Laugh Lines April 2007

Change in the Weather
As we were starting our new science unit on weather, I asked my kindergartners, "What questions do you have about weather? Have you ever wondered why or how something happens, like a rainbow?" One of my boys, with a perplexed look on his face, raised his hand. "I wonder why sometimes snow is different colors...like sometimes it's yellow."
Melissa Mabry
Apex, NC

True Meaning
For homework each week I asked my fourth-grade students to compose sentences utilizing their spelling words. To encourage them to write more than simple three-word sentences, I frequently reminded them to make sure their sentences were "meaningful." Things were going well with this until one of our new students turned in two assignments containing sentences such as "Chocolate is disgusting," "I hope your canoe sinks" and "All bunnies are ugly." Curious and somewhat alarmed, I approached her to discuss the matter one-on-one. "Your spelling sentences are indeed complete sentences, and you have used the spelling words correctly in each case. However, I'm wondering why all of your sentences sound, well, rather mean?" She looked at me ever so seriously, put her hands on her hips and said, "Well, you keep reminding us to make sure our sentences are MEANFUL."
Lisa Petrella
Golden, CO

Early Patterns
I was teaching my kindergartners about patterning. I gave an example about ABB patterns. I went to the "pick me" jar and selected a name, Sabrina. She was so excited to be chosen. I asked her to either show me an ABB pattern with linking cubes or tell me one. She proudly shouted, "A-S-S!"
Kimberly Gross
Wadsworth, OH

Painful Eyewear
One morning I received a note from one of my parents. At the end she wrote: "P.S. I hope you can read this because my son says you have to wear eye-tacks' (contacts)!"
Kelli Herrick
Concord, NH

Ageless Anecdotes
I am 97 years old and was a teacher for 35 years. I live with my daughter, who is also a teacher and subscribes to your magazine. I was reading the "Laugh Lines," which amused me and did indeed bring back memories.

While teaching sixth grade, one of my pupils came into the room laughing and "full of it," as he always was. He yelled from the back of the room, "Good morning, Teach!" I replied, "Good morning, Pup." He answered, "Pup?" and I replied, "Yes, 'pup' is short for 'pupil' as 'teach' is short for 'teacher.'" That caused an uproar and he never called me "Teach" again.

Something else I'd like to share has nothing to do with the classroom. When I was about seven years old, my mother was preparing dinner one night when my little brother and I went running through the kitchen. Our mother stopped us and said to my brother, "Jack, would you please get the milk from the back porch for me?" (Refrigerators were few at the time.) Jack replied, "But it's dark out there, Mommy, and cold." Our mother replied, "Jack, you know God is out there and he won't let anything happen to you – now please get the milk." Jack opened the door a crack and said, "God, will you please hand me that quart of milk?"
Doris M. Mishler
Florence, AZ

April, 2007, Vol.37, No.7