Um... yeah.

I walked over next to a student today to help him. He looked up at me and stated: "You smell like my Grandma."

Thanks kid. Thanks....

This 2nd Grader Makes Me Smile

"Do you have any kids?" -Student
"Nope." -Me
"Oh. But you really want a kid?" -Student
"Well I'm not married yet. So not right now." -Me
"Oh. I am really sorry.... but you are looking for someone to get married to right?" -Student
"Yup I am. Do you think I'll ever find someone to marry me?" -Me
"Yes I am sure you will." -Student

*Emphasis was put in as was spoken.

Talk about random and weirdly adorable?

During recess today I was sitting at a table writing notes when one of my students walked up next to me. He patted me gently on the head and stated: "You're a good teacher."

Then he walked back across the classroom and continued playing.

I'll confess... I was too surprised to even laugh.

The Statue of What?

This is a conversation I overheard two of my 3rd graders having today, I about lost it in a fit of giggles...

"I froze as the statue of puberty!" -Student 1
"What's puberty anyways?" -Student 2
"It's when you lose your hair." -Student 1

hehehehe

I Like Sincere Compliments

Yesterday at school I was getting ready to teach when a little boy came in and sat down for group. He looked at me and said, "You're beautiful." And my next thought was -- 'Oh great. I completely spaced any and all make-up this morning - how ironic it is that I wouldn't have even remembered if you hadn't said anything you sweet boy.'

BUT. Either the kids really wanted something... or I should bag the make-up more often, because before 10am in the morning I received two more complements on my looks. My favorite was from the little boy who is usually a tad difficult to keep on track. He cocked his head and very randomly said: "You know... you're really pretty." Ah. Yeah. My kids are the best.

I love that kids are willing to just say what they think. No embarrassment. No hidden agendas. No analysis of: 'what should I say that will make you think what I want you to think about me instead of just saying what I think because that might make you think something I don't want you to think." You'd never hear a grown man cock his head and say to me "You know... you're really pretty." If I were lucky, I might get a: "You look nice today." or maybe even: "You smell nice." But that's because grown people rarely say what goes through their mind.

Why is that?

April Fools!

Ok. So I've never really gotten into the whole April Fools thing... but this year, seeing as I'm a teacher, the opportunity just could not be missed. So I printed off some fake report cards, and passed them out... expecting to see a couple of shocked expressions.

I looked over at the one boy who is usually the most verbose of the group --- but he just very calmly perused the individual scores listed on the paper. He even turned it around and pointed out that in the attendance section he should have had two zeros instead of one, seeing as he was gone two different days. I sat there in disbelief watching him... wondering how and if he could have missed the giant F at the top of his paper. That's when I glanced around at the rest of my students, and noticed the girl in tears. They were quite literally streaming down her face. I felt an extreme surge of guilt at this point, and handed her her real report card, explaining that it was an April Fools day joke. To my relief, she began to laugh as she compared her real scores to her fake ones. I then looked over at the uncharacteristically quiet verbose gentleman, who as he heard me explaining things to his peer, said, "These are fake?! Yes! I'm going to go home and show them to my Mom!"

You've gotta love kids.

Mrs. Cook

A while ago I decided I really don't like being called Mrs. Cook in the classroom. It makes me feel so... OLD.

So I decided to do something about it. I knew I wasn't going to get all the kids to convert... but I figured my 5th graders could catch on to the difference.

So -- one of their assignments was to write me a persuasive letter. I explained very carefully the differences between Mrs, Miss, and Ms -- as well as which ones are appropriate to use when addressing me. I strongly emphasized that I was not to be called Mrs. Cook. Because I am not a Missus.

The good news: they all began to call me Ms or Miss Cook after that. And I was happy.

The bad news: It didn't last more than a week --- I'm now back to being called 'Mrs. Cook'


*sigh*

Apparently I looked 'beautiful' today...

Reading group this morning with my first grades was lovely. Usually the lessons are pretty routine, but today two of the kids were especially wiggly, which means the lesson was going slower than normal. Not a big deal though. We were in the middle of an exercise requiring them to recite letter sounds when one little girl raised her hand in the air.

As I was in the middle of telling another student that he needed to unwind his arms and actually look at the book I was holding, I took a minute before getting to her. She waited super duper patiently. Because having a student wait that patiently is so rare, I turned to her, gave her my full attention, and asked her what she wanted to say.

She pointed one finger in the air, and in a very dignified tone of voice (for a 1st grader) she said, "First, you look very beautiful today. And second..." and she proceeded with the rest of her comment.

My heart melted.
Yup. I love teaching kids.

(And sincere and unassuming compliments definitely don't hurt my ego either.)