Third graders

Yesterday morning, while we were doing Brain Bins, which is just free play with assigned groups, one of my girls came to chat with me.  I love when they do that.  She told me she had Activity Days at church.  She said, "I like it.  Last time we watched a movie that was happy and sad."

This particular girl is very sensitive and very dramatic.  Look for her to be a telenovela star.  She said, "Last time we watched a video about Jesus Christ.  And they-"  She pointed to her palms.  She couldn't bring herself to describe the crucifixion and I don't exactly blame her.

I said, "Yes, that was sad.  But He did it for us."

She agreed.

(I never bring up religion with my students, but if they bring it up, I acknowledge them.)

 I held off telling my students that my mother had passed away until I absolutely needed to.  (I guess I didn't need to tell them, but since I'm missing three days of school, I wanted to let them know.)

I told them yesterday.  Two of my students (one was, you guessed it, the drama queen from above) ran to me and hugged me tight.  They wouldn't let go.  It was starting to make me teary and we didn't need that.  I sent them back to their seats.  Another girl raised her hand.  I called on her and she said, "Yesterday my sister took our dog to the vet and there was another woman there who had a blanket around a dog...and it was dead."

Way to tell me a story that shows you can relate?

Another girl raised her hand and I called on her.  She said, "So, um...did you bring us a treat for your birthday."

I assured her I had. 

The conversation turned to my birthday, which is endlessly fascinating for them.  They wanted to know how old I am and when I told them 53, they were shocked and said I looked like I was 30.  I don't look like I'm 30.  They have zero concept of age.  

I was actually grateful that we were moving on in conversation though.

Except my little drama queen was not ready to move on.  Everyone was transferring to something else because we'd just said the pledge and she came and hugged me again.  She was weeping.  "I'm so sorry, Teacher.  I'm so sad!"

I told her softly, "Remember the video you told me about?"

She nodded, crying into my shoulder.

I said, "Because of that.  It's OK."

She looked at me and smiled at me through her tears.  She went back to her seat, but gave me hugs throughout the day.

I really love third graders.  They are tattle-tales (which is convenient).  They say the wrong things a lot.  They overshare.  They are really really sweet. They sang Happy Birthday to me and added the cha cha cha's which third graders are wont to do.  At the end of the song, they say:

          cha cha cha

          ooh la la

stick your head in hot lava

if it's nice, do it twice

stick your head in a bowl of ice

eat more chicken!

 I can't explain it.

But I'm glad I get to spend my days with those guys.