I knew studying planets in science would be an auditory controversy when...

I knew studying planets in science would be an auditory controversy when... one of my students commented, “It was big.  Bigger than Uranus.” and another student observed, “Uranus is pretty.”  Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase Big and Beautiful!

I knew it was time to consider grade acceleration when...

I knew it was time to consider grade acceleration when... one of my students wrote the following sentence in an eight page response to an extended response question on a reading comprehension test:  “Probably it might be complex for kids to manage the cacophony of people yelling and screaming (in case of an earthquake) but they could help by knowing fire escape procedures and testing fire detectors.”

I knew third grade was going to be magical when...

I knew third grade was going to be magical when... one of my students wrote in her fictional narrative that “School is a ‘palace’ [place] where you learn math, spelling, and science.”  Maybe not all spelling needs to be corrected!

I knew literature circles could prove controversial when...

I knew literature circles could prove controversial when...our Character Captain described the teacher’s character as “shit” instead of “strict”!  Sometimes truth hurts!

I knew I would never hear a more original absence excuse...

I knew I would never hear a more original absence excuse than when one of my students announced, “I was gone yesterday ‘cause my baby brother was being circumcised.” Wow!  Well, then…that was an excuse I hadn’t encountered!  Talk about forthright honesty!  Gotta love third grade;-)

I knew the integration of technology and the third grade community project would be…open to interpretation when...

I knew the integration of technology and the third grade community project would be…open to interpretation when I read one student’s response to the question:  Explain why ice harvesting ended in Batavia.  Use text evidence and don’t forget to write your ideas.  She wrote:  “You cant text them.”

I knew the 3rd grade social studies unit on our community would prove intoxicating when…

I knew the 3rd grade social studies unit on our community would prove intoxicating when…a student wrote that “Millinery stores sell ‘wine and drugs.’ And ‘Uncle Sam’ built the first store in our community.”