Working for a Roach-Free America!

Which disastrous misadventure shall I relate first? 

Let's start in chronological order:

A couple weeks ago, on a Friday, we had to work late at school--until close to midnight.  Fridays are rough days schedule-wise because we only have one 30 minute break--and it's not until 1:30 P.M.  I'd been checking the weather on my fancy, new Droid X phone and, for reasons I have yet to figure out, shoved it in my back pocket.  While the kids were working on something, I ran next door and asked the 2nd grade teacher to watch my kids for a minute while I ran to the bathroom.

See where I'm going?

I run down the hall, quickly use the bathroom and stand up to wash my hands...when I hear a loud "PLOP" sound.  In what felt like slow-motion I turn around to see my fancy, new Droid X swimming in the toilet.  Wait, it gets better! 

I hadn't flushed yet.

Of course I have to fish it out and am desperately trying to dry it off, knowing I can't take too long because someone else is watching my class and totally annoyed at myself for being so careless.  LONG story short: soaking wet phone in rice does NOT work, insurance comes in handy, customer service activation people are completely useless, and I now have a new phone.

Misadventure #2:

Earlier this week, I was going through the students' daily folders during my morning break (as I do every day).  Thankfully I had my hair in a ponytail (trust me, this tidbit becomes relevant in a minute).  Suddenly I feel something tickling my neck.  I reach my hand up to touch my neck, look down at my hand...and scream like a mother-effin banshee.  It was a roach.  Can you imagine if my hair had been down?!  It would have been crawling in my hair and I probably wouldn't have felt a thing!  Ick.  I get the creepy-crawlies just thinking about it.  Being a fairly old school, we're prone to lots of roaches, but hadn't really seen any in a while so I was trying to figure out where it came from.  Needless to say, the next day I Bengal Roach sprayed the hell out of my room.

Valentine's Day in the eye of 3rd grade beholders...

We actually had a pretty enjoyable day on Monday.  I got lots of sweet gifts and yummy treats, but the best part were the random comments:


Student:  "Ms. Teacher, I don't like Valentine's Day."

Me:  "Why?"

Student:  "Because I feel sorry for all the single people.  They're unhappy until they can find a date."


(while sorting candy hearts alphabetically)

Student:  "Ms. Teacher, what does 'be true' mean?" (holds up candy heart)

Me:  (trying to put it in 3rd grade terms)  "Well, it means 'be yourself'!"

Student:  "But Ms. Teacher, I can't be myself!  If I'm myself then I'll never get the girl!"

Me:  (turning away to hide chuckle)


(while playing Word-O with word wall words--except if they get 3 words in a row they call out "I love you!" instead of BINGO!)

Me:  (calling out 7th or 8th word during 1st round)  "Heart."

Student:  (jumping up and down and waving arms in the air)  "I LOVE YOU!! I LOVE YOU, MS. TEACHER!!! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOOOOOOOUUUU!!!"

Me:  (doubled over in uncontrollable laughter)

Friday Funnies

Lest I become too jaded and cynical, I'm going to start something called "Friday Funnies".  Either pictures or conversations (or both) that are from my third graders.  To start things off:

Clearly we need to keep working on phonics as this was not the only mistake on the paper.  Although it was the most humorous.

As part of our Morning Work, students answer the "Question of the Day".  I have no idea where this response came from other than reading too much into the picture.