Middle School Cheerleaders...Need I Say More?

Cheerleader playing with my iPhone:  "Does this have one of those pen things that touches the screen?
Me:  "A stylus?"
Cheerleader:  "No, one of those pens!"
Me:  "That's called a stylus."
Cheerleader:  "No Miss Wynn, I'm not talking about the person who does your hair!"

One of These is Not Like the Other

Short laugh for you Math people out there!  We are working on recognizing 3D shapes in my Honors class this week.  While "discovering" the names together, we came across a figure that had rectangles as bases.  Keep in mind that we had been using words like "pentagonal," "hexagonal," and "octogonal."  My students correctly decided that it was a prism.  Feeling VERY sure of himself, one of my students yelled out "RECTAGONAL!"  I am so glad I have a classroom where we can laugh with each other and continue learning!

A Day In The Life

My day started at 5:30 am.  Upon arriving at our workshop, I somehow managed to get separated from my group.  I went in to the auditorium, got my laptop out, turned it on, got my notebook ready, and sat down, eager to learn!  Little did I know.  A principal from our school district walked up to me and said "What are you doing?"  By the grin on her face, I realized I was in the wrong place.  This was followed by a conversation with our assistant principal.  The kids at the middle school have discovered how to make flying objects out of paper and paper clips.  These lovely contraptions are called "hornets."  I had an entire conversation with the teachers at my table about the "wasps" our students make before my friend decided to remind me that I used the wrong flying, stinging insect name.  Thankfully, my issues didn't follow me to the gym this evening...as I remembered to spray down the correct treadmill after running.  I'm ready for bed! 

You Never Know

Something that will never cease to amaze me are the unique connections that happen between me with my students.  This has been a hard month, personally, and my classes have been so compassionate and just plain sweet.  One particular young man made an enormous impression.  During morning duty, I thought I was doing a great job of hiding my sorrow over the loss of a close friend.  A student appeared at my side, not announcing himself or making a joke as per usual.  He looked at me and said, "Miss Wynn, are you okay?"  Later on when I had him in class, he waited until all of the students had left, came up to me, gave me a huge hug and said, "I understand.  My grandpa died last month."  We had a good cry together and I know that that was definitely a God-appointed moment.  I would not have made it through the day without him. 

That Really DOES Happen!

I found myself on lunch duty today realizing that I don't get "sour puss" teachers.  I laugh every single day regardless of how my personal life is going.  Walking around the cafeteria on "flying food patrol," I come upon a table of boys.  All five of the boys are laughing, one is doubled over.  As I get closer (stop reading now if you have a sensitive gag reflex), I see chocolate milk spewing from mouth and nose of the hunched over kid.  This was not a dribble...it was a gusher, and he couldn't stop giggling, which made the flow even worse.  I, in turn, couldn't seem to stop the hysterical laughing coming out of my mouth.  I can always count on my middle schoolers for a laugh!

Lost and Found

Along with being a Math teacher, I am also a sponsor for a cheer squad at the middle school.  Today we had our first practice of the school year and I handed out their uniforms, warm-ups, shoes, socks, bows, and bloomers.  Thirty minutes after our practice has ended, I receive a frantic text message from a squad member.  "My plastic bag ripped and I think I left my bloomers in your room or maybe even outside!?!  Have you seen them???"  I texted back telling her to not worry about it, if they were lost we would just order a new pair.  Fifteen minutes later, the same squad member texts me back that she found her bloomers and I would NEVER guess where they were.  She had never taken them off...

Oui?

Introducing a lesson about translating math words into numbers and symbols, I teach a "mini" lesson on phrases in French.  This is meant to show students that breaking down a word problem is just like translating a foreign language.  You have to know the separate parts of the sentence before you can put it together to make sense.  I love the conversations that come out of this lesson, but one in particular I will remember for a while.  I overheard one of my students informing his buddy that "oui" in French meant "yes."  I challenged him and asked him if he could spell it.  He matter of factly got the attention of the entire room by standing up and saying "W-I-I."  Regaining my composure while stifling a laugh AND correcting him wasn't an easy feat, but how quickly I was reminded of how technology saturated my students are!