bathrooms in the 3rd grade hall.  Whenever I see a kindergartner alone in the hall, they almost always stop me to tell me that they are on their way to the bathroom.  They usually add that they will go back to class when they are finished.

Speaking of bathrooms

Yesterday we encountered the word chamber and my students didn't know what it meant.  I pointed out Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets so then they thought a chamber was a dungeon.  I told them that really, it is just a room.  For the rest of the day they called the bathroom the toilet chamber.

Kind words

Matt dropped by for an unannounced observation and I got so caught up in my math lesson that one of my students had to say, "Um...Teacher?  We should be in art right now."

We were late. 

After school, Matt said kind words to me about my lesson.  I felt like I had been a spazz who can't keep track of time, so it was very nice of him.

Appreciative students

We were reading a story about the Oregon Trail and talking about how far it is from Independence, MO to Oregon City, OR.  One of my students who has been everywhere and knows everything (just ask him, or rather you don't need to because he's already told you) said he knew "exactly" how long it would take to drive that distance.  I had someone get my phone from off my desk and bring it to me so I could look on Google Maps.  (BTW, my student who knows everything was wrong.  This will in no way deter him from proudly declaring he does for the rest of time.) The girls noticed I had a new phone case.  They started whispering, "Does she have a new phone?  Is that a new phone?"   (My other one stopped working so Adam bought me a refurbished one.  I don't really care about cutting edge technology.  I just want it to work.) I told them it was a new phone.  My students started clapping.

You've never been around people who build up your confidence so much.  I mean applause because I have a refurbished phone that actually works?  I'll take it.

School is always, always a wild ride

One of Alissa's students brought a snack to school.  (Which Alissa doesn't mind because this particular student gets hangry without a snack).  The snack was a container of lettuce and a separate container of sugar.  The girl would lick the lettuce and then dip it in the sugar and suck the sugar off.  It was like Fun Dip, but lettuce, which is about the most random pairing I can conjure.  It also made a tremendous mess.  Alissa texted the mom and asked that that snack not be sent again to school and the mom texted back, "OK."

Nerdy friends

We are learning digraphs in phonics (which is how chamber came up) and cheese keeps coming up with its ch digraph and I wanted to know why it has three e's.  I mean, it could be spelled chees (like the word flees) or chese like the word these, but it is cheese.

We were collaborating after school and the coaches came in and I completely derailed our conversation and started talking about the spelling of cheese.  Maren googled it and I got out my Origins of Words book and handed it to Jamie and we got into the etymology and considered all the reasons.  It was like five minutes about the spelling of cheese.  And I think I got some answers.

They are my kind of nerdy.

Stella

Stella called last night.  She and a friend are coming to RootsTech but she didn't want to stay with us. Because of the friend she said she didn't want to impose.  She did want to see us and go to the Thanksgiving Point Sculpture Park together.  I told her that although the drive is kind of pain, we have plenty of room and she should stay with us.  She said, "You'd better talk it over with Adam."  I told her I didn't need to.  Then she said I should come to RootsTech too.  I said I would have to see about missing school and all.  She said, "Make it happen."

Talk to Stella for three minutes and you immediately understand why African leaders were powerless against her when she was working for open borders so she could get vaccinations to people.

You don't actually argue with Stella.

But I'm looking forward to her visit!