My sis and I were talking the other day about how teachers use the word "choice" a lot during the day. This is SO true, atleast it was for me! I would use it in phrases such as "make good choices" "is that a good choice?" and so on.... All of my students new about this "choice" word and here are 2 sweet/funny stories I remember.
First story is about my sweet little boy named Tra'Quan (try teaching a 5 year old how to write that name, yikes). He was the most precious thing ever. He was SO shy and every morning gave me the most timid-stiff hug imaginable but I looked forward to it everyday. Anyway, yes, he was super doop shy but was quite the free spirit in his own little way. For instance, I occassionally let my students (the ones I trusted to make a good CHOICE) go to the restroom by theirself....YES this is a HUGE deal to them. lol. I once let sweet, shy Tra'Quan go to the restroom alone and he didnt come back for almost 30 minutes....and I didnt notice.....teacher of the year? He had gone to the library instead and was just hanging out-I thought it was funny, librarian did not. Fast forward some time and here comes Tra'Quan asking to go to the restroom again. I suggested he take a friend and he said "I promise I will make lots of good choices in there." AHHHHH, melt my heart/hilarious. Love him.
2nd story is about a little girl named Lily....I might still have nightmares about this child. She seemed to LOVE the time out desk, or so it seemed bc she was there everyday, and she loved to make bad choices....or so it seemed. One time during centers she was walking around the room, bothering every other student and not doing what she was supposed to do. So, I said "Lily, where are you going?" Lily said, "why dont you ask my shoes?" UMMMM excuse me little sassy? I looked at her shoes and said "Lily's shoes, you and Lily are making terrible choices so I need you to walk Lily over to the time out desk and take a seat" Head down, Lily's shoes walked her over and there she sat. BOOM! I probably shouldn't be proud of this but I am. Lily told me to ask her pencil what she was writing (Me, "lily what are you drawing/writing" Lily, "ask my pencil") and asked me to ask her brain what she was thinking quite often (Me, "lily what on earth were you thinking when you made that choice?" Lily, "why dont you ask my brain")......ugh!!!!!
Here is Lily....probably walking to the time out desk.
Despite all her craziness and sassy attitude, she was SO smart and is a good kid! She def. kept my 1st year teaching as entertaining as possible.