All the Time in the World

We had to drive to Georgetown for an errand yesterday afternoon, and it was expectedly bustling with cars and shoppers jamming the streets and sidewalks. Rather than irritated, I found myself charmed by the boisterous energy, and I took the time I had to wait at each light cycle to look around with interest at what had changed since I last ventured to that part of town. 

Soon enough we had what we needed and we were headed back across the bridge to run a few more errands on our side of the river. Rather than get right on the main artery, I leaned into my curiosity and drove through a few neighborhoods to check out some new businesses and buildings over here. 

Our exploration added some time to the outing, of course, but who cares? We're on spring break!

When Life Gives You Raindrops

Our two cats enjoy going out on our little deck, especially since I grow wheat grass for them to nibble on when the season allows it. I sowed the latest crop during the warm spell a couple of weeks ago, and they know it's out there-- first thing in the morning they tear over to the sliding glass door and meow to be allowed out to chew on the tender blades of spring green. 

Despite the cold, drenching rain, they dashed over this morning, as usual. Ignoring my warnings, they insisted on seeing for themselves, so I let them out. Both were splatted with enormous raindrops before they could even get one bite, and they returned to the house just as quickly as they had exited. I laughed, but feeling bad for their disappointment, I built a fire where they could warm up and dry off. 

I think we all agree that it turned out to be a pleasant morning after all.

Reporting Live From...

My sixth-grade students, it seems, are living their best lives. Spring break started today and one is already in Paris, another in Puerto Rico;  one is on the way to a castle in England, and another en route to the Bahamas. One student is flying to Hungary on Monday and somebody else is skiing in Colorado while their classmate is on the beach in Malibu. Other students are headed to Florida and the Carolinas, and many have day trips and other fun activities planned for the break.

Fortunately, most have eagerly agreed to keep posting their slice of life writing from their vacation destinations, so at least the rest of us can live vicariously!

Excuse Me

I was working in my classroom in the quiet after hours of the school day when the night custodian walked in and burped loudly. I sat in surprised silence at my desk, until when he noticed that he was not alone, he sighed heavily and rolled his job cart to the next room down, as if I had offended him.

It's a truism to point out that the nature of teaching is such that, as long as school is in session, your work is never really done: there's always one more lesson to tweak, a few more writing pieces to read, emails to send, forms to fill out, you know. Even so, I took this little interaction as a sign, and so I shut down my laptop, packed my bag, and headed out into the late afternoon.

Not too Shabby

Today was the first "Wacky Wednesday" of our sixth-grade 100-day writing challenge. After they posted their 100-word (or more!) slice of life, students were invited to click on a secret link that took them to a list of crazy options which, if performed successfully, could lead to a modest reward. (Okay, it was a Jolly Rancher.)

The first rule of Wacky Wednesday is you had to follow the rules of Wacky Wednesday, (see what I did there?) which included when you could and could not do your wacky act. The second rule of Wacky Wednesday was we don't talk about Wacky Wednesday-- other people have to figure it out on their own, do their writing, and join the fun.

It was a perfect activity for an anchor day before spring break. Most students worked diligently, waiting for that moment when all wackiness would break out, and it did! Kids were swatting imaginary flies, adding "hold the pickles," to anything they said, galloping around on imaginary horses, pretending to be a mime in a box, and raising their hands ever so politely to share that they "always thought broccoli was little trees," among other wacky challenges.

We laughed our way through the day, and much good writing was done, too.

Mother of Invention

Every year it's different. 

The structured group "brain breaks" that have been successful with other sixth grade groups in the past have this year given way to timed instructional and work sessions or stations punctuated by brief (also timed) breaks. So where in other years kids would compete in fun minute-to-win-it type activities, now my classes have five minutes to move about, get water, use the restroom, talk to their friends, and play with the toys and fidgets I have in my room.

The structure works for this group, who struggled early on with finding a successful cooperative dynamic for mini-competitions and challenges, and it's kind of fun in its own way. Plus, I don't have to have a yo-yo for everyone, a couple will do for those who choose to use them. Likewise, 3-4 kids will play a round of magnetic darts, while another might solve the speed cube. There are puppets, a headband with a punching ball, chopsticks, bouncy balls, a foam football, mini golf clubs, juggling balls, and more. The only rule is that all electronic devices have to be closed. 

I was worried that if everyone was doing their own thing, we would lose some of that sense of community that a group activity can build, but I have found that not to be true. Even in the short time they have, small groups form and reform, and many kids seek me out during those breaks, too, either to play with them or witness their amazing accomplishments. 

All in all, what started out as a concession to what I considered a gap in this class's social skills has turned into a net positive. I can add the concept of self-directed free time to my list of breaks, and it might even end up near the top.

There's a Word for That

"No games on your iPad," I reminded a sixth-grade student returning from lunch. She was walking down the hall with her nose practically glued to the screen.

"I just had to finish something," she shrugged and snapped her case shut.

"Let me guess--" I responded. "Was it a... game? Because those aren't allowed."

"Yes," she admitted, "but do you have to be so condescending?"

"Great adjective!" I laughed. "Do you have to be such a scofflaw?"

"I'll let you know," she said, "when I find out what it means."