The Situation
Seating for the 2nd and 3rd grade is in the middle of the bus, from whence comes deafening boy noise.

The Outburst
One particularly noisy afternoon I yelled, no bellowed, “boys, if this screaming doesn’t stop, I will move one of you up front and seat you between two 1st grade girls…and I know who you are.” That little outburst delivered sensory relief and their short attention spans.

Hands were raised. “What!, I said, no- yelled.

Characters
“I’ll come up front”, volunteered the boy I call Jack in the Box. This child cannot sit down. When I tell him to sit down, he sits down, and when I look back, he’s standing up again. He often has not had breakfast or brushed his teeth when he comes to school.

“Me!”, volunteered another. This one is obsessed with the Guiness Book of World Records. Every Monday he tells me about something he did over the weekend, trying to break a record. Last weekend it was standing on a pile of books. “What is the record?”, I asked. “79 hours”(or something like that), he said. “How many hours did you stand on books?”, I asked. “6 hours”, he said. “Wow, keep at it – you’ll do it, now go back and sit down.”

I don’t want the next volunteer up front even though he’s responsible for a lot of noise. Obsessed with Obama and Lincoln, he likes to prove how smart he is by reciting all kinds of facts about them. No one else can get a word.

Reality
Actually, I don’t want any of them up front. There’s not enough room “up front” for everyone who wants to sit there. Up front is for the youngest and the baddest.

Proposal
Round school busses! The good children can sit up front as well as the young and the bad. And maybe we'll have a quieter ride!

It's Soooo Cold in the Mornings

It's dark and it cold, but I like the camaraderie - why complain, we each have to start up a freezing cold, tin can with an ice cold vinyl seat to sit upon.

The veteran's know, so I watch to learn. Ski pants, bib style. If I'm doing this next year I'm getting some.

SPEECH LESSONS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

When the "F-Bomb" is hurled, I look in the mirror and allow the indignation and horror show on my face. Some gaze back with a "what's your problem" look - some look away.

My remedy? A quote to challenge their Playstation glazed brains. But, let's give some credit, at least to the few who understood that 'profanity' means "something about swearing", as one girl explained to her seat mate.

PROFANITY IS THE EFFORT OF A FEEBLE BRAIN TO EXPRESS ITSELF FORCIBLY

I challenged them to write down what this quote meant and drop it in my 'container' when boarding after school. The promise of candy later in the week sealed the deal.

Did We Stop Teaching Spelling in Middle School?

A sampling of the responses follows (as written):

You cursing means your not so graet of bright.

Don't curse on the bus.

Curseings for wimps. He He :)

That means no cureing! on the bus

Profanity is a stupid way for stupid people to try to be tough (wow-a speller!)

Dont sware. Swareing is bad or if swear your weak

Cursing is the way young brain describe how we really feel

Did We Meet the Goal?

If there's any more swearing on the bus, you can't hear it. This exercise taught them to swear softly. Middle schoolers are a blast!

Posted by Donnalee at 5:48 AM 0 comments