Okay, there weren't 99 balloons, and they certainly weren't all red. But there were plenty of balloons and streamers attached to my door last week for my birthday by my wonderful teammates (thanks again, teamies!)
The decorations haven't been removed due to my laziness my desire to force everyone to celebrate my birthday all month. Two balloons did have to be removed, however, because I couldn't open the door all the way. If you have met seventh graders, you understand that the door needs to be able to open all the way while you are monitoring them from the hall. The balloons that I removed were hung inside my room on my closet door in a rather festive manner. I noticed today that one of them was looking pretty puny, but I didn't have time care enough to deflate it and throw it away.
During my second block class, a student was apparently saddened by the sorry state of the balloon. I looked up to find him standing in the back by the closet. PETTING THE BALLOON.
"What on earth are you doing?" I demanded.
"I just couldn't help it!" he cried. "The balloon just looks--so sad! I thought it needed a friend! If the balloon can't have a friend, then no one can!"
One of my self-appointed jobs as a middle school teacher is to teach my students that life isn't fair. You don't like your assigned seat? Life's not fair. You forgot your book in your locker? Life's not fair. The English language is difficult? Life's not fair.
It's a public service, really.
I don't remember what the charge was today--maybe something about not getting chosen to share good news or something equally as life-shattering. So I launched into my usual speech about life not being fair. A kid over in the corner--without prompting from me-- launched into "It's A Hard-Knock Life." He was quickly joined by the majority of the class. That adorable Orphan Annie sure gets me.
In related news, I would like to promote the use of show tunes in the classroom on a daily basis. Perhaps I can team up with the music teacher and offer credit for applying appropriate lyrics to classroom situations....hmmmm...
One of my classes has paired up with the Young Fives class at my school for reading buddies. We meet once a week and help the little kids learn how to read and do projects. The seventh graders LOVE it, and the small ones do too!
Today our class was tasked with helping the kids learn about subtraction. The teacher had a book about Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons; she showed the pictures while we listened to an audio recording. The basic plot is: even though Pete's buttons pop off one by one, he just keeps on singing his groovy song. Eventually ALL his buttons pop off, and Pete is left with only his belly button. I'm including a link for you if you happen to be unfamiliar with Pete, as I was.
Well, Pete's groovy song is possibly the biggest, baddest ear worm that ever reared its ugly head. Really. Listen to it. I DARE YOU NOT TO BOP ALONG.
As a result, the seventh graders were dancing around singing the button song once we returned to our classroom. Which was quite the sight. Then this exchange occurred:
Student: Don't you think that book is inappropriate for young five students?
Me: Um, no. It has a cat singing a groovy song. What could be inappropriate about that?
Student: At the end Pete is practically naked because all the buttons have fallen off his shirt. This movie should have been rated R for brief nudity. Totally shocking. Belly buttons sticking out all over.
Me: I could get on board with your logic on this one.
