Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Kids are weird

This is not a new revelation.  I am surrounded by seven year olds for 6 hours a day, but sometimes I forget just how weird kids are.  Maybe it's because we were off for holiday break, maybe it's because their parents are letting them stay up late, maybe it's because we are just getting back into the rhythm of school, or maybe it's simply because they are seven....but my students are being weirder than normal this week.  
Today's story is about a very smart little boy named T:  While I was teaching about something (relatively) important and walking around the room monitoring independent work time, I made eye-contact with T.  This was not weird, I do this all the time.  It's sort of a "You ok? Need me to come over and help?  Are you daydreaming or are you thinking?" kind of look.  He gave me a smile and a thumbs up to let me know he was good and just thinking (read-daydreaming and got caught, realized and started working.)  Later on in the day while I was again teaching about something (relatively) important when he got weird.  People, as I am explaining about different types of landforms-in the middle of a sentence-I watch him grin and wave at me from his seat.  It wasn't a "Mr. Pilot please tell me you see us down here on the deserted island!" kind of  wave, it was more of a "Hey I see you over there and just wanted to acknowledge your presence" kind of wave.  

He waved.  
At me.  
While I was teaching.  
As if I hadn't seen him all day.  
It was 1:00 people. 
1:00. 

Naturally I started laughing.  Because I mean, seriously?  A kid who I said good morning to, have talked to several times today, had him run errands, waved at me in class like I was a friend across the cafeteria he hadn't seen all week.

 Somehow I forgot-kids are weird. 

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Just in case

I thought to myself, "Self, you should share."  So I am.  Now, just in case you don't have enough things to do with your time, blogs to read, blogs to write, or if you are simply needing a procrastination destination I am here to help you out my people!  Below are some blogs I have recently found and enjoy and am sharing them just in case you need something else to occupy your time...







Work starts up tomorrow and I'm positive there will be stories abounding!

Victorious

2009 is starting out in a victorious way.  Our recently elected school board took a major step forward and revised the bullying and harassment policy.  It now reads as follows:

Students shall not engage in bullying of other students or harassment on the basis of race, religion, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.

Yes people, you read correctly.  Further proof that sending letters to the school board and lobbying for the protection of all students does actually matter and is actually relevant to what happens in those meetings.  Here's hoping for further positive changes with our new school board and NC as a whole!