{how far to heaven?}

foot. pound. mile. cup. teaspoon. centimeter.

in math my students and i were exploring measurement. why do we have to measure things? how do we measure things? what is human error?

to incorporate the holiday season, we set off across the classroom measuring in gingerbread men. yes, that's right, gingerbread men. students colored and decorated gingerbread men cut outs and began on a list of measuring chairs, desks, book shelves, doors, and walls. i asked each student to measure one additional item of their choice. as students shared their findings, some shared the height of a friend or the length of the white board...

as i asked for any final sharers, one little fella in the front row shot up his hand in excitement.

me: "and what did you measure?"

little fella: "how many gingerbread men do you think it would take to get to heaven? that's what i'm going to measure."

me (all smiles): "oh, and how are you going to measure that?"

little fella (very, very serious): "i guess when i float up to heaven i'll just take it with me and measure while i'm on my way up! gee, that's going to take a lot of gingerbread men."


so adorable. really, where do i get these kids.

{kids say the darndest things}

"out of office due to illness." 

i frequently keep in contact with several parents in my classroom by e-mail and phone. this is the instant reply i got back from one parent's e-mail after sending an e-mail updating her about how things were going in the classroom... "out of office due to illness." 

as her kiddo came in the classroom i asked him if his mom was feeling better, the conversation went a little like this:

kiddo:  "kinda. she's been sick for a few days."

me:  "oh, does she have the flu?"

kiddo:  "no, she has pneumonia and marijuana."

me: "she has marijuana!?! i don't think so..."

kiddo: "yeah. she does. i'm sure she does."


i didn't press him with more questions because i knew he was pretty sure of himself, but i giggled inside.
later that day, i shot his mom another e-mail, telling her the little rumor her angel was spreading.  she relied back with a "WWWWwwwwwhHHHHHAHAAAAATTTT!?!!?!?!"  and told me that she didn't know if she should be hysterically laughing or horrified.  both, i think, would be an appropriate reaction :)

oh, kids.  they say the darndest things, even when they don't mean to. 

{stories from room 3/4}

life would be SO GRAND if everyone just burst out into song and dance periodically.  (seriously, how joyful would that be!?  answer: COMPLETELY.)  well, it just so happens that my dream isn't so far fetched.  my cherubs FREQUENTLY BURST out in to song (see previous post!) and BUST out dance moves (yes, ALL in unison!).  we're like the miniature high school musical. it's quite remarkable.  and i'm not sure how they do it!  as their teacher, i ALWAYS want to join in and and create a spectacular dance party (i mean, we're learning about action verbs... i could totally make a lesson out of that... kinestetic learning at its best!  it could be SO educational!)  however,  i resist my urge to throw up my hands and dish out my 'hawk in the sky'... you know, trying to keep my professional appearance.  but really... nine year old boys singing taylor swift and bobbing up and down like oomp-loompas... clearly, all the ingredients for a solid dance party. 

my kids are gold.  although sometimes challenging, sometimes stressful, and sometimes sweaty and stinky, but they are so, so sweet.  they make me smile so much.

so here's a story that a mom passed down to me today... precious.

i live across from the grocery store.  not exactly across... more like in the relative area.  being a small town, several of my students know where my hide out is from 5pm-7am.  in fact, a few of the neighboring kiddos have waved me down to say hello or to ask for help with their assignments.  lucky for them, they are adorable, and i can't resist. 

so on goes the story... one of my little ones was firmly believed that i lived across from the grocery store.  what is across from the grocery store?  a hotel.  when he drove pass the accommodations, he would always point out to his parents, "oh, that's where my teacher lives!"  

he's parents were a little skeptical, and during a conference asked how my living situation was.  i told them that i loved it!  they were somewhat complexed and started to ask me how i cooked things.  after i explained that i was living in an apartment, they started to chuckle and said that they had pictured me living in a hotel hovered over a hot pot every night trying to make supper. 

oh, these kids are cute.  it makes me wonder what other stories have come out of room 3/4...

{when you're happy and you know it, clap your hands}

what do you do when fifteen children simultaneously burst out in song?  now, this is something i should be used to... i mean, i've worked at a summer camp for four years and i am known to hum a little "great big moose", "boy and a girl in a little canoe" or "your mama don't where no socks" from time to time.  but this was nothing like i've ever experienced!  strange, bizarre, beautiful, and fabulousness all at the same time :) 

as i was giving my children the run down of the day's schedule, i was explaining this prayer card i was going to pass out that had different bible verses to look up when you are ..."sad or if you are happy..." that's when the kids jumped in...  "AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS!"  they continued with this rendition for several, what seemed like minutes!  while i, stunned and complexed waved my arms to try to quiet them down but was so struck with the joyfulness that i couldn't help but smile, laugh... and well... clap!  yes, i'd have to say that i'm happy and i know it.