Tuesday, Sept. 22

We welcomed a group of principals to the jungle today. I didn't know this was coming. They just wanted to watch us in our natural habitat, and of course the accent was on the teacher, not on me. However, I understood why kids like to have expectations set in advance...because they are NO DIFFERENT than us adults. I would have liked to have known what was happening and how I needed to react. Also, it was kind of spooky watching these mono-chromatic-clad people peering down on me. Mmmmm...I guess that could be how students feel sometimes.

On another note, I had a lovely blunder today. Not that I've been perfect the other days -- I'm simply offering this particular faux-pas up in all its glory. We have a little girl who at the moment is enjoying pushing the boundaries with every teacher, aide and volunteer in the school. She's got spunk. She bounded in with quite a mood this morning, and before we knew it, had put herself at the "Good Thinking Center." She has begun to use this lil' haven as just that -- a place where she can tune out and let it all go. I should have realized that this was one of those cases that just needed time. When she wouldn't stand for the Pledge of Allegiance after being asked several times, I went over and said that I thought she was not making an ideal choice with her use of the GTC and that the others were choosing to stand and be respectful. Well, this got nowhere. I realize how ever observant teachers need to be about moods and willful behavior. Sometimes you can nip it in the bud with a clever use of words, and other times you need to give it time.