Well, if you ever want to laugh and cry in the same day you should become a teacher! I teach English as a second language - known to many as ESL but in my district we call it ELL, don't ask! My students have a wide range of academic abilities. One group, that I teach science to, is made up of special education English language learners. They challenge me every day, in a good way, and today was no different. One of the students, due to his needs, sees many teachers through the day. He often calls me by all the other teachers' names first so, today I told him he could just call me Miss America. He thought this was pretty funny. So, I shared a story with them.
(**This is one of my favorite stories by the way!)
When I was teaching a first/second grade class, I told the students that I was a Princess (which is a true fact) and that they could call me Princess. So often I would say things like, "eyes on the Princess." They found this to be pretty amusing and they bought into this premise. I would also explain to them that I would not ask them to do anything unless I modeled it for them as I was also a super model. (A term and technique I learned from one of the most amazing teachers I have had the pleasure of working with.) So, the students began to refer to me as Princess Super Model. Hey, whatever works right?
One day, I was being evaluated and my principal was in my classroom. As I began to pass out papers to my students they began replying, "thank you Princess Super Model." My principal gave me an inquisitive look. I smiled and told him I would explain later. (He found it to be funny and I received a rating of "Excellent" on my evaluation. In case you were wondering!)
So, as I am explaining this story to my students today, one of my students raises his hand and says the following:
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but, I mean, super models are...wait, how the, I don't understand how you could be a super model?"
It took him quite a while to get those words out. And as he was processing his thoughts and trying to formulate the words I was laughing on the inside. He then came to the conclusion that it must have been before, when I had two legs.
I am not at all offended that he did not buy the fact that I am a super model. I just appreciate the fact that he knew what he wanted to say was wrong yet persevered at getting his thoughts across anyhow. Children say what they are thinking, filtered or not! Today made me laugh, I hope you got a little chuckle from this too!
(**This is one of my favorite stories by the way!)
When I was teaching a first/second grade class, I told the students that I was a Princess (which is a true fact) and that they could call me Princess. So often I would say things like, "eyes on the Princess." They found this to be pretty amusing and they bought into this premise. I would also explain to them that I would not ask them to do anything unless I modeled it for them as I was also a super model. (A term and technique I learned from one of the most amazing teachers I have had the pleasure of working with.) So, the students began to refer to me as Princess Super Model. Hey, whatever works right?
One day, I was being evaluated and my principal was in my classroom. As I began to pass out papers to my students they began replying, "thank you Princess Super Model." My principal gave me an inquisitive look. I smiled and told him I would explain later. (He found it to be funny and I received a rating of "Excellent" on my evaluation. In case you were wondering!)
So, as I am explaining this story to my students today, one of my students raises his hand and says the following:
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but, I mean, super models are...wait, how the, I don't understand how you could be a super model?"
It took him quite a while to get those words out. And as he was processing his thoughts and trying to formulate the words I was laughing on the inside. He then came to the conclusion that it must have been before, when I had two legs.
I am not at all offended that he did not buy the fact that I am a super model. I just appreciate the fact that he knew what he wanted to say was wrong yet persevered at getting his thoughts across anyhow. Children say what they are thinking, filtered or not! Today made me laugh, I hope you got a little chuckle from this too!