Oh Magic Eight Ball....Reveal Your Secrets!

 I have a magic eight ball on my desk for reasons.  Mostly so I can watch the students try to figure out how it works--it's always good for a few laughs.  One of my classes was SUPER into it today though.  I realized that the boys were asking the eight ball questions about their love lives (or lack thereof).  One young squire came up and gave the eight ball a shake (thankfully he didn't ask his question out loud, because I don't want to know any details in this realm).  He must not have liked the response given because he put it back down on my desk, saying, "This is stupid.  The eight ball doesn't work."

A girl sitting near my desk overheard him and commented, "The eight ball only tells the truth.  Don't ask the eight ball questions if you can't handle the truth."

I felt like I was in an Aaron Sorkin movie.

Guess Who's Back...Back Again...

 It's been a long time.  *shakes fist at the virus*

But maybe now we need to get back to normal.  And normal is often funny when you teach seventh grade.

One of my jobs is to hold the wing door open in the morning so that the middle school kids can enter the building without cramming through the front door.  It's not bad right now, though I know it will be far less enjoyable once it rains or snows or is cold.  Which I'm sure won't happen in Michigan anytime soon.

Anyways, some of the eighth graders help to open car doors for the little kids during morning drop-off.  They have found that one way to amuse themselves while they work is to give directions to their eighth-grade friends.  Like, "So you're going to turn left and go through the door, then walk all the way down the hall until you see the nice lady teaching math."  Hysterical.  I'm certain their friends are appreciative.

Last week, one of my former students was playing this game with one of his friends.  As he saw me, he said, "Be careful--you don't want to look her directly in the eyes."  Apparently I traumatized the children more than I'd anticipated last year.

Today, a current student approached me and gave me a Mandalorian mask.  For reals!  Ah. Mazing.  So of course I put it on.  And of course I pointed into the hallway as students walked in, saying, "This is the way."  Which is REALLY funny, if you're a Star Wars fan.  Disappointingly, most kids didn't even flinch--even the sixth-graders who are unfamiliar with my randomness.  I mean, it's not every day that Mando welcomes you to middle school. 

So I guess the virus isn't ALL bad....oh wait.  Yes it is, but it was still funny.  And there's a lot more days left in the year.