Thursday, February 3, 2011

Fashionistas

I like to consider myself a pretty fashion-forward person. But teaching has given me an entirely new appreciation for kids' fashions. I still remember my outfit for the first day of school in third grade. I was starting a new school and wanted to make a good impression, so I meticulously laid out my outfit the night before: pink shorts to compliment a glitter tie-dyed shirt. True story. I thought that this outfit was so amazing that I wore it at least once a week. I am pretty sure that it was from JC Penny or Bealls, our only two options at the time.

When I got to high school, I decided to step it up. My freshman year I spent my entire back-to-school allowance on two outifts: one was a Pepe Jeans t-shirt and Girbaud shorts, and the second was head-to-toe Guess. Now the kids I teach wear Ugg boots and Burberry scarves. I was teaching basketball and soccer relays to a group of 2nd graders when one girl refused to take off her floor length coat. After I complimented it, she thanked me and added "It was $200." Really, Suri Cruise?! Is it bad when the kids I teach have better clothes than I do?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

So Far in 2011...

Has anyone ever thrown up on themselves at your job? Unless you are an ad man from the 1960s (Mad Men, anyone?) or a doctor, probably not. One minute the 1st grade class that I am substituting for is enjoying their snack time, and the next a little boy is approaching me with vomit all over the front of his shirt. As I try to suppress my own gag reflex, he tells me that he is feeling much better. I reply that while I am glad to hear this, he still needs to go to the nurse and get a fresh shirt.

Simon Says

I am substituting for a multi-grade PE class, and the school happens to be testing that day. The gym/multi-purpose room is being used, so I literally go door-to-door to relieve teachers and conduct a PE lesson in the classrooms. I arrive at one kindergarten class and we play 'Simon Says' to get them up and moving around to burn off some energy. At one point I instruct the students to do a "silly dance," and a group of 5 and 6-year-old boys start jumping up and down and singing, "Do the stanky leg!" Simon said stop pretty quickly, as Simon wasn't 100% sure that the 'stanky leg' was appropriate at school.