Laugh Lines October 2003

Be Specific
When I taught third grade, I would occasionally give my students a blank map of the United States and ask them to see how many states they could fill in without looking at a map for help. One day, as I gave my class this task, my directions weren't as specific as when we first began doing this activity. I asked them to complete the map without looking. My students who had done this before knew what I meant and began working. That's when I looked over at my new student, who had his eyes closed and was trying to write in his blank map "without looking".
Kim Cowsill
Wichita, KS

Letter Perfect
Near the end of the school year, I wanted the pupils to recall the two types of letters, (business and friendly) we had learned about during the past year. I started by asking what the two types of letters were, one little girl replied, "Friendly and chain."
Joan Mary Macey
Binghamton, NY

Mind Over Madder
Two pre-kindergartners were having an argument. One kid yelled at the other, "I'm so mad, I'm madder of fact!"
Feige Seidenberg
New York, NY

Out of This World
During a study on outer space and the planets in our solar system, I wanted to expose my fifth and sixth graders to where planets got their names. We talked about how Jupiter was the king of the gods, how Venus was the goddess of love and so on. When we got to Pluto, I asked if anyone knew where it got its name. One boy raised his hand and confidently exclaimed, "Pluto got its name from Mickey Mouse's dog!"
Jenni Howard
Quincy, IL

Lost and Found
As the school day started, I noticed one of my first grade students wandering around the classroom. I asked, "Are you lost?" She replied, "No, I'm right here."
Erik Olson
Pulaski, WI

Age-Defying Anthony
As the Library Media Specialist, I was working with third graders researching famous people. As I scanned one student's notes, I noticed she had written that Susan B. Anthony was older than Congress. I explained that her information could not be correct because Congress was around long before Susan B. Anthony was born. She was adamant that she she had read it in a book and quickly showed me where it said, "Susan B. Anthony appeared before Congress."
Rebecca Atkins
Virginia Beach, VA

October 2003, Vol.34, No.2