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18 Days and Counting

A burst of laughter caught my attention and I glanced up from my one-on-one writing conference with Jim. Across the room Jake was goofing off. I snapped his name and ordered him to take his pencil from his nostril before he hurt himself. He said, “Yes, Miss,” and complied. A few moments later I looked up again and saw him poking scissors up his nose. I was no longer certain that correcting him was the appropriate response . . . .

I scolded another child for pulling the trash out of his backpack and tossing it onto the classroom floor. I called a third child out for making racial slurs. I had to arbitrate an arguement between Brad and Joe over who is and isn’t asking Lisa to the dance (as in, “You continue this behavior and there will be no point in either of you asking her because you won’t be going!”) And I had to explain to Rick that the accepted way of sharing classroom tools is not jerking them from the hands of whomever is using them at the moment.

Finally the bell rang and I bid them all adieu. As they were walking from the room Brad told Rico, “We only have to put up with her for 18 more school days.”

News flash, Kid. That’s what I keep telling myself about you.

Quilly is the pseudonym of Charlene L. Amsden, who lives on The Big Island in Hawaii. When she is not hanging out with Amoeba, she is likely teaching or sewing. Or she could be cooking, taking photographs, or even writing. But if she's not doing any of that, she's probably on Facebook or tinkering with her blog.

18 Comments

  1. This sure brings to mind the joys of June. The euphoric feeling of freedom and anticipation of so many sleep-ins even overcame the exhaustion of all the extra report work. And yet, by summer’s end, I couldn’t wait to inhale the fragrance of paper and pencils.

    It’s been a long time since I taught, so tell me, when a kid brings in a treat of cookies or something homemade, do you and the other teachers still ask if it comes from a “clean kid”? (tee-hee-hee)……………J.D.

  2. Judy — thanks to the joys of hepititus and TB, no homemade foods are allowed. That saves me — and everyone else — from all but the occasional life threatening food encounters.

  3. Yea… my seniors only have 6 more days! They are both SO excited! It’s ALMOST over Quilly! Hang in there!!!

  4. My six year old is having the hardest time right now…I know is teacher is counting the days as well.

  5. “Judy — thanks to the joys of hepititus and TB, no homemade foods are allowed. That saves me — and everyone else — from all but the occasional life threatening food encounters.”

    OMG!!! Quick! Tell me how to get this enacted within the next 7 days in my school district! My son’s birthday is coming up, and I’m expected to feed a bunch of kids cupcakes. Between the move and everything else going on, I do not feel like baking anything.

    On second thought, I don’t want to find out how one gets that policy enacted. My luck hasn’t been great lately, and the idea of TB is not worth getting out of baking.

    My hope is that Lisa gets a say in who takes her to the dance. 😉

  6. Melli — all day today I was chanting under my breath, “only 4 more weeks, only 4 more weeks, only …” I can do anything for 4 weeks ….

    Lori — this time of the year is hard on all of s. Kids start getting hyper. Teacher have tons of year-end paperwork. Tempers are short. We’ll all survive.

    Brig — I was at the school that had the hepititus outbreak. One of the kids from my class ended up in the hospital, as well as one of his syblings and one of his cousins. All of them came through okay.

  7. I always noticed that at the end of the school year, the kids who bash the teacher the most are usially the one’s crying the last day of school because they won’t see her any more….

  9. Yikes! I’m glad everyone came through okay, and I will buy fruit snacks from the store and deliver them cheerfully. Very scary.

  10. Tina — yes, that is the way it sually works. The kid who gave me the most trouble and backtalk, the one who called me the most names and daily claimed to hate me, will be the one hanging on to my shirt sleeve and crying.

    Mumma — there have been students I have said good-bye to with glee, more then ready to see the back of them.

    Brig — everyone didn’t come through okay. I finds myself less then eager to return this morning.

  13. Polona — right about next August I’ll be starting go get antsy for school to start. As soon as school does start I’ll wish for the class that just left — because they already know my rules ….

    Bill — I’ve started that already.

  14. mutual affection 🙂 Grand in any shape or form. I love it when there is soembody I dislike and that somebody dislikes me rigth back. That way I can feel good baout myself not liking that soembody either.
    I bet they love you though, will miss you ….and so will you 🙂

  16. Minka — He’s a bratchild. I don’t particularly dislike, but he doesn’t move me to affection, either.

    Doug — perhaps you should save those congratulations until I have actually made it to June 9th with all students intact.

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