Well, that didn't sound quite right....

Part one

Learning to sit appropriately is an essential task for young students, and it’s not something that comes naturally. At the beginning of each school year, we focused on teaching our students how to sit at their desks: Sit up straight and tall, with your bottom scooted back in the chair; chair scooted up close to the desk; both feet on the floor underneath the desk; hands on top of the desk. We called it “Sitting Like a Big Kid,” eventually abbreviated to “Sitting Big.” We made a point of giving small rewards and lavishing praise on the students who were “Sitting Big,” and pretty soon, children would call our attention to their exemplary sitting skills.

So it was with great pride and enthusiasm that Keith announced, “Look, I’m shitting big!!!”

***********************************************

Pixar Films were very popular with our students, and during choice time, there was sometimes a bit of competition over the Toy Story characters.

One afternoon, Jamie came to me on the verge of tears. When I asked him what was going on, he wailed, “First Aaron grabbed my Woody, and now I’ve lost my Buzz.”

***********************************************

At age 5, Jack was a troubled kid from a chaotic home. He could be manipulative to other students, convincing them they could earn his friendship by giving him their snacks or school supplies, and he could be a bully if he didn’t get what he wanted.

One morning at circle time, I asked if anyone had any questions or comments. Jack raised his hand and asked, “Why does Bella got all those fuckers on her face?”

“Excuse me?” I coldly responded.

He seemed surprised and dismayed at my reaction, and flustered, Jack said, “Those dots! Those spots she got on her nose and her face? Why does she got all those fuckers on her face?”

OK, Jack, the word you are searching for is “freckles,” not “fuckers.”