All of these experiences actually happened to me!
Thinking of traveling around Illinois this year? Think of all the super interesting cities you could go to!
Not feeling the night life in Decatur? Just stay home!
Best thing about Danville? Only one murder a year! Chances are it won’t be you! ®
Another example of the kinds of notes I get. THERE IS NO COLORING IN FOURTH GRADE. Well, sometimes but this wasn’t one of them.
Yes, this seriously happened to me today. To be fair, it was said in jest but my student actually said this! Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day! <3
I had my students experience a mock congress in which they passed a gun control bill (I, the president, signed it into law). I had them reflect on the experience later and this is what I got:
Q: How did this experience help you to understand our government?
A: How much they fight.
…womp womp…
Politics in the classroom! Here is a page from a student’s notebook. He wrote this during independent writing time and was very adamant about his beliefs. Three weeks ago another student (with autism) exclaimed “Mitt Romney doesn’t like Mexicans!” He could give no explanation of where he had heard that other than “from my brain!” It’s clear what is important to this demographic and I’m glad they’re thinking about the issues.
An adorable note to show you that some of my students are very eloquent. My favorite part is the last two lines: “you have brought me many things, one thing is you.” *tear*
And finally a little anecdote for you that I could not figure out how to draw in comic form:
One day I was walking to the lunch room to pick up the students and I heard one yell “Ms. Patton is coming! Ms. Patton is coming!” I walked in and looked at the student and said “who are you? Paul Revere?” to which the students started CRACKING UP like it was the funniest joke they ever heard. I’m pretty sure dads everywhere would approve of that joke.
So not quite revolution related, but I teach American symbols and documents after the American Revolution. This student really took the meaning of the pledge to heart and decided to transfer its use elsewhere.
Transcription (with the words spelled correctly to help your understanding):
Dear Ms. Patton. I am so sorry for what I did and I pledge of Allegiance to never do that again and instead of cheating I will pay attention for I could know what to do
