School Year Funnies: Better Late Than Never

 

The school year ended way back in May, and I neglected to post a few of my favorite kiddo anecdotes. 

 

So . . . even though I'm trying to pretend that school doesn't exist for the next four weeks, I thought I would share these stories before August rolls around, and I'm inundated with a new batch of funny/weird/eye-roll-inducing student yarns.

 

There was that one day . . . 

 

I was teaching a Mexican Folk Dance to my first graders. I was partners with one little boy, whom I had chosen strategically. (Fellow teachers, you will know what I mean by this . . . ) 

 

The boy was studying my arm. I thought he might be checking out my freckles. A lot of the littles have never seen so many freckles and aren't sure what they are. Then he started rubbing my arm and, before I could pull away, shaking it.

 

He looked at my jiggling arm and grinned up at me.

 

“Jelly,” he said.

 

There was that other day . . .  

 

"I made you a bracelet," one of my fifth graders said, handing me the mentioned accessory.

 

"Thank you so much," I looked closer at it. "It says 'Zoey.'"

 

"Well, first I made it for Zoey, but she didn't want it." 

 

I don't know who Zoey is, but I have her bracelet now.

 

 

My school choir has the weirdest tradition of singing "mustache" on the half-steps between our choir warm-ups. 

 

I didn't start the ritual, nor did I continue it for the last decade. Somehow, the kids find out about it year after year, and hilarity ensues. 

 

This year, one of my sixth graders showed up wearing a fake mustache, and a new tradition was born. 

 

Their junior high choir teachers are going to LOVE me.  

 

 

 

My choir students also bring me snacks. Sometimes, the snacks are in wrappers. Sometimes, they are pulled from their pockets. 

 

They always ask if I enjoyed them later in the day. I mean, how much do these kids think I eat?

 

It started during the musical because we were rehearsing during my lunch time, and they didn't want me to get hangry. 

 

They know me quite well by the time they reach fifth and sixth grade.

 

Free Coffee Day: You can see the snacks that were left on my desk by the choir kids that morning.

 

The last week of school, we were playing a YouTube game called, "Guess the Disney Voice," and when we got to Snow White's voice, I overheard one second grader whisper to another, "She looks like Mrs. Duggan."

 

 

 

Faithful readers of my blog will remember that this is not the first time my students have said I look like Snow White. 

 

Of course, now I'm pushing 50 and more often compared to their grandmothers. It was nice to know they still see a resemblance.

 

Also at the end of the school year . . .  

 

My choir kids stayed after the pizza party to write me thank you messages on my whiteboard. Other students added their own messages throughout the week.

 

 

The Wings Center sent in a gift with some of our students who are part of their after school program.

 

The note reads, "Thank you for helping kids find their rhythm."  

 

It almost makes me want to go back . . . almost . . . but not quite yet! 

 

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