School Funnies: Fall Edition

We are well into our second quarter of school, and there has been no shortage of material. As usual, the kids have been giving me plenty of content. Here are some of my favorite fall anecdotes I collected along the way.

 

1. Gussied Up 

 

“Are you going to a party?” one of my 5th graders asked.

 

“Why? Do I look extra spiffy today?”

 

"Yeah," the girl nodded. "You're fancy."

 

The other student standing with her wasn't buying it though, “You look like you always look."

 

Apparently, I looked fancy today . . . to some . . .

 

2. Let's Play "Mrs. Duggan"

 

The kindergartners have been playing a new game in their classroom during free time. It's called "Mrs. Duggan." 

 

The kindergarten teacher told me they say, "Let's play Mrs. Duggan!" and then they play something that looks like school or house, only with singing, and one lucky kid gets to be Mrs. Duggan. 

  

The choir kids do impressions of me before their rehearsals too. It's very enlightening. 

 

 

3. When Do You Retire?

  

One of my former students, now a star on the high school football team, comes back and visits from time to time, especially now that he has a little sister attending kindergarten at my school. 

 

The last time he saw me, he asked when I was retiring. I told him I had eight more years.

 

"Okay, that's good, because you can't retire until my youngest sister is through sixth grade. She'll be in kindergarten next year."

 

He is very excited that I will have taught his whole family, including some cousins, to the point that he's planned out my career. 

 

 

4. All The World's a Stage

  

Right before the girls' basketball game, one of my second graders said, "My cousin is on the basketball team, and she's performing today!"

 

Everything at our school is a performance . . . most likely, thanks to yours truly . . .  

 

 

5. I Don't Live Here . . . 

 

The other afternoon, I was leaving the school building. I had my roller briefcase, which looks a bit like a suitcase. 

 

I walked past one of my first graders, who was still waiting for her ride, rolling my bag behind me.

 

"Hi, Mrs. Duggan!" she said. Then she paused.

 

"Are you moving out?"

 

I've always suspected they think I live in my classroom.

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Five Things I Thought Would Get Easier With Age

 

 

I thought five things would get easier with adulthood and a little wisdom. Spoiler alert: They didn't. 

 

Five Things I Thought Would Get Easier With Age

1. Bedtimes

As children, didn't we think we would be able to go to bed whenever we wanted, and it would be awesome? That's a common trope, right? 

 

Turns out, it doesn't really work that way. Fun fact: Sometimes, you actually want to go to bed and get some sleep, only to wake up at 2:00 in the morning, singing the same song over and over in your head (in my case) or coding some algorithm (in my husband Dan's case, although I couldn't tell you what that means).

 

 

2. Being a homeowner

 

 

 

Or as Dan said to me the other day, "I didn't think owning a house would be easy so much as I didn't know everything would wear out every ten years."

 

 

 

And along the same lines . . . 

 

3. Taking care of the lawn and weeding

 

  

 

Contrary to how amazing I look in this picture, I don't mow the lawn very often or, actually, not at all. But I do pull weeds, especially in the summers, and that is a never ending battle. And it takes Dan an entire afternoon to do yard work every week. I thought a neat lawn, complete with pretty trees and shrubs, was just something you manifested.

 

4. More time to read for pleasure 

During my college years, while pouring over textbooks on music theory, orchestration, choral and instrumental methods, and history, I thought I would have more time to read what I wanted when I became a real adult.

 

That turned out to be false. It just did. It's hard to say what replaced all of those hours I spent at the university library, probably the 400 students who darken my music classroom every week.

 

5. Not having a period, or at least getting to that point

I thought it would just stop one day. That was stupid. 

 

 

 

 

Except even looking at chocolate cake packs on the pounds these days . . . 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

The Generational Divide At Yet Another Weezer Concert

 

A couple of weekends ago, my husband, Dan, and I saw Weezer . . . again. 

 

Faithful readers will know I am a Ride-Or-Die Weezer fan. I think this was my sixth Weezer concert, and they are still the Best. Live. Band. Ever.

 

We saw them in Portland this time, in raked arena seats, where I could actually see the bands. I should also mention, Silversun Pickups and The Shins opened for Weezer, and they were amazing too.

 

This concert was a multigenerational celebration, especially for Gen X-ers with their kids. And the kids even seemed to know "the hits."

 

But there is a difference between Gen X and other generations of concert goers. 

Most of the younger people stood and sang along to the familiar songs, but they spent A LOT of time on their phones. And most of them sat down for extended periods of time. How can you dance to Weezer if you're sitting?

 

One young person behind me, kept closing his eyes, looking miserable in the bright stage lights, while his middle aged parent headbanged to every song.

 

 

 

The (younger-than-Gen X, but still an adult) girl next to me was excited. She was annoying when she was in my space and squealing in a very high-pitched voice, but at least she was engaged in the concert during times. The rest of the time, she was in her seat, texting. 

"Maybe she was texting someone in a different part of the arena," Dan suggested, giving her the benefit of the doubt. She was sitting there by herself. 

 

The following Monday, I showed my choir the video of me doing a dance to "Buddy Holly." (We dance to "Buddy Holly" in choir practices, and I had promised them I would do it at the concert.)

 

"Who's that girl with her hands in the air?" they asked, referring to the screaming text-er, who was not sitting at that moment.

 

"I don't know, but we were besties by the end of the concert," I said.  

 

 

The Gen X-ers, on the other hand, tended to be more present. I rarely saw a phone in the hands of my peers, unless they were using it as a Zippo lighter (now that no one smokes indoors). 

 

Every once in a while, we older folks took a picture or recorded a quick video. Most of the time, we were on our feet, collectively rocking out, singing every word to "Say It Ain't So" and the "Undone — The Sweater Song," the way God intended it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the kids of Gen X-ers: You just attended the hardest rockin' concert you'll ever see, and we Gen X-ers weren't even tired afterwards.

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

"Why Is That Lady Always Singing?" and Other Tales from the Music Room

We are well into the school year, and the kids are making themselves quite comfortable in the music room.  

Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi  . . .  

During the first weeks of school, I showed my classes a couple of pictures of my family. A picture of my husband, Dan, and I on our summer road trip popped up. 

 

One of the third grade boys blurted out (before I could stop him since he was not supposed to be blurting out), "He looks like Obi-Wan Kenobi!" 

 

Several of the other kids agreed, "Oh yeah. He does look like Obi-Wan . . . " 

 

I'm 99.9% sure the kids meant the Ewan McGregor version, not Alec Guinness.

 

 

Kindergarten Throwback 

My sixth graders are getting nostalgic early this year. They beg to sing "Slippery Fish" every music class. 

 

"Slippery Fish" is a kindergarten song. 

 

I even use it as an incentive now. If the sixth graders behave well, I let them sing "Slippery Fish" the last few minutes of class. 

 

Classroom management has never been so easy.

 

They also sing it around the school, for the PE teacher and the classroom teachers. Sometimes, I hear the spontaneous renderings of "Slippery Fish" down the hall.  

 

 

That Weird Lady Who Is Always Singing . . .  

The first week of school, one of the kindergartners passed by my room and said, "Why is that lady always singing? She's the only one who does it." 

 

The Cult Of Copy Cat
Copy Cat, my singing companion, is way more popular than I am. 

 

I'm starting to understand that the little kids aren’t sure if Copy Cat is a puppet or an actual cat friend of mine.

 

At first, they act like they have figured it out, "He's a puppet!" 

 

Then they give me the side-eye, "Right . . .?"

 

Some of my current sixth graders, who were online as kindergartners during COVID, recently confessed they thought Copy Cat was real for a long time.

 

 

 

The other day, before choir started, I found the kids doing this . . .  

 

 

 

"All Hail Copy Cat!" they were chanting.  

 

"Are you starting a cult?" Dan asked when I showed him the picture. 

 

"Apparently, Copy Cat is."

 

(By the way, this is a total joke. Nobody is indoctrinating the children.) 

 

Copy Cat celebrated "Talk Like a Pirate Day" this week. 

 

This prompted one of my second graders to tell Copy Cat the following joke, "What does the pirate say at the auto dealership?"

 

"I want that carrrrgh!"

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

A Few Things I'm Grateful For (But I Probably Take For Granted)

Every school year, I sign up for a mental health workshop of some sort. (To my chagrin, I promptly neglect these mental wellness skills as soon as music program season rolls around.) 

 

All of these workshops, without fail, recommend sending gratitude into the universe in some way, journaling, meditating, disseminating light throughout the world. (I don't know. I don't listen well.)

 

TBH, I have a difficult time coming up with things to be grateful for on the fly. I thought about making a quick list to help me with that task. 

 

Then I realized, I am actually grateful for several trivial things that I probably take for granted on a daily basis. 

 

I decided to make that list instead.

  

1. Being able to see the Boise Foothills on non-smoky days

We have a fire season that seems to get longer and/or earlier every summer. As soon as fire season hits, I regret my lack of appreciation.  

 

 

 

 

2. Days when everything’s not on fire

Speaking of fire season, these days, I'm just glad when Boise and the Northwest are not on fire. Maybe we should start taking climate change seriously . . . ?

 

 

3. Days when I DON'T have a period, a headache, or cramps

There is a lot about perimenopause that NOBODY told me. 

 

Hot flashes and night sweats exist in my world, though not in the extreme because I am on hormones. 

 

But my period AND PMS symptoms (CRAMPS!) are so irregular and frequent (like a light period, but spotting for a month), even on hormones. 

 

It's like going through puberty in reverse. I probably need a hormone tune-up at my next physical.

 

If you are a male rolling your eyes right now, shut up. I WILL FIGHT YOU.  

 

 

 

4. Use of my opposable thumbs

Out-of-the-blue aches and pains in your joints and shoulders that suddenly freeze up are also fun side effects in my new season of life.  

 

Last weekend, I think I overextended my right thumb while mountain biking. I was going hard, man. (Riding my brakes, I mean . . .)

 

A few days later, I was opening an Amazon package with scissors, and I got distracted by, I don't know, a squirrel or something outside. And I cut my left thumb instead of the box. 

 

Did I mention brain fog? #thestruggleisreal

 

I have never been so grateful for thumbs. 

 

5. House plants that continue to live under my watch

Meet Audrey II. He has been alive for a couple of decades. And he sings, "FEED ME, BECKY!" 

 

If you know, you know . . .  

 

 

6. Nights the neighbor cat does not use our raised garden bed as a litter box

My husband, Dan, caught the cat prowling our backyard in the evenings, side-eyeing him, waiting for us to go to bed. 

 

We've tried all the tricks: citrus, scented oils, thyme sprigs, coffee grounds, etc. The nights we put out sticky pine cones and run the sprinklers seem to work the best. But the cat always comes back.

 

We've resigned ourselves to cleaning out the "litter box" every other morning or so. 

 

 

7. Latte With Love

During the school year, Dan makes me a latte every morning. He calls it a "Latte With Love." I should probably appreciate those more. 

 

This tradition doesn't extend into summer break, however. I'm on my own latte-wise. 

 

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

First Day Fun

 

Well, school is officially back in session. In fact, our school started a week and a half ago. 

 

The first day excitement never gets old, even when experiencing it for the twenty-sixth time. 

 

Highlights From The First Day 

 

The kids were thrilled that Copy Cat grew a mustache over the summer. 

 

"He's growing up," I told my students. 

 

We call him "Mustached Copy Cat" now.

 

 

The best statement I heard all day was made by a first grade teacher to her students.

 

"We're not going to have a potty party. That's just gross."

 

  

Last year, the kindergartners sang a song at graduation which involved holding up the number one, shaking their hips, and singing, "We're ready for first grade, first grade!" 

 

This year on the first day of school, one of last year's kindergartners, now a first grader, danced by me in the hall, shaking her hips and holding up the number one. The kids were supposed to be silent in the hall, but she was obviously singing the song in her head.

 

These kindergartners are now 1st graders!

The sixth graders applauded for me when I said, "I'm Mrs. Duggan, and I'm your music teacher."

 

In twenty-six years of teaching, a class has never applauded for me!

 

They must be campaigning for leading roles in this year's spring musical. 

 

 

At the end of the school day, the sixth grade patrol captain for the day, was standing at the front door, dressed in her special safety vest, holding a clipboard.

 

I overheard her say to her friends, "You don't know, bro, how much work I've done. And I'm not even paid!"

 

 

Every year, Dan sends me an album or two for the first day of school. This is the married, adulting version of sending your girlfriend a mixtape. 

 

"What was this year's selection?" I can hear my faithful readers ask . . . 

 

A Binding Life by Home Star and Bleeds by Wednesday.  

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Summer Is Almost Over, But I'm Not Quite Ready

The summer is coming to a close. In the Boise District, school has been in session since last Wednesday. But I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to the summer, especially considering the last two weeks of my break were engulfed in flames. (Or smoke. Literally.) 

 

We are surrounded by major wildfires, and that has caused our air quality to plummet, making it difficult (hazardous some days) to go outside. 

 

However, I did have some summer fun before living inside a campfire. 

 

1. Solo Hiking: When my husband, Dan, was out of town, I explored new trails in the foothills. You might remember, I went into more detail on my adventures in solo hiking a couple of weeks ago.

 

  

 

2. Theater: I performed the role of Mrs. Bucket in Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka at the beginning of the summer. I will miss being on stage, but I decided to take a break for a while to concentrate on my job. It was getting difficult to juggle both schedules. But Willy Wonka was a great show to go out on.

 

Photo Credit: Keri Messina, Music Theatre of Idaho

Photo Credit: Keri Messina, Music Theatre of Idaho

Photo Credit: Keri Messina, Music Theatre of Idaho

Photo Credit: Keri Messina, Music Theatre of Idaho

 

3. Road Trip: We visited Banff and Jasper National Parks this summer. I provided more detail in a previous blog post about our Canadian travels.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

4. America 250: The City of Boise had an America 250 celebration on the 4th of July. Hot Take: It was WAY classier than anything that happened in the nation's capital. Just sayin' . . . 

  

Jeff Crosby and Josh Ritter concert downtown

 

 

Boise Philharmonic concert prior to the fireworks

 

 

Fireworks and a Drone Show!

 

5. Baseball: Once my little brother reached a certain age, our summers were filled with following him around the state to various All-Star Baseball tournaments. 

 

Now his son, my nephew, is on a 9-year-old All-Star team. We were able to see him play in a tournament in Meridian, and, man, this kid is good! 

 

Watching him play brought back so many fond memories of being a part of an extended baseball family. I wish my mom could see him play. She would have been so proud that the Turner baseball legacy lives on. 

 

Of course, she might have been pacing in circles when the games got exciting. I'm not sure how much baseball she watched my brother play . . . 😂 

 

 

6. Mountain Biking & More Hiking: We did do some of our summer favorites before everything went up in smoke.

 

Bear Basin

 

 

Mountain biking in Montana!

 

 

 

 

Mores Mountain

7. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival: This is one of our favorite summer traditions. Lucky us, it's not quite over. We still have one more production left this season!

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.