It's funny how the classroom teacher knows all the business at home and the parents don't even realize how much we know. I don't know if it was because of the inclement weather, but the children felt very compelled to tell me as much as they could while we killed time and waited for their parents to arrive. Surprisingly, the teacher never has to ask any questions, children just tell it.
Our story begins with Little Anthony (You remember him from the post entitled "It's Not That Serious"). At about 10:00 am, the principal came over the PA and told us that we would have an early dismissal due to the inclement weather. The principal then instructed us to begin calling parents to inform them about the change of schedule. Well, I call Little Anthony over and ask him to give me his dad's number. Unfortunately I couldn't reach the dad, so I asked for mom's number.
After I finished speaking to his mom, Little Anthony says, "I don't think my dad's coming to get me." All I had to say was, "Why not?" and Little Anthony begins to spill the beans. He says, "My mom hates talking to my dad. She won't call him so I will be stuck here with you." It took everything in me not to laugh. You should have seen the look on this little angel's face. He was so serious.
I've had other instances in which the kids tell me about the new boyfriend/girlfriend or how mom sneaks out in the middle of the night to go out on a date (booty call). So it's pretty obvious that I am privy to A LOT of information. My favorite story is about a young man who was drawing a picture for the art teacher. When the drawing was finished the art teacher and I were speechless. This young man drew a picture of a naked woman and man. The woman had a speech bubble over her head that read, "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME I GOT THIS FROM YOU!" The worst part was the drawing of the woman looked just like the child's mother (who might I add was a rather rotund woman).
So I am sure you can just imagine how embarassed the art teacher, principal, guidance counselor and I were when we had to conference with the mom. Then she had the audacity to say she had no idea where he was getting this from. I wanted to say, "Maybe your bedroom, Temptress of the Night!"
I'm done for the day, but I hope this post helped you chuckle a bit on this cold, snowy evening. And remember...think about what you say and do in front of your children. Most likely, the teacher already knows the business and then some. Until next time =)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
I Was Willing To Lose My Job
I was going through my posts today and realized that I am starting to post more often about the parents of the children. The best thing is I have also realized that the apple does not fall far from the tree. When I want to know why the child is psychotic or not from this planet, I think about the parent and then I understand why. Today's post is not about one of the kids, it's about one of the parents. Lucky for me, this child is not in my class. I don't think I would be able to deal with this parent.
Before we dismissed our kids on Friday, the principal announced for the teachers to make sure we escort the students out to the curb because they were throwing snowballs. Of course she didn't want any innocent bystanders (parents or little ones) to get hit with a snowball. I came downstairs and ran into Little Anthony's dad (from "It's Not That Serious"). Little Anthony was lagging behind and his dad wanted to know what was taking him so long. While waiting for his son, Little Anthony's dad was talking to another parent. Upon looking at this parent I could tell he had some type of mental imbalance (we're going to call him Mr. Abbot). Mr. Abbot was hanging all over Little Anthony's dad and cracking corny jokes. Each time Mr. Abbot opened his mouth, more stupidity continued to flow from it.
Then Mr. Abbot really lost his mind and said, "YUK! YUK (that was his stupid laugh)! The principal don't want the kids throwing snowballs. I should throw a snowball at her." Then Mr. Abbot picked up his finger, pointed and laughed at me. I looked around for a bit to see if there was someone else standing close by. Then I realized he was pointing at me! I looked at Mr. Abbot, smiled and said, "YUK! YUK! Do that and today I will forget that I work here and lose my job." I guess Mr. Abbot noticed the look on my face and said, "Oh, I was just playing! I wouldn't do that!" Then I responded by saying, "I'm not playing."
Normally, I am very diplomatic and professional. I'm beginning to think that I have spent entirely too much time in the classroom and am tired. I never would have responded this way. However, that was the only way for Mr. Abbot to understand that I was not playing.
Before we dismissed our kids on Friday, the principal announced for the teachers to make sure we escort the students out to the curb because they were throwing snowballs. Of course she didn't want any innocent bystanders (parents or little ones) to get hit with a snowball. I came downstairs and ran into Little Anthony's dad (from "It's Not That Serious"). Little Anthony was lagging behind and his dad wanted to know what was taking him so long. While waiting for his son, Little Anthony's dad was talking to another parent. Upon looking at this parent I could tell he had some type of mental imbalance (we're going to call him Mr. Abbot). Mr. Abbot was hanging all over Little Anthony's dad and cracking corny jokes. Each time Mr. Abbot opened his mouth, more stupidity continued to flow from it.
Then Mr. Abbot really lost his mind and said, "YUK! YUK (that was his stupid laugh)! The principal don't want the kids throwing snowballs. I should throw a snowball at her." Then Mr. Abbot picked up his finger, pointed and laughed at me. I looked around for a bit to see if there was someone else standing close by. Then I realized he was pointing at me! I looked at Mr. Abbot, smiled and said, "YUK! YUK! Do that and today I will forget that I work here and lose my job." I guess Mr. Abbot noticed the look on my face and said, "Oh, I was just playing! I wouldn't do that!" Then I responded by saying, "I'm not playing."
Normally, I am very diplomatic and professional. I'm beginning to think that I have spent entirely too much time in the classroom and am tired. I never would have responded this way. However, that was the only way for Mr. Abbot to understand that I was not playing.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Snuffy and Sippy Cups
Happy New Year! It's been a few days since I last posted. Today's post doesn't come from my classroom. It comes from the classroom of two of my esteemed colleagues! You know who you are! Thanks guys! I couldn't wait to get home so that I could share their stories with you all. So...here it goes!
Before I begin Part 1 of today's post, I just want to jog your memory. I am sure that many of you are familiar with Sesame Street and Big Bird's beloved pal, Snuffy. Two of Snuffy's most distinguishing characteristics were his long, elephant-like trunk and those extremely long eyelashes. As I tell Part 1 of this post, I just want you to picture Snuffy and those long eyelashes.
Today, a young boy in my partner teacher's class (we'll call him Tommy) celebrated his birthday. After lunch, Tommy's mother brought in juice and cupcakes for him to share with his class. When she delivers the cupcakes and juice to the class, she tells my partner teacher that she can't stay because she doesn't have her eyelashes on. My partner teacher responds with, "But you look great without them. It's okay, you can stay."
I can't stay because I don't have my eyelashes on?!?!?! Really?!?!?! You have got to be kidding me! All I could picture in my head was some lady running home to put those Snuffy eyelashes on, so that her face could look like it was about to take off. The best part was my partner teacher's response. "But you look great without them. It's okay, you can stay." I LOVE IT! I'm glad I wasn't there because I would have definitely burst into a fit of laughter and then I would have been in trouble for ridiculing or disrespecting a parent. The crazy things usually happen in my classroom, I am just so envious that this one didn't happen in my classroom today. I would have paid big money to be present when the eyelash comment was made.
Part 2 of today's post happened to another teacher in my building. This esteemed colleague of mine teaches an after school enrichment program. One of the little girls (we'll call her Chrissy) definitely made her afternoon. As you read Part 2, keep in mind that Chrissy is in the 3rd grade. Which would mean she's about 8 years old (maybe 9). Unfortunately I was not there to hear this conversation, however I would have paid BIG bucks to be there for it. This is another one that would have had me rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter. Here it goes...
Chrissy proceeds to tell my co-worker that her father really embarassed her. My co-worker asks what happened and the child tells my co-worker that her dad brought her snack/lunch to school and also packed her sippy cup in the bag. Now I am sure that most of you are familiar with what a sippy cup is. For those of you who are unsure, a sippy cup is what a baby/toddler uses when they are transitioning from a bottle to a regular cup! Yes...one of those. And yes...the child is in the 3RD GRADE! Then she says that the kids in the class were laughing at her. I wanted to laugh and point at her and I wasn't even there when she admitted to it.
During the after school program, she decides to eat her snack, but instead she hides behind her bookbag to drink from her suppy cup. My question is...What in the world are you doing with a sippy cup in the 3rd grade?!?!?! And why did your dad think it was ok for you to use it in school?!?!?! If you think that's crazy, you haven't seen anything yet. There is more to the story. As the child continues to drink from her sippy cup, she stops and looks at the top on the cup. Then she says, "This is not the top for my sippy cup. It's my brother's." That wouldn't be too bad if she had a baby brother. No, this little girl IS the baby! She has 3 older brothers (the oldest brother would be a freshman in high school, the middle is an 8th grader, and the 3rd brother is in the 5th grade!)! Something is definitely wrong with this picture! Why in the world does these children own and STILL USE a sippy cup! I don't think I will ever be able to look that little girl with a straight face!
I know you guys are thinking that these things can't all be happening in the school I work at. Well...they do! It's like some alternate universe or something. However, these stories help keep my sanity. Enjoy! I know I do!
Before I begin Part 1 of today's post, I just want to jog your memory. I am sure that many of you are familiar with Sesame Street and Big Bird's beloved pal, Snuffy. Two of Snuffy's most distinguishing characteristics were his long, elephant-like trunk and those extremely long eyelashes. As I tell Part 1 of this post, I just want you to picture Snuffy and those long eyelashes.
Today, a young boy in my partner teacher's class (we'll call him Tommy) celebrated his birthday. After lunch, Tommy's mother brought in juice and cupcakes for him to share with his class. When she delivers the cupcakes and juice to the class, she tells my partner teacher that she can't stay because she doesn't have her eyelashes on. My partner teacher responds with, "But you look great without them. It's okay, you can stay."
I can't stay because I don't have my eyelashes on?!?!?! Really?!?!?! You have got to be kidding me! All I could picture in my head was some lady running home to put those Snuffy eyelashes on, so that her face could look like it was about to take off. The best part was my partner teacher's response. "But you look great without them. It's okay, you can stay." I LOVE IT! I'm glad I wasn't there because I would have definitely burst into a fit of laughter and then I would have been in trouble for ridiculing or disrespecting a parent. The crazy things usually happen in my classroom, I am just so envious that this one didn't happen in my classroom today. I would have paid big money to be present when the eyelash comment was made.
Part 2 of today's post happened to another teacher in my building. This esteemed colleague of mine teaches an after school enrichment program. One of the little girls (we'll call her Chrissy) definitely made her afternoon. As you read Part 2, keep in mind that Chrissy is in the 3rd grade. Which would mean she's about 8 years old (maybe 9). Unfortunately I was not there to hear this conversation, however I would have paid BIG bucks to be there for it. This is another one that would have had me rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter. Here it goes...
Chrissy proceeds to tell my co-worker that her father really embarassed her. My co-worker asks what happened and the child tells my co-worker that her dad brought her snack/lunch to school and also packed her sippy cup in the bag. Now I am sure that most of you are familiar with what a sippy cup is. For those of you who are unsure, a sippy cup is what a baby/toddler uses when they are transitioning from a bottle to a regular cup! Yes...one of those. And yes...the child is in the 3RD GRADE! Then she says that the kids in the class were laughing at her. I wanted to laugh and point at her and I wasn't even there when she admitted to it.
During the after school program, she decides to eat her snack, but instead she hides behind her bookbag to drink from her suppy cup. My question is...What in the world are you doing with a sippy cup in the 3rd grade?!?!?! And why did your dad think it was ok for you to use it in school?!?!?! If you think that's crazy, you haven't seen anything yet. There is more to the story. As the child continues to drink from her sippy cup, she stops and looks at the top on the cup. Then she says, "This is not the top for my sippy cup. It's my brother's." That wouldn't be too bad if she had a baby brother. No, this little girl IS the baby! She has 3 older brothers (the oldest brother would be a freshman in high school, the middle is an 8th grader, and the 3rd brother is in the 5th grade!)! Something is definitely wrong with this picture! Why in the world does these children own and STILL USE a sippy cup! I don't think I will ever be able to look that little girl with a straight face!
I know you guys are thinking that these things can't all be happening in the school I work at. Well...they do! It's like some alternate universe or something. However, these stories help keep my sanity. Enjoy! I know I do!
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