Tag Archives: teaching

Weird is Good

January 9, 2015Being Awkward/Dumb Stuff I Do, Kids/Teachingbeing weird, honesty, kids, teachingEmily

As our class waited to enter the cafeteria, I showed a student a picture of my month-old nephew, face-planted on a blanket, doing absolutely nothing, as babies do.

Kid: “Aww! Cute.”
Me: “I know! Isn’t he SO smart!?”
Kid: (looks quizzically at the picture)
Me: “Like, the way he’s just lying there! It’s genius!”
Kid: “Ummm…I guess?”
Me: “I’m telling you, a baby who can rest like this– he’s going to cure cancer one day.”
Kid: “Oh I see. You’re messing with me.”
Me: “Yes! You’re finally able to read my sarcasm!”
Kid: “Well, it’s not really fair– sometimes you’re being sarcastic and sometimes you’re just being weird.”
Me: “Ah. So the truth comes out. You think I’m weird.”
Kid (backtracking): “Well, yeah…but like, weird is GOOD. There’s no such thing as weird, really. Weird just means different.”
Me: “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
Kid: “No!”
Me: “Really?”
Kid (defeated): “Ok…yeah.”

Lady Problems

January 8, 2015Kids/Teachingkids, teachingEmily

A student in my class was having a “lady problem” and needed to go to the nurse. As I walked her there, I could tell she felt embarrassed, so I put my arm around her, smiled and said, “Don’t worry. It’s a very common thing. Part of the joys of being a woman!”

Her: “I haven’t found many joys.”
Me: “It gets better, kid. Promise.”
Her: “Really? Like how?”
Me: “It just does.”
Her: “But in what ways?”

Yeah I got nothin.

You Nailed It, Barista

January 8, 2015Kids/Teaching, Random Thoughts/Happeningspublic school, teachingEmily

Barista: “You want that coffee ICED?”
Me: “Yes, please.”
Barista: “You sure? It’s cold out there!”
Me: “I know. But it’s about a thousand degrees in the building where I work.”
Barista: “Do you work in a sweatshop?”
Me: “A public school.”

So…yes.

At Least I’m Not Wasting My Time

January 5, 2015Kids/Teachingkids, teachingEmily

A kid approaches me with his morning work, looking exhausted:

Me: “What’s wrong, bud?”
Kid: “I’m jet lagged.”
Me: “Ohhh, did you go somewhere good over break?”
Kid: “Yeah. Boston.”
Me: “Hmm, ok so Boston is in our time zone. Also it’s a pretty short flight.”
Kid: “We drove.”
Me: “Ok, so basically, you’re just tired.”
Kid: “I guess.”
Me: “Jet-lag involves being on a plane. And changing time zones.”
Kid: “Got it.”

Another kid approaches, sees his tired friend, and asks, “What’s wrong, man?”

Kid: “I’m jet-lagged.”

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