Classroom Conversation

     Earlier this week I had a short conversation with my little 1st grade girl that made me smile and then laugh.  I thought I would share it, since I have not posted too much about my class lately.  This little girl is a little sweetie, and makes me smile often.  I was sharpening her pencil and she was just standing there looking at me, when suddenly she piped up...

Student:  Mrs. Bwock, you look pwegnant.

Me:  Yes, remember we have been talking about it for the last few months?  I have a baby in my tummy and right after school gets out he is going to be born.

Student:  Oh, so does that me you will be mawwied soon?

Me:  No, that means I AM married.  Remember, Mr. Brock, the teacher downstairs is my husband.

Student:  Oh, yes...does that mean you have a job?

Me:  What do you think I do here every day?

    She stood there for a second and then said a long "Oooooooh!"  I could tell that suddenly the light bulb had come on!  I am not exactly sure what she thought has been going on the last few months, but I am glad that we finally established in her mind that I am going to have a baby, I am married, and I DO have a job!

A Note from Mary

     Hello, everyone!  It seems that the last few posts have been written by Tyler for some reason or another.  Normally because by the end of the school day I don't really feel like doing anything other than going home and sitting in complete relaxation.  Of course that never happens, but a blog post is still the last thing on my list (especially since we don't have internet at home).  Today has been a quiet day for me, since 4 out of my 8 students were not in school, so I feel as if I have a little more energy.  I may even go home and do a good workout!!  Well, a good workout for a lady who is expecting, that is.  I tried to continue my aerobic walking, and Tyler had to put a stop to it since I was hurting pretty badly the next day!  Now I do my cute little exercises and walk to help me stay in shape.
     I really am just writing to put my two cents in about our life the last few weeks.  I know Tyler has already posted the exciting details about us finding out that were are having a boy.  While I was waiting for the ultrasound technician to measure the head, heart, kidneys, feet, hands, and on and on, I almost started crying!  I said to myself, "Mary, now why in the world are you getting ready to cry?  Why do you have tears in your eyes?"  I guess it is just because I got sentimental thinking about the fact that I really, truly am going to be a mother!  I think I was also a little frustrated that it was taking her so long to tell us if the baby was a boy or a girl!  Oh well!  I have had many sentimental moments since I found out I was going to have a baby!  At times I have no idea why in the world I am crying.  Tyler has gotten used to that!
     A week from Saturday we will be celebrating our 1st anniversary.   I cannot believe that!!!  There are some days that I still feel like I should be in 7th grade!  I think there are some days when the people around me also think I should be in 7th grade!  I have realized that if I am going to be a mother I have got to start acting a little more "put together".  Just when I think I am getting over being a ditz, I have another "Mary Moment" as I like to call them.
     Another matter of importance to mention is that we are now almost half-way through the 3rd quarter of school!  I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by.  I am certainly looking forward to May!  My kids are sad that we will not still be in school when the baby is born, but I assured them that they would be able to see him on the first day of school!  All but two of them voted for a girl, but I think they survived when I told them that it was going to be a boy!  My 3rd grade boy still pipes up once in a while and says, "Mrs. Brock,  I think your belly is getting bigger". I just have to smile every time he says that!  I certainly am at the point where no one can mistake that I am expecting.
    Now that I have rambled on about nothing, I will close out this little "note".  I think the reason Tyler does not allow me to post is because I cannot follow one train of thought. At least when I do post, everyone knows that it was me, and not Tyler, the man with the organized brain.  So long for now!

End of the First Quater

      Wow!  I cannot believe that the end of the first quarter is here.  Nine weeks of school are done...soon Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here.  I have enjoyed so much teaching, and time has just seemed to fly by...well, for the most part.  There are some days that I wonder if the day will ever end.  I have to say that I have already learned so much this school year.  I do not think a teacher ever stops learning.  I have learned that it takes a lot of reliance on the Lord to be an effective teacher.  I only have eight students, but in my classroom there is such a vast range of personalities, and each one needs a completely different approach.  I have the pouty ones, the stubborn ones, the soft-hearted, the fun-loving, the " I am almost a teenager" ones, etc.  I have learned to love each child for a different quality that I see in him/her.  Someone recently told me that the mark of a good teacher is one who can find the potential in every child and develop it in that child.  I know that I have not yet made that "good mark".  Just when I think I got one of them figured out, something happens to make me realize that there is much more in that little brain of theirs that I have not yet figured out.
       One student that I have really enjoyed this year is the one kindergartner in my class...his name is Zachary.  We of course all call him Zach.  I was a little worried for him at first.  He would be the only "new kid" in our class, and all the other kids knew each other.  I was worried that he would be a little afraid and apprehensive to come into a classroom where he really did not know the kids.  I was also worried because he has a bit of a speech problem...he substitutes the letters d and t for other letters.  My worries were gone almost as soon as school started.  As soon as he walked into the classroom, he seemed to get along perfectly with all the kids and he was not at all shy about talking to them.  As a bit of and "ice-breaker", before going into all of the school rules, I had each child tell me what his/her favorite thing was about the summer.  I was not sure what he would do when I got to him, but when his turn came he loudly said, "Twimmin'!"  He explained to me in his own way that him and his brother had a great time swimming during the summer.  The next day, we were all down in the lunch room for snack time when I heard him say, "Hey guys! Do you got a poon?  My momma 'got to gimme a poon!"  His mom had forgotten to pack him a spoon for his pudding!  There are many times now, that if I need a little cheering up, I just walk over to his desk and talk to him for a couple of minutes.  He is always working his hardest, whether he understands or not, and is really trying his best to work on his speech.  I was trying to teach him to say six, so I said, "Ok, Zach, say ssssssssssix". Wanting to do his best for "teacher" (that is what he calls me) he said, "Sssssssssssdix".  Still not quite there, but working on it.  He excitedly called out one day, "Teacher, I can say ffffour and ffffive, not dour and dive!!!!"  I have so many more stories to tell about him, but I will stop there for now. 
      This school year has definitely had its challenges, but I am thankful that this is the work that the Lord has put me in for now.  I know that there is still so much more that I need to learn, and I pray that my eyes, ears, and heart will be open so that I will learn it.