Okay. On the surface, I may seem to be a very quiet and gentle-spirited person. I don't generally have much to say when I am the "new kid on the block" or find myself in the midst of a large crowd. However, anyone that really knows me well knows that I can be quite the jokester. And corny jokes? I love them!
Well, every day when I walk into my classroom, I find myself with my serious game-face on. I am totally focused on making sure that EVERY child succeeds AND excels. Although this is important, sometimes I become so focused on the task at hand that I miss out on all of those super cute things that kids do and say. They go in one ear and right back out the other. Gone. Just like that. I am trying my best to lighten up a little and let my wonderful kiddos help me rediscover the simplicity of life through a child's eyes. Here are just a few stories from the past year and a half that made me smile (and in some cases, laugh uncontrollably!):
--During a discussion about the Pilgrims, I posed the question, "Who remembers what the name of the boat is that the pilgrims sailed to America on?" After a short period of silence, one students began waving his hand wildly. "Ooh, ooh! I know, Miss Jarrell! I know!" I finally called on him. His response? "The name of the boat was The Cauliflower!"
--Last year, I was gifted with a student who had severe behavior issues. He spent a portion of most days in the office for various offenses, before finally being sent to the county alternative school. Part of his daily routine became to run through the room as fast as he could during our afternoon pack-up. This afternoon run would continue until I was able to single-handedly corner and restrain him...... ALL THE WAY to the bus (En route to the buses, he would also wrap his legs around as many things as he could find to wrap them around!). One day, as I force him to the bus kicking and still trying to run away, my arms wrapped tightly around his, he begins screaming at the top of his lungs, "YOUUUU WILL NEVERRRRRRRR DEFEAT MEEEEEEE!!!!" My response- "Oh, yes I will. I already haaaave defeated youuuuu." And he continues- "NOOOOOOOO! YOU WILL NEVERRRRRRRR DEFEAT MEEEEEEE! NEVERRRRRRRRR!" What a hilarious scene!
--This year, I have a sweet little girl in my class. She is African-American, she is always wearing a smile, and she ALWAYS has something to say. From August to January, her hair was styled with little tiny braids all over. I get a running commentary from 800 to 300 every day from her on every move I make and every breath I take. My assistant and I have been working very hard on helping her learn to control her talking. One day recently she came in and had a different hair style. She had also been having an exceptionally great day. During pack up time, I said to her- "Sweet girl, I LOVE your hair like that! You look so cute and so grown-up. You need to keep your hair that way." Beaming from ear to ear, she replied, "Well thank you, Miss Jarrell! My mama said if I keep getting smiles in my folder every day, I can keep my hair. But, if I get a sad face, she gon' put it back in da box!" I replied, "Well, please do get a smile in your folder, then, because I really do LOVE that hair on you." After that, my assistant and I just couldn't hold our laughter in any longer. We both had to hide our faces from the sweet child until we regained composure.
God really does have a sense of hunor. I am so glad he gave me these children to remind me of that daily. Out of the mouths of babes... I LOVE these kids!!
