Best Present Ever

Not recognizing the number, I didn't answer my phone Thursday morning. Listening to the message left by the caller, I was filled with curiosity. A lady had left a cordial message saying that she was trying to get in touch with my husband, Phillip. He had been her child's special ed teacher many years ago, and she said she'd appreciate a return call from him. Since Phillip and I worked at the same school for 24 years, I recognized the name of the former student but was perplexed about the purpose of the call. After all, the boy had been one of our students around 20 years ago.

Because we only had a half day of school due to the holiday break, I was happy to go out to lunch with Phillip. I told him about the phone message, and his furrowed brow and tilted head showed me that he was as surprised to hear from this lady as I was. After lunch, I went Christmas shopping while Phillip went back home. When I pulled into our garage a couple of hours later, Phillip met me at the car with tears in his eyes. However, these were tears of gratitude and joy, not sadness. He said that the mother had called to express her appreciation to Phillip for the spark he'd ignited in her son as a young child. Her child had "graduated" from special ed fairly quickly and had gone on to get a master's degree from a respected North Carolina university. Her son is also a fine poet and writer and is thriving today. The mother said that she gave Phillip and God the credit for turning this child on to learning and for giving him the confidence to believe in himself.

Two lessons were brought home to me through this occurrence. First, every single one of us has a need to make a positive difference in this world, and we all need affirmation that we've done that. Second, I know that many times I get the urge to say or do something nice for someone, simply out of love, but most times I don't follow through. Taking the time to carry out these nudges or inclinations is what matters, not just thinking the thoughts. Phillip and I are so impressed and thankful that this kind woman took the time during this busy season to get my number from a mutual friend, to call me out of the blue, and to express these meaningful messages to my husband. Phillip ended their conversation by telling her that this was one of the very best Christmas presents he could possibly receive.

Merry Christmas, Friends, and my we all be more kind and intentional in SHOWING that kindness during 2017!

Run That By Me One More Time???

Okay, Brooke Maner, this story's for you! And I may need to apologize in advance for the off-color content of what I'm about to relate. However, it's true, it was a random, hilarious happening that brightened up a ho-hum day, and it's just too good to keep to myself! As I walked out of my office with a cow-licked, freckle-faced second grader by my side, I overheard Ms. Maner, one of our first grade teachers, talking to Siri. I wasn't trying to overhear, but since I had to walk right past her, I couldn't avoid it, and I'm glad I couldn't! I feel sure my second grade companion would feel the same. Here's what we heard Ms. Maner say to Siri (and in a serious tone of voice, no less). "Remind me to pick my nose at 3 AM." Taken aback, my little friend and I widened our eyes and looked at each other as if our ears were deceiving us. Nope, she said it again, and of course we froze in our tracks to listen. Since we were standing so close and Ms. Maner was holding the phone in front of her face while speaking to Siri, we could overhear. "I'm sorry, Misty, I didn't get that." With a sigh of frustration, Ms. Maner said it again, this time more slowly. "Remind me to pick my nose at 3 AM." Once again, Siri responded that she didn't understand. Now at this point, I had figured out that Brooke was speaking into Misty Fetzer's phone. Misty is Brooke's teaching teammate, and the two are famous for playing good-natured tricks on each other. So Brooke explained to my friend and me that she wanted Siri to wake Misty up at 3:00 and remind her to pick her nose. As the second grader and I cracked up, rolled our eyes, and shook our heads, we said good-bye and left Brooke to her endeavor. Before you go thinking that these two teachers are wacko, let me say that they both create an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie for their students, which leads to their children's enjoyment of school, along with the secure feeling that they're part of a family. This warmth also helps their students be able to put all they have into learning. Although I've seen and heard many unusual sights and sounds in my 30 years traveling Farragut Primary's hallways, this instance has to be one of the most memorable, and I'm glad I happened to walk by at just the right moment to be a witness to it!

Punny Story

Strike one, strike two, strike three, you're out!  Just like in baseball, my kindergarten students know that if anyone breaks three rules during our 45 minute guidance class, that person will have to leave our group on the carpet and go back to his or her seat.  At the beginning of each class, we briefly read the rules, and I remind the children about 1, 2, 3, out.  As I reviewed this practice with a class on Monday, I used a few Spanish words with which they're familiar:  "That's uno, that's dos, that's tres..."  And since that's about the extent of my Spanish, I asked the teacher, Mrs. Smith (who speaks both English and Spanish), how to say "seat".  "Silla", she answered, which as you may know is pronounced "see ya".  Realizing that we had ourselves a pun in the making, I giggled and said to the students, "Okay, if you break three rules, I'll say, 'That's uno, that's dos, that's tres.  SEE YA, go back to your silla!' "   Oh the joy of silly moments that punctuate a day!

Moving On....!

In the process of getting to know a long-lashed, blued-eyed kindergartner, I asked where her mom worked, and she told me that her mom was a teacher. "And does your daddy work?" I asked. "Yes," she answered. "Where does HE work?" I questioned. "At his work," the little girl answered solemnly. Stifling a giggle, I continued, "Do you know what Daddy DOES at his work?" "He works," she said in the most cooperative manner. "So Daddy works at his work," I repeated. Oh well, at least I gave it the old college try. And at that point, we moved on to talking about brothers, sisters, and pets!

A Memorable Picture Day

Picture day at a primary school! Walking through the hallways while children are making their way to class in the morning is a visual treat. It's like watching a fashion parade of adorable duds for kids, and most students are as clean as a whistle and well-groomed to boot. And this is what makes this story so hilarious. As I usually do, I walked down the first grade hallway to check on and encourage a freckle-faced, cow-licked boy. When he saw me at the door, he stood with a straight face and walked across the room to join me in the hall. As he did so, my eyeballs popped, and I'm sure my hand went to my mouth in consternation. For walking in my direction, seemingly unaware of his appearance, came a well-dressed child with a huge, jet black circle drawn around his face all the way from the bridge of his nose to his chin. I had greeted this little boy when he walked past my classroom about 15 minutes previously, and his face had been shiny and clean. Now THIS is one school picture that will bring back memorable moments for this child and his family!

Kindergarten Butterflies

16 kindergarten classes.  That's how many we have at our huge primary school, and walking in to

teach one during the very first week of school can be a daunting experience!  Actually, I taught 2 classes on their very first DAY of school, at 8:30 and 9:15, no less!  For one thing, I'm not sure whether they know how to pay attention for 45 minutes.  Can they sit still?  Will they be terrified and cry for their "real" teacher?  As I entered classroom after classroom after classroom, I would always see little children sitting criss-cross applesauce on the carpet, waiting expectantly for Miss Mimi, whom they didn't know from Adam.  Big eyes and solemn faces would watch me come in and unpack my teaching supplies.  On morning, I walked in, stopped in my tracks, widened my own eyes, and said to the teacher in a serious voice, "Are they nice?"  "Yes," she said, playing along, "they're VERY nice."  "They're not mean?  I don't need to be scared?" I continued.  "No, they're not monSTERS, they're monSTARS," she said.  "Do they bite?"  I asked.  By this time kids were starting to understand that we were just kidding around, and I heard giggles.  One petite girl with long dark hair and big chocolate colored eyes stood and walked slowly and solemnly toward me.  Close to her face she held a tiny velvet rabbit.  Stroking the bunny tenderly, she said in a genuine tone, "We'll be very nice.  Don't be scared." Of course I laughed with glee, gave her a hug, and let the children know how happy I was to meet them.  It's comforting to know that the kids understand the anxiety of new situations and will always have my back!

The POWER of a Name

I think I've found this year's Miss Personality! I have a new referral, a second grade girl with style galore, lots of charm, and a real way with words. During our initial conversation this week, she was telling me about her friends. She mentioned classroom and neighborhood peers and then thought back to last school year. It was easy for her to remember the first name of this particular friend, but she couldn't quite put her finger on the last name. With furrowed brow, she looked down and tapped her forehead with her index finger, deep in concentration. "Her last name was something like a lightning bolt," my friend said, and she drew a vertical zig-zag in the air. Since she couldn't solve the puzzle right then and there, we moved on, discussing school, teacher, homework, and family. About 15 minutes later, my visitor blurted excitedly, "Shock! It was Shock!" And she clapped her hands with glee. Of course I could understand how the connections in her mind had worked to figure out that elusive last name, as a lightning bolt could indeed deliver a mighty shock. Stay tuned, as I'm sure I'll have lots more snippets to write about this little character! 

A "Memorable" Moment

BOLO: I think that means "Be on the lookout" in police lingo. Well that's also one of the tasks our school staff is charged with during the first weeks of school. We are to be on the lookout for children who need help finding their classrooms due to the newness of the school year. You see, we have a unique setting due to the fact that we have about 1000 kindergarten, first, and second graders in a humongous physical facility. There are 50 homerooms, not to mention classrooms and offices galore for support staff. Eight of our classes are housed in portables, which means that children have to follow the winding sidewalk to their classes. Although I'm sure many students feel overwhelmed at first, we have scads of caring adults helping them find just the spot they're looking for. During the first week of school, I ran into a brand new second grader, a handsome blond boy who'd transferred to us from another town. Noticing his confused demeanor, I offered to help him find his way, which was a bit convoluted due to the fact that his new class was located in one of the outside classrooms. As we walked together, I remarked that I realized he had lots of new things to learn about...friends, his teacher, schoolwork, and his big new school building. With his chatty personality, the little boy agreed but volunteered more positive information. "I do have ONE thing that I already know, though. It's my lunch number. I know it so well that I can't get it out of my mind. It just goes around and around in my brain." Now our students' lunch numbers are located on tags that they wear around their necks to the cafeteria, where the tags are scanned for lunch charges. The numbers are several digits long and not very easy to memorize. Smiling down at him, I said, "Oh really? Those are hard to remember. What IS your lunch number?" Looking straight ahead, the personable child shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly quipped, "I forgot", and he moseyed on into class, leaving me on the sidewalk giggling!

First Day Jitters

Tears, fears, and thumping hearts. Yes, these are common during the first days of primary school. I've been on early morning duty for the past two weeks, which means that I hang out in the cafeteria to supervise children who arrive at school earlier than 7:30. Since the bell rings at 7:45, hundreds and hundreds of students fill our lunchroom for 20 minutes or so as they wait for classrooms to open. One spiky-haired little boy caught my attention the first day because he came in crying, and I noticed that he continued to quietly do so as he sat at a table with his head down. I could see those shaking shoulders and feel the child's misery. Kneeling down to check on him, I discovered that he was brand new at our school, a first grader who'd transferred from another town. Because our school is huge, with around 1000 K-2 children, I knew this boy must be overwhelmed with anxiety about finding his classroom, meeting a new teacher and lots of fellow classmates, and catching on to how first grade at a new school works. For the rest of his wait in the cafeteria, I stood nearby, occasionally rubbing his back and reminding him that he was safe and that I would help him find his classroom. I was proud of his efforts to try to stop crying and keep the volume low, and I knew this was a real struggle for him and that he wanted his mommy. When the time came for dismissal, the splotchy-faced little boy stood up, wiped his face on his sleeve, took a deep breath, and offered me his very moist and sticky hand. Knowing what was on that hand, a hesitated a fraction of a second, but of course compassion and empathy kicked in and took over. As I took his hand to walk him down the hall, warm feelings overtook me and I actually felt my own thumping heart and sting of tears. Sometimes you just have these moments when you know you're doing what you're supposed to be doing with your life, and there's no better feeling in the whole world. Later in the day, the teacher reported that my new friend had calmed down and been smiling within five minutes, which is often the case. Throughout the week, I kept my eyes on the little boy as he waited in the lunchroom before school started. For a few days, I did see some tears and a lowered head, but I noticed how kind other children were to him when they noticed his struggles. This past week, which was the second week of school, I saw no tears at all, so my new friend has found his wings and is ready to take off into the adventure of first grade! I'm quite thankful for the small moments of every day in which I clearly see the evidence of children's learning and growing!

Goofballs!

Bags galore, many stuffed to the brim, are toted by children through our school hallways en route to a big pile in our foyer.  This occurs during Sack Pack week in May, and the bags are filled with clothes and toys for Goodwill.  Students typically feel so happy that they're able to donate and help others, and many stop me along my way in order to tell me exactly what they're carrying in those bags. Recently, I noticed a grinning first grader holding two fat plastic grocery bags, one in each hand, up close to his chest. "Look, Miss Mimi, I have boobs!" he announced to one and all. " From somewhere nearby, I heard another child quip, "Hey Dolly!"  Hearty giggling ensued, and I just shook my head, thinking that there's rarely a dull minute in primary school hallways first thing in the morning!

A Day Without Work

"Work first, play later!" is one of the mantras we've learned as part of a kindergarten study skills unit.  "Do the most important things first, bop bop bop!"

At the beginning of each classroom guidance lesson, I have to unpack my bags, which are filled to overflowing with teaching supplies.  (Alas, such are the trials of a traveling teacher!)  Well, I have to carry strong magnets as well as pushpins in order to be able to hang my posters and charts on either magnetic or bulletin boards, depending on which is available in the particular classroom I'm visiting. I always have trouble separating the pushpins from the magnets, as they clump together in the bottom of my bags.  Sometimes I comment that, since they're all grouped together, they're having a PARTY in those bags and that they didn't invite me!

The other day I was trying to untangle the thumbtacks from the magnets as Ms. Smith's kindergarten class waited patiently for me to get ready to teach.  One grinning boy on the front row said, "Are they having a party today, Miss Mimi?"  "I reckon they are," I replied.  As quick as a wink, the clever child quipped, "Work now, party later!"  I cracked up, and so did the other children.  However, I was thrilled that this little tyke had taken to heart the study skills lessons I'd been teaching!

The very next day, I passed Ms. Smith's class on their way back from lunch.  They were in high gear because they'd had field day that morning and were getting ready for their end-of-the-year party that afternoon.  When the teacher spoke to me in the hallway and mentioned their doubly exciting day, I was happy to be able to say to the kids, "Party first, party later!"  And a good time was had by all!

Lesson in a Nutshell

Respect is correct!  As part of a unit on being champion students, our kindergarten lesson this week has been on showing respect for learning and for the feelings of others.  After finishing a discussion about the reasons for being respectful and singing and dancing to a peppy song, the children voted on the storybook they wanted me to hear.  As usual, I went down the class list and gave out puppets to hold during the story.  Since this was our last guidance class of the school year, it was the final chance for students to have a turn, and only 6 puppets were available.  After all of them had been handed out, a little girl with long golden hair said disappointedly, "Miss Mimi, it's been a really long time since I had a turn to hold a puppet."  "Yes," I replied, "your name was called last week, but you were absent."  Nodding her head, the child accepted the fact that she had missed her turn the previous week.  In a split second and with no prompting whatsoever, a little blond "Dennis the Menace" jumped up and headed across the carpet with his alligator puppet in hand, saying, "Here, she can have mine."  Instant tears flooded my eyes and I exclaimed, "Oh, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen.  Now THAT is showing respect for feelings. I've got tears in my eyes!"  An auburn-haired girl touched her eyes and said, "I've got tears, too!"  Still another sitting behind the hero boy blurted, "Me too!"  And then a fair-haired child in the back row said to the boy who'd given up his puppet, "Here, you can have mine."  Another girl in the back corner said, "You can have mine, too!"  I squealed with genuine delight and said, "Well, I don't need to say another word about respect because YOU have got it got it got it!"  We all enjoyed some laughter and camaraderie before settling down for the story, but I can guarantee that the sun was shining BRIGHTLY in Ms. Ratner's class yesterday!

Tears Tell the Tale!

"Don't Laugh at Me" is a beautiful song that has been recorded by different artists in various styles. The first version I became familiar with was sung by Mark Wills, a country artist, a decade or so ago. Later, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame) created a picture book and recorded the song with a few lyrics changed in order to be more understandable to young children. It's this version that I've played in guidance classes recently as an accompaniment to lessons on empathy and respect. I introduce the song by reading the book and showing the large colorful pictures, and then I play Peter Yarrow's recorded version. After the children are familiar with the words and message, I play it on my guitar and encourage them to sing along. Many students fall in love with "Don't Laugh at Me", and some children have told me that they've had their parents buy it on iTunes so they can listen at home. Mrs. Ford's first graders even learned every single word and recorded themselves singing it, then sent me the video! At the end of several classes, children request that I play this song. In one particular second grade class, there are two boys who have been high-maintenance in the discipline department. In the past, they've been disruptive and have had trouble getting along with peers and solving these problems peacefully on their own. So it's with real warmth and appreciation that I've seen both these boys on two different occasions wipe away their tears as they've listened intently and sung along with "Don't Laugh at Me". Both times, these two boys have come up to me at the end of class and said, "Miss Mimi, that song makes me cry." I've given them a hug and said, "Well you know what that teaches me? You have a good kind heart and you care about people." Incidents such as these help me understand two things. First, these fellows may have a crusty exterior, but deep down inside, they have soft gooey centers. Second, they are probably touched by the message of this song because they themselves have experienced the feeling of being left out of the mainstream group due to the behaviors they've chosen. There's hope for all of us, you know, and music can be a wonderful way of getting our attention and tugging on our heartstrings!

Caring Classmates

You know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to haYou know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to have a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!ve a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!

I Cannot Tell A Lie

To encourage writing practice and skills, I've been asking first and second graders to write for me this school year. Anything goes, as long as it has a happy ending (!!), I tell them. I'm not checking for spelling or grammar or punctuation, and this is not a requirement. I simply want children to enjoy creativity and putting thoughts down on paper, plus I love to learn more about them. It's been quite fun to read the varieties of papers that show up in my mailbox each day. I've received fanciful fiction, advice for little kids, wishes for the world, true stories related to our guidance class topics, poetry, summaries of what they've learned in school, and yes, I've been reminded of scientific and historical facts I'd long forgotten! At the beginning of each guidance class, I give a writing report, sharing with students the number of papers I've received from each class. I haven't pressured anyone to write, wanting this to be their choice and not an added (and possibly dreaded) schoolwork requirement. Sometimes I have time in guidance class to read a few examples of writings I've received during the week, and the students seem to love hearing these.

Well, the other day I read a story that had been turned in by a sweet, dark-haired second grader. A week later, as I was threading my way through the hallway during the early-morning rush to class, I was stopped by this same little girl. Moving over to a safe spot to talk, I looked down into her earnest-looking brown eyes. "Miss Mimi, I want to be honest. That story I wrote was a summary of a book I read. I didn't make it up." Realizing that she might be feeling a little guilty, I smiled and reassured her. "That's okay, Sweetie. Reading a book and summarizing what you read is like writing a book report. It's an important skill and will help you in your schoolwork as you grow up!" As she nodded with relief, I continued, "But I thank you for being so trustworthy and honest." Giving me a quick hug, the child made her way to class. What a good strong conscience this little child has. Not only is she smart and hard-working, but making an effort to seek me out showed courage. Goodness knows our world needs more people who responsibly live their convictions, and it's a real everyday blessing to be able to help instill character traits in our little ones.

Rah Rah Rah!

Wouldn't it be nice to have a personal cheerleader who followed you around with encouragement and support from time to time? Well I know a little boy who has recently acquired one! Each morning, I check on a handsome dark-haired first grader. He's working on improving his school behavior and is usually motivated to try hard. His teacher gives him a daily 1-10 behavior rating, and he colors the corresponding number of squares onto a vertical bar graph, which we call a rainbow chart. For example, if his score is a 7, he'll color in a stack of 7 squares. For the past two days, a chubby-cheeked classmate with a curly blonde pony tail has been following the boy and me out into the hall when I stop by to check on him. Yesterday, she carried a piece of construction paper filled with hot pink tally marks, sat herself down on the table and announced that she had been helping her friend remember to "be good". She then explained that each time she sees him doing something kind or responsible, she makes a mark, and she keeps these in groups of five in order to be able to count them quickly. Today, the "cheerleader" reported that her classmate had earned 106 points the previous day! The little girl's inclusion in our daily check-ins seems to be perfectly okay with the boy, who nods and grins as she explains her tally mark chart to me. As far as I know, this collaboration isn't causing a problem in the classroom, and it certainly seems to be helping my dark-eyed boy stay on track! I'm so impressed with this little blonde cherub's initiative and kind heart, and I know she'll grow up to be a loyal friend, a nurturer, and possibly even a school counselor
!

Hail the Queen!

Drumroll, please! This year I've been asking first and second graders to write for me. Any topic they choose is fine since I just want them to practice their writing skills. They can write fiction, non-fiction, poems, advice for little kids, wishes for the world, what they're learning about, tidbits about themselves, or whatever strikes their fancy at the moment, and this assignment is purely optional. At the beginning of each lesson, I give a writing report, letting each class know how many points for writing their class and each individual writer have earned. Some classes have bought into participating more than others, and if a child never chooses to write a single thing, that's fine. I don't want to pressure the children, just encourage them to write. Several first and second grade classes are on fire, writing their little hearts out, and there's a friendly competition about classroom points. Right now, the first grade classes are a little bit ahead of the second grades.

There's a quiet, sweet, well-behaved first grade girl who has pleasantly surprised me this year with her many, many writings, as well as her skill and ability to write details about just about anything. I never would have guessed that this shy little child has such motivation, talent, and initiative, but I'm glad to know it now! Her classmates and I call her "The Queen" because she continues to turn in so many papers. One day this week, I reported to her class what their results were. Since this class is gaining on the school champions and about to catch them, I saw many wide eyes and expressions of anticipation as I gave the report. Now to the drumroll I mentioned earlier. "The Queen" is at the bottom of the class list, so when I got down to her name and the children knew I was about to announce her points, all forty-something children in the room spontaneously started beating their hands in a rhythmic beat as they excitedly waited her results. When I said the number of her points, applause erupted, while "The Queen" blushed and covered her pretty fair-skinned face with her hands in happy embarrassment. Young children can just be so encouraging and supportive of their friends, and not very often are they jealous and back-stabbing, as we adults can be. Here's just one more lesson to be learned from their kind little souls!

Surprisingly Sweet

One day recently, he and I were visiting, and he brought up a lunchroom incident that was weighing heavily on his mind. He said that a classmate was wearing a hood over his head in the cafeteria, and a child from a different class asked why. When the boy removed the hood, his too-short new haircut was revealed. The hood had been used to alleviate his embarrassment, and the students in his own class were already aware of this. When he removed the hood, several children from the other class hee-hawed and pointed, which humiliated the child. My little visitor who was relaying this story lowered his head and shook it sadly. "I didn't laugh," he said. "I just started making funny faces like my famous crossed eyes. I wanted to cheer him up and make him laugh."Have you ever discovered a surprisingly sweet side to someone you had previously seen in a whole different light? This semester, I've been working with a freckle-faced first grader whom I'd previously viewed as very inattentive, wiggly, and high-maintenance. This was because I'd only been around him in classroom settings and hadn't had the chance to get to know him as an individual. Boy am I glad he was referred to me!

I've been teaching the first graders about dealing with bothering and bullying, and one of our most recent lessons was on being a helpful bystander. Never laugh, report bullying, and be extra nice to the victim have been the major pieces of advice I've dispensed on this topic. It was very heartwarming to hear about this being applied "in the trenches", but I really believe that my little friend would have instinctively taken up for his embarrassed crony anyway. He just has that kind of tender heart.

When I told his teacher about this sweet story, she told me of another incident that happened at lunch. As she told it, one of her more sensitive children had been accused of kicking trash around the floor in the cafeteria, and he was sobbing about getting in trouble. My "hero" friend went to the teacher and admitted that he himself had been the one making the mess, not the crying child who had been accused. The teacher said that the story about the short haircut didn't surprise her at all because that's just how my new friend is.

This is a good lesson for me and for probably all of us. If we are able and willing to get to know people better, chances are good that even those we consider the most annoying will have admirable traits that give us a new perspective on them. At the risk of sounding like a bonafide hippie, peace and love, brothers and sisters!

Oops?

Grandmas and Grandpas, Nanas and Papas, Mamaws and Papaws galore paraded down the hallways of our school recently as we celebrated the 100th day of school. Children and staff were encouraged to dress as if they were 100 years old, and as you might imagine, creativity reigned supreme in wardrobe, makeup, and hardware choices! I was at school very early, and since my office is in a central location near the front doors, I had a good spot for viewing children as they trickled in on this dark Monday morning. Due to three consecutive snow days and a weekend, we hadn't been at school for almost a week. As I entered the hallway to run an errand in the office, I saw a petite second grade grandmother walking hesitantly in the direction of the gym, where her classmates await the time to go to class. Of course I had to gush over her get-up, for she was an absolute doll. Her hair was in a neat bun and powdered to look gray, she wore a white lacy cardigan, a long strand of pearls, granny glasses on a chain, and on her arm she balanced an old lady handbag. However, the little girl turned around, stood still, and gazed at me solemnly through worried blue eyes. "Is something wrong?" I asked. With a furrowed brow, she said, "I'm just afraid that my mom got the day wrong and that it's not really Hundreds Day." With a giggle, I was happy to explain that yes indeed, I had seen several other children dressed as old folks. With a grin and a relieved sigh, Mamaw turned on her heel and jauntily took herself and her prominent purse to meet her classmates. Thinking about her dilemma, I could completely empathize. Since we hadn't been at school in so long, the little girl wasn't 100% positive that this was the dress-up day, and honeybun, she would have been mortified to be the only geriatric among a class of 7 year olds. Bless her little heart. Glad I could quickly remedy that fear so she could enjoy her special day!

Unexpected Gracenotes

"What in the WORLD??" I asked myself as I headed toward my office at school early one morning. Treasures galore crowded a small wooden chair I keep outside my door.  This chair holds a writing tray on which first and second graders can leave letters and stories they've written for me.  On this particular day, I was excited to see a festive gold and white striped package topped with a sparkly bow, a hot pink envelope, and an intriguing teal and white fabric pouch.  These are not my typical offerings, as you might guess!  With anticipation, I unwrapped the package first, finding about ten second grade writings on heavy white cardstock.  The pages contained a fictional story, a couple of letters telling me what the child had learned in guidance classes, and several very creative songs written by the pretty blond author and a little boy in her class. Next I opened the bright pink envelope, which contained a sweet note written by the second grade girl's nine year old sister, who has moved on to the intermediate school.  In this letter, the older sister told me how much she missed seeing me and being a part of my classes, which warmed my heart.  Finally I opened the fabric drawstring bag, and tears sprang to my eyes.  Inside I found a long strand of white plastic beads which had been handstrung by the second grader along with five shiny metallic marbles.  Hugging these offerings to my heart, I stood alone in my room and gave thanks for pure little hearts who voluntarily shower so much generosity on their teachers.  Oh the joy of everyday blessings!

Say WHAT???

Push, pull, dangle!  That's one of the ways to help calm down that I'm teaching our kindergartners.  As part of a unit on calming strong feelings, we're learning some ideas that they can ALWAYS use (such as taking slow deep breaths and self-talk) along with some ways they can SOMETIMES use (such as talk, rest, exercise, and play).  After all, we never know when a strong feeling will overtake us!  Well one day last week, I taught the children how to release some tension through using their muscles without calling attention to themselves in class.  We practiced using our hands to push down firmly on the front of our thighs to a silent count of 10.  Then we put our hands on the backs of our thighs and pulled firmly. After this, we dangled our arms to relax our tired muscles.  Push, pull, dangle!  At the end of class, we were reviewing the 5 ways we can always use to calm down, even when we're in a car, the grocery store, or on the playground.  We chanted, "Breathe, count, click, boss, and push pull dangle" several times.  All of a sudden, I stopped reviewing and cracked up laughing.  A small blond boy on the front row was enthusiastically yelling, "Breathe, count, click, boss, and push pull STRANGLE!"  Of course I took some time to explain the difference in dangle and strangle, along with considering the fact that maybe I should rename this technique to push pull flop!  I can only imagine what his mom would have said if he'd gone home and told her that Miss Mimi taught him that when he gets mad he should push pull strangle!  I believe that would have been the OPPOSITE of what Miss Mimi was actually trying to teach.  Oh, the laughs I get every day as I work with 5, 6, and 7 year olds!

Message Received

Goosebumps and tears!  That's what I experienced after reading a long, detailed story written by one of my second grade boys recently.  This particular child is handsome, smart, creative, and sensitive.  He came to talk with me a few months ago, and since that visit I've been helping him make friends in his classroom.  During our first conversation, this child shared that his feelings had been hurt by a girl in his class whom he considered his best friend.  She had begun playing with other children, and my visitor felt confused and rejected.  Since I know this little girl and her mom and know how kind-hearted they are, I suspected that it was just a misunderstanding and believed I'd be able to help.  I talked with the classroom teacher, who talked with the little girl's mom.  Not surprisingly, the mother did all she could to remedy the situation, talking with her daughter and bringing a special lunch to school for her little girl and the boy to share.  The next week, my friend chose to bring the girl to my room with him, where they talked, got to know each other better, and played.  For the past month or so, things between the two have been smooth and happy.  Well one of my goals this year is to encourage writing in the first and second graders.  I have a box outside my office door where students who choose to do so can leave papers they've written for me.  I read each carefully, put a tally mark by the writer's name, and give writing reports to each classroom every time I visit them.  Because my second grade friend told me that he liked to write science fiction stories during any free time he had at school, I asked him to share one of his "books" with me.  The next day a VERY detailed, descriptive, LONG story appeared in my mailbox, complete with a colorful cover illustration.  It was called Liam's Adventure I and had 7 chapters:  The Shine of Black, The Fall of Misery, The Frozen Winter, The Prophecy Finally Makes Its Way, The Volcanic Summer, The Good Bye, and The Red Wonder.  Each was filled with fascinating imagery, and the writing was made adorable by typical second grade letter reversals and misspellings. In every chapter, there was a problem that was resolved. This child could have a writing future ahead of him! But the part that brought on my chills and dewy eyes was the final paragraph. It had no title, was simply listed as Chapter 8, and was comprised of 3 sentences.  These weren't just any 3 sentences, though, for the little blue-eyed boy had shown me that his counseling sessions had helped him, and he'd woven this message into his elaborate science fiction story.  This is what his final paragraph said:

 "About the other...the whole point I'm trying to make is that things break and get repaired.  One day my friend went away, but in the end we came back together.  So work for things."

It's good for all of us to occasionally see results of our work, and this precious little boy's tale absolutely made my day!