Happy Holidays

ONE WEEK COUNTDOWN!!

Me: Are you excited for the holidays? Are you all ready to go?

Special Friend: Menorah BOOM! Dreidel BOOM Chocolate coins BOOM BOOM BOOM! Bring on the holiday cheer baby!

Pilgrims

In Third grade we take the Pilgrims very seriously. For the past two weeks we have been learning all about the Mayflower, building our settlement, making treaties with the Native Americans, hunting for food... We ARE Pilgrims. 

Each day the kids write journal entries in their Pilgrim Log books. They record important information and tell stories about things that have been happening in their colony, etc. They are encouraged to write with a creative flourish as long as the writing is reasonable.

A recent entry titled "Crossing the Great Ocean" had some especially creative tangents.

"The storms never stopped and the food was disgusting. The rats were everywhere nibbling on whatever they saw! 

I became sick and could not control my body. There was no privacy and my sickness was everywhere. 

For entertainment we played spin the bottle. All the kids on board got drunk. Every kid on board was an alcoholic."

I am so pleased that my students are learning and remembering all of the best parts of our Nation's history. 

Emotions

Emotions can be unpredictable and surprising at times. Sometimes they crop up seemingly out of nowhere, making us feel overwhelmed and out of control. Children and adults alike feel frustrated by these mysterious emotions. It can feel impossible to keep your cool at times. 

A few of my special friends have been feeling especially emotional lately. As they cry and yell and, on occasion break down completely, I feel their pain. I tell them that I too feel this way at times, more often than I care to admit. 

These poor young souls must learn that this type of public self expression is simply not allowed. They must learn the hard process of smiling through the struggle time and how to "manage" their feelings.. 

During art class we learned how to draw self portraits. 

Special Friend sobbing uncontrollably at desk, followed by forced "cool down time" outside. 

Me: "What is going on? Can you tell me what you are feeling?"

Special Friend: "I don't know what the problem is!! I don't know what to draw and what to erase. I am lost in a fog!" 

Me: "Take a deep breath. This is art and whatever you want to add or erase is OK. No one is hurt. This is not a big deal." 

Special Friend: "My emotions are OUT OF CONTROL!! I want to punch my emotions in the face!" 

Exactly. What a wise and articulate child.

Mysterious

There is always another adventure waiting for us. Sometimes we find it in the most surprising place, or at an unexpected moment! Some of my special friends are especially good at having an "adventure" any time and anywhere...

(Snack Recess, which is 15 minutes long)

Me: "Hi Special Friend. How's recess?" 

Special Friend: "Well Ms. K I have had quite the adventure today! I put on my Sherlock Holmes face and started following the trail. I pulled out my spectacle and leaned down to examine the trail. Scattered grass was all around. And what did I find?! Muddy footprints leading from the field above! I predict there have been some 4th graders up to no good. 

Like I said, adventures all around!

The Dream Mistake

Some writing today from a special friend...

I was having a delicious lunch at In-N-Out. I was drinking water and I needed to go to the bathroom, so I went to the bathroom. When I started peeing I realized it wasn't a urinal, it was a DREAM!

And that's how I learned if you go in a dream, you go in real life! I learned this lesson the hard way.

You are probably thinking "Oh no! Your bed must have been soaked!" Don't worry! When I woke up my pee was shooting straight up like a rocket. My covers were warm and dry below me.

Next time I have to pee in dreamland I will hold it in!

5 stages of grief...

We have been reading stories as a class and then having discussions about them. We discuss the different characters, themes, and any questions or observations that we may have. This is one of my favorite parts of the day. Some days there is more writhing around on the floor than actual conversation, but then some days they throw a little surprise treat your way. 

This week we read a story about a lion and a mouse. At the beginning of the story the lion is very rude to the mouse. Later on in the story the mouse ends up saving the Lion's life. Lion does not seem to care and simply leaves without so much as a nod to mr. mouse. 

Me: "Why doesn't Lion thank Mouse the way he should have?"

Special friend: "Lion is going through the five stages of grief! He is clearly in the first stage, which is denial. All of the signs point to this. He is stuck up and lonely. There is no telling where he will go from here. He may never get past this!"

<Silence>

Me: "Is it recess yet??"

Brothers

Being a big brother or a big sister is a BIG job! They can be SO needy and annoying sometimes. And the pressure! Always working to set the bar high, to be the perfect example of morality and wisdom. It is certainly no easy task.

Me: "How do you feel about being a big brother?"

Special friend (who also happens to be a big brother): "Well we are together 24/7! I have to sleep and come to school just to get a breather. He sure can drive me crazy but, we're brothers. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the whole world!

Except... maybe a HUMUNGOUS ice cream sundae that would last a lifetime!"

Yep. My thoughts exactly.