A Frog! A Frog!

Some of the worst words I've ever heard... "I found a frog in the classroom!" "A What? Oh my gosh... okay, take it outside and let it go!" So I sent the "bug-lover" child with the frog (MISTAKE), and she came back a few minutes later with the frog, and she said, "I want to just keep it!" I told her that was NOT an option, and she needed to take it back outside and leave it there! That process took about 5 more minutes, and then they finally returned. Now, we don't have frogs at our school, not that I have ever seen, so then you must be wondering how a frog got into my classroom. I had my suspicion right away as to who it might be. But, I didn't question until she came running up (right after I sent them out with the frog), and she begged (jumping up and down... the works) to use the restroom. I wouldn't let her go, and she went back to her seat and was fine. Then, at recess, she admitted to bringing the frog to school... Wow... all in a day's work!

Is Spelling Really Important?

The other day, one of my students asked how to spell Korea. He was writing in his journal (and I don't help with spelling for journal), so I told him to just do the best. I looked at what he had written and it was spelled C-O-R-I-A. He showed me how he spelled it, and then he said, "I don't know for sure if that's right, but it's short for Korea!" So apparently Coria is SHORT for Korea... I learn something new everyday!

No Praying in Schools

We were playing a game the other day, and one of my students put his hands together up above his head, pulled them down (in a praying position), and was muttering something to himself. He REALLY wanted to win the game! So much, that it turned him into a prayin' man!

Countries and Trees

One of my students was sharing about herself since she was Student of the Week, and another student (unless my hearing is bad) asked, "What's your favorite country?" She asked him to repeat himself and he did. And then, she said, "Kind of tree? Probably apple!" And not one of them questioned it or laughed... But I did (inside)!

Back to School

We have been back to school this whole week! It's crazy since most of the other schools around here don't start til Monday. All I can say is that this year is going to be a whole new challenge! Every school has a grade where they just don't know where to put the naughty kids because there are too many to split them completely up! So, they put a "most naughty" in each class and then fill the class with equal or lesser naughties! Let me tell you, this week has been crazy! I have some really good kids... but I have a few really bad kids. So, this school year will either make me retire, or it will build character (as my old man puts it), or BOTH....

Book Reports

Today was book report sharing day! Ben got up to share, and when it came time to answer a question from the class, Karly just asked her question without raising her hand and being called on by him. His response caught me off guard. He answered the question, and then he said, "But really you need to raise your hand and stop talking out because it really annoys me." I just gave him a little reminder that I am the teacher, and he only needs to worry about himself. Haha I think we have a teacher in the making!

Pre-Kindergarten Testing

Last week I helped with Pre-Kindergarten testing. One of the questions on the test was, "What sound does the word cat begin with?" I couldn't believe how many kids answered, "Meow". When they answered that way, I would rephrase the question. I was testing one kid, and he answered, "Meow", so I said, "No, what sound do you hear at the beginning of Cat?" His face wrinkled all up and he let out the sweetest little, "Meow" that he could, trying to be more convincing! And yes, I laughed... a little!

Brainwashed...

So, my students may be a little brainwashed. Most of them think I don't have a boyfriend because I keep that to myself. Boyfriends change from time to time, and I really don't think that my students need to know about my personal life in that way! So, one day Kate came in and said that her mom showed her a picture of me. It must have been my facebook picture because my boyfriend was in it. Kate said, "My mom said she thinks you have a secret boyfriend!" I can't lie, I got a little nervous because I have some smarty pants in my class that like to give me a hard time about that! But then she told me, "I said, 'No mom, that's her brother!'"

Today, I was telling them a story and it included somebody from the office asking if I was dating a D.A.R.E officer, and Kate said, "You aren't even dating anyone!" Glad I have her convinced! I have had so many close encounters with that one! It's not that it's a huge secret, I just don't care to have my kids in my personal business!

GO AWAY!

So, my students are working on book reports, and I have been giving them silent reading time after recess each day. This helps calm them down, and they can have time to read their books for their reports. At this time during the day, they are allowed to sit wherever they want. So today, one of my girls decided she was going to sit right in front of my desk. Well, you know how 3rd graders are... Right now I have 5 kids sitting near my desk. Ha! Wow, they must just love me so much! But I have be careful, because one time, a kid was sitting right in front of my desk, and I stretched my legs out and kicked him! Oops! I totally didn't see him there!

Vocabulary Woes

So we had just come in from recess, and I assigned them vocabulary. They aren't huge fans of vocabulary, but they usually just get it done as quickly as possible because they want to move on to something more exciting! So, Ben raised his hand, and he said, "I don't feel very well rested, can I go home and take a nap?" My thoughts were, "Uhhh I don't feel well rested ever, and I can't just go home and take a nap..." But, as I was trying to come up with a response, Kate raised her hand, and asked, "Can I ask Ben some questions? I'm a Girl Scout and I learned about this!" Without a response for me, she yelled to Ben, "Ben! Ben! Do you feel hot and tired?" I about died! I think she was trying to diagnose him with heat stroke or something! By that time I was able to come up with a response, and I said, "Why don't you go to the drinking fountain and get a drink, and then maybe you will be awake enough to do your vocabulary."

Interesting Fact Day

So, as a class, we are doing a countdown to the end of the school year. We do a letter of the alphabet every day for the last 26 days of school. "I" day was "Interesting Fact" day. The students were encouraged to find an interesting fact to share with the class, and then each was given an opportunity to share. Sarah came to me at the beginning of the day with a big red bag. She told me that she wanted the class to guess what was in her bag before she shared her fact. I was a little worried, but not too bad. On the bag, it said, "Orthotics and Prosthetics". So, I happen to be one of those people who doesn't like blood, and I don't like medical things at all! But, I figured it couldn't be too bad. So, when it came time to share, she asked the class if anyone knew what was in her bag. Of course none of them did! As a side note, her mom comes in and helps every Friday. So then she says, "I don't want you to look at my mom weird after I show you this." Now, I am starting to get worried! So, she opens the bag and pulls out a prosthetic leg (from the knee down... foot and all)! Oh my heavens! I was starting to feel a little "weirded" out! I didn't laugh, because that would be inappropriate, but I wanted to! But, it gets even better! After school that day, I was leaving my room to go up to the office, and Sarah came running in! "I forgot my mom's leg!" Oh boy... well we can't be forgetting that now can we?!

Tales of a School Teacher

This blog is designed for me to share some funny things that I experience in my classroom. Kids really say some of the funniest things! So, the idea behind this blog is to hopefully put a smile on your face by sharing funny stories of things that occur at school! All of the student's names have been changed for their own protection! Hope you enjoy!