You can call me .....

I have taught so many years, I do run through a repertoire of names for the children based on their siblings, cousins, or parents whom I may have taught.  There is a reason I put nametags on each desk.  I tell them it is for other teachers who may be leading them.  I am not lying, just leaving out details.

I confuse my daughters' and granddaughter's names and I can't forget how I confuse my poor son-in-laws' names. 

When I first began teaching, it took me a while to get used to being called Mrs. Pride.  I also was called Mom and sometimes Grandma.  When I became a mom, I said it was ok to be called Mom, but not Grandma and that changed when I became a grandmother.

That brings me to my point.  Some teachers are offended when children call them Teacher.  It may be that they think the child is lazy or can't remember their name.  I take it as a term of respect.  There is a dear senior lady at St. John who always greets me with a huge smile on her face, "Hi, Teach!"

The disciples and other people around Jesus called Him Teacher.  I imagine them tapping His arm, plying Him with questions, and saying, "Teacher, Teacher, Teacher." If it's good enough for Him, it's more than good enough for me.

John 1:37-39New International Version (NIV)
³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

 P.S. The children are also thrilled when they can tell me they drove by my house and saw me mowing or saw my Christmas lights on.  They know "where I am staying" until I reach my heavenly home.  I pray to see them there, too!

Treasure in my Desk

As I stumble across things in my desk I throw them away, take them home, or give them to the children.

Children appreciate the treasures I share with them. If the children take them home, I'm pretty sure their parents do not.  This is why I do not allow digging through the trash.

Today I found small legal size notepads, enough to give one to each student. 

As I passed them out, I used the word tablet.  One child replied, "These aren't tablets, there are no buttons to push."

I told the puzzled children, "These are the original tablets."

 The same child said, "I know."

They didn't seem disappointed that I only gave them pads of paper, but went to work drawing, writing, creating.  I even got a couple of sweet pictures.

I had something to smile about all day.

Remembering the Self-incrimination

Student:  Mrs. Pride, Herman kicked the doors of the classrooms all the way down the hall.
Taking student aside, Mrs. Pride:  Herman, did you kick the doors coming down the hall?
Herman:  No.
Mrs. Pride:  Well, the person who told me this is very reliable and I know she wouldn't lie.
Herman:  Well, that must be Henrietta, she watched me do it the whole way.
Da, da, da, da, DA.

This was today's conversation, which, of course, reminded me of my two favorite student fail stories.

Clyde was in trouble for choking another student, I asked him what he did. 
He said, "Was it because I was running around the room?"  No.
"Was it because I stood on my desk?"  No.
"Was it because I ....."  No.
"Was it because I...."  No.
He finally stopped. 
His initials were B.S. 
I can't make that up!

My favorite kid story happened in John's class in Ohio.  Three boys were absent from school.  The third and fourth grade teacher switched places with John and asked where they were.  She missed them because they had waved at her when she passed them on her way to school. 
Busted!