I was reminded twice in quick succession why I love teaching second graders this morning:
Me: Whose shield is this? (crickets) Seriously, guys. Whose IS this? (mass denials) I didn't ask whose shield this wasn't. I asked whose it was. It's a lovely, red shield. (class agrees and comments on the symmetry of the shield and how well-cut it is) Someone had to have made this. It didn't just cut itself. (I'm wracking my brain to be sure it isn't one I cut as a demonstration.)
student: Maybe it's the Littles'. (Ah, yes. Our fun, failsafe blame-catchers.)
student 2, in all seriousness: No. They couldn't make that. They haven't learned about medieval times.
(How much do I love that they weren't too little to make it? They were too young to have studied the things we've studied.)
The belief in all things magical and make-believe is one I hold dear--and will do all I can to protect it and nurture it in my students. It's nice to have playmates.
Shortly thereafter I did laugh out loud:
student, slamming the dictionary shut and shaking it as she walks to put it away: I found out what "swarm" means. And I'm mixing it up so the next person has to find it, too.
09 June 2010
just a second
7 comments:
LOVE it! You're so right - 2nd grade is magical. 3rd graders start out that way, but get a bit cynical by year's end. I have one and I'm so grateful that her belief in magic and make believe is still intact!
I DO love the part of my job that is all about second graders too. Since you aren't on facebook you missed my favorite story of the year.
I was talking to the children about Communion, and one said the "bread is blessed". I prompted them, "There is a better word, does anyone know what it is?" And one enthusiastic hand shot up. "Yes?"
"Constipation!"
Maybe you need to be Catholic to realize that it was "Consecration" I was looking for.... And every one of the other kids were looking at the contributor with great admiration.
That's so cute, shaking the dictionary, lol!
Lol. Working with kids is a fantastic thing.
I still want to know who the mysterious shield belongs to!
I don't even know what to say but I LOVE that story.
Lindsay, we found out the shield belonged to one of my most...listening-challenged students. He denied it all morning and claimed it in the afternoon.
neat!
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