During a lengthy writing assessment today I could sense my students getting antsy.
I asked them to pause their work, stand up, do some cross body stretches, jump up and down, and sing the ABCs. Half way through the song, which almost none of the 10 and 11 year-olds were too bashful to sing loudly, when the letters L, M, N, and O blurred together, one student shouted out "Elemeno is not one letter!" At this point the whole class erupted in genuine, deep down laughter as juvenile and innocent as saying "elemeno." In a world that asks kids to be responsible beyond their years, and grow up faster than they're ready for, it is absolute bliss to see the little kids in my students from time to time. Faced by media and social pressures, body image issues, finding who they are, and things like *gasp* puberty, it's not too bad a thing to forget about those for a minute, and let "elemeno" be one letter, even in 5th grade.
7 Comments
3/8/2017 04:23:52 pm
So funny, because it's true! Reminds me of the novel Ella Minnow Pea.
Reply
Meggin
3/8/2017 04:55:02 pm
Indeed. We did a brain break today and watched some weird astronaut hip hop and settled on a silly one with simple moves. It is the most unlikely 4th graders who seem to break it loose the most. They need that and we all need elemeno to be one letter! Well said!
Reply
3/8/2017 06:08:01 pm
You're so right; they are asked to grow up too soon. My son was still "playing" with some imaginative toys in 6th grade, and made me promise not to tell his friends. I loved that he continued on & didn't grow up too fast! Nice story!
Reply
Kelly Dennis
3/8/2017 07:08:51 pm
So sweet!
Reply
3/9/2017 10:09:23 am
I love this! They really are still just kids in their hearts. It's so nice to be reminded of that.
Reply
3/9/2017 04:09:12 pm
I love the innocence of kids! Thanks for sharing this sweet, small moment from your class. :)
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Author5th grade teacher, wife, mama to my 3 magical babies, ally, advocate, doggy foster mom... just stumbling on. Archives
March 2022
Categories |