The Joys of Teaching

My kids this year are just so danged cute! Here are some stories:

*I had had the kids in literature groups of 3 or 4 reading various books by Bill Wallace. Since I want the kids to do an author study involving reading a second book by the same author, I was going to have the kids choose their second book. I knew that at least one student in the room has read each book there was to choose from, so I decided to let the kids do the "book talks." However, they weren't to reveal plot, since that is like going to the movies and having the person behind you reveal the ending. All the kids were to do was to say if it was a good book, if they'd recommend it, if it was funny, sad, etc.

Anyway, Eduard raises his hand to do the book talk for one of the books. He begins by saying he really liked the book. Then he says, "The main character, Tom, goes..." I stopped him, and reminded him that he wasn't supposed to reveal the plot. So he says, "This guy goes..."

I said, "You mean Tom?"

"Yeah," Eduard replied, and continued to tell us what the book was about. I guess since he wasn't using the main character's name anymore, we wouldn't know what was happening.

*Today my kids were coming back from music choice. They come back from three different places: band, orchestra, and general music. I meet them outside like I do at recess, and when they are all lined up, we go into the classroom. I went outside, and some kids came over. Anas was in front, and said to me, "Let's just forget about the others and go in."

"I can't do that," I replied, "because in my classroom there is no child left behind!"

He didn't get it, but I laughed inside...But then he points to this button I bought last summer at the NEA convention in San Diego. It is bright red and says, "No teacher left behind!" I wear it on my lanyard.

He said, "Hey! Your button says No Teacher Left Behind!"

"Really!" I asked, very surprised..."Wow! I didn't know that!"

Anas turned to the kid behind him, and informed him that I was wearing a button that said something and I didn't even know I was wearing it! Then he turned back to me and said, "Did you really not know you were wearing it?"

"I had no idea," I said. Then I said, "Anas, now do you really think I didn't know I was wearing this button?"

He paused, and said, "Maybe..."

"Anas, I know I'm wearing this button. I bought it." He thought for a minute. "Oh, were you being sarcastic?"

"Maybe a little bit, Anas..." I said.

And in my mind I'm hearing Charlie Brown yelling, "Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it??"