Pre-school vs. Middle School

As a teacher on one of my focus groups said, "The main difference between preschoolers and middle school students is that the preschoolers go home earlier."

Thursday was a preschool day.

Thursday my students are having writing workshop. Basically that means that some are brainstorming writing topics, some are writing drafts, some are talking with me, some are talking with each other, some are writing pieces for their science class, and some are reading their library books. Things are working smoothly.

Kid asks to get a drink. I let him go because. . . well, there's not really any reason not to. He's a kids that sort of needs a little "up and moving" time every now and then, and the fountain isn't far from my room. He comes back, sits down, and soon comes to tell me his mouth is burning. I assume he's been eating some weird candy since they LOVE the hot/sour stuff. I ask him why, and he says, "I ate one of the leaves off your plant."

You did WHAT?

Yes, he plucked one of the leaves off the plant on my desk and ATE it.

While he was in the office--with one of the plant leaves--talking to the principal, the nurse, and the poison control center, his buddy managed to pull another stunt.

He was trying to write on the cover of his planner, which is plastic. Only he didn't realize that you have to use Sharpie markers on plastic. He used the regular kind. . . and didn't know it didn't dry. So. . . by the time he figured out what was going on, he had is on both forearms, one hand, his face, his shirt, and his desk.

I left early that day to go to the doctor, and my sub told me about how three of the boys were breaking and throwing CRAYONS.

Thursday was a preschool day.