Even more teacher stories

Sorry to inundate you with teacher stories...but I just can't resist sharing the awesomeness of my students. As always, names have been changed.

1. I got a really embarrassing case of the hiccups during math class. Have you ever tried to teach with hiccups? It's rough. No one takes you seriously. Anyway, the next morning Maria came in to school and said, "Mrs. Webb? Remember when you got the hiccups? Well, I know that the best way to get rid of hiccups is to eat an entire pack of smarties at once. It always works for me. So here - I brought you a pack of smarties that you can keep in your desk in case of a hiccup emergency." Awww...she's sweet (and so is the candy!).

2. I made up a math rap "Always check your work" in order to help students remember to check their work. I had been nagging the students to check their work for some time, and in an act of desperation I said, "I don't care WHAT you have to do! Write it on your hand! Tatoo it on your forehead! Make it into a rap! Whatever you have to do!" One student said jokingly, "Mrs. Webb, YOU should make a rap for us!" They all laughed at the thought of a teacher making up a math rap. OBVIOUSLY they don't know me very well. I sent them to do practice problems, and three minutes later I called them back to attention with my freshly written song in hand. "Class, as you requested, here is your 'Check Your Work Rap.'" I paused for effect before I began, and the looks on their faces were PRICELESS. They were mostly along the lines of, "You have GOT to be kidding me...she is not really going to rap...is she?? Oh my gosh I think she is actually going to..." Of course I did. And the next day I heard students in the hall singing my rap. And on the next homework that came in, they almost ALL checked their work. I was pleased.

3. In the wake of my "Check Your Work Rap," one of my students showed up to class bringing a "pimp chain" for me. She made it at home - a giant paper "W" decorated with math symbols and attached to a chunky gold chain to wear around my neck. She said she wanted me to have some "bling" since I am such a gangsta teacher. Ha ha!! Clearly, the only option was to wear it all day.

4. In order to help students remember directions on the number line, I taught them a dance called "The Number Line Dance." I offered extra credit for any students who wanted to teach their parents or siblings the number line dance. All they had to do was bring in a note signed by the person who learned the dance. I promised I would teach it to Rex, and they demanded I bring in a note from him as well. Here are some of the notes I got back:
1. This one was in little kid scrawl (very cute): "My brother taught me the Number Line Dance. Now I can do it too. WORD!!"
2. This is from a lawyer parent: "Johnny taught me the number line dance that he learned in class. He taught it to me at approximately 7:30 PM on 11/1/2010 and seems very proficient."
3. This is from a parent who probably wants to kill me: "Jodi taught the whole family the number line dance. She seemed VERY CONCERNED that we all got the words and motions EXACTLY right."
4. This is Rex's note: "Class - This note is to verify that Christine Webb taught me the Number Line Dance. We did the dance at breakfast because the Number Line Dance is always a great way to start your day."

That is only a small sampling...basically I am going to start asking for notes from home a lot more often because they are HILARIOUS!!

Life in sixth grade is awesome...perhaps I will never leave.