Remember the lyrics Julie Andrews sang from The King and I?
It's a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought
That if you become a teacher
By your pupils you'll be taught
As I launched a "mini" biography unit of study on the heels of the ELA, one of my third graders asked, "Does someone have to be famous to get a biography?"
"You can write a biography about anyone, even someone like me!" I replied smiling. Recognizing a teachable moment, I suggested that each of the students in my small group write down two facts about me. I told them to make sure they backed up their statements with details telling why and together we penned the first statement about "me."
"She was nice when she let us make follow directions snowflakes. The directions were hard so she showed us another way."
The five students got right down to work....not a moment of hesitation! And, then, they shared......
From a student who has worked with me for 3 years, "She is nice because she let us eat maple sugar last year when we read Little Runner." We've read hundreds of books, shared hundreds of stickers, discussed thousands of characters and she remember Little Runner thanks to a few moments with some dried up maple syrup! .
Another student eagerly shared, "She is old, but not too old. Not as old as Mrs. XX but older than Mrs. XX." What could I say in response? Thank you!
Finally, the clincher that made it hard not to laugh out loud, "She tries to look pretty because she wears earrings." It's not that I look pretty, you can be sure of that, I just try using every trick in the book to look as good as I can. I guess I should get some more fine-school-jewels from TJ Maxx!
Battered and bruised around the edges, I left school this afternoon with those lyrics dancing in my head!
But a true and honest thought
That if you become a teacher
By your pupils you'll be taught
As a teacher I've been learning
You'll forgive me if I boast
And I've now become an expert
On the subject I like most
Getting to know you
Getting to know you
Getting to know all about you
Getting to like you
Getting to hope you like me
Getting to know you
Putting it my way
But nicely
You are precisely
My cup of tea
Getting to know you
Getting to know all about you
Getting to like you
Getting to hope you like me
Getting to know you
Putting it my way
But nicely
You are precisely
My cup of tea
Getting to know you
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day
Getting to know you
Getting to know you
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day
6 comments:
First of all...I have that song in my head now and I LOVE it! THANK YOU!!! I love how you are old, but not that old and how you try to be pretty. Ahhh, students! This makes me smile so much!!!! I wish I got to sit in that classroom and watch you amongst these students. I can feel the love through your words. Can't wait to see more pretty earrings...hey, maybe I should wear earrings. I always seem to forget!
This post is so funny and so true! I have such foot problems (thank you, concrete slab school room floors), so I wear special Mary Jane shoes that are super supportive. One of my students told me, "You look just like my baby doll. Do you have lacy white bobby socks, too?" My kids know that I love funky earrings--big doughnuts, cherries, cupcakes, etc. Sometimes, I feel like Ms. Frizzle!
That's great! What a great way to teach them how to write a biography. I always get a laugh out of kids and the silly things they say, even when they aren't trying to be silly!
I am smiling at the way your third graders think - not so different from my sixth graders. :)
I won't even tell all the things I've heard students say about me. You are courageous, Anita! So funny, but thanks for the lyric reminder, a favorite song from a favorite musical.
You just never know what kids are going to say. Thanks for sharing these little gems! And of course that song and the scene are now playing in my mind.
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