4th Grader: It really all sank in, Ms. O. All those talks about controlling my body, my hands, my mouth. I'm gonna do it, I'm really gonna change.
Me: I'm so proud of you.
4th Grader: APRIL FOOLS!
...not funny.
I have spent 5 years as a social worker in a New York City public school. This is a glance into my daily conversations. The confidentiality and identity of my students has not, in any way, been compromised by this blog.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Falling Off The World
1st Grader: How come people on the bottom of the world don't fall off?
Me: (I go on to explain gravity and draw a diagram to help explain it all)
1st Grader: Wow, what did the world do without you Ms. O? Like before you were born? I bet people didn't know much before you taught them everything.
Me: (I go on to explain gravity and draw a diagram to help explain it all)
1st Grader: Wow, what did the world do without you Ms. O? Like before you were born? I bet people didn't know much before you taught them everything.
Friday, March 25, 2011
#toughlove
1st Grader: You knew I had it wrong? You knew I made mistakes?
Me: Yes.
1st Grader: And you didn't correct me, Ms. O? That's not nice.
Me: We all make mistakes. Sometimes we learn more from our own mistakes than we do if someone tried to warn us or teach us.
1st Grader: Ummm, yeah, that's just REALLY mean Ms. O.
...here's to #toughlove.
Me: Yes.
1st Grader: And you didn't correct me, Ms. O? That's not nice.
Me: We all make mistakes. Sometimes we learn more from our own mistakes than we do if someone tried to warn us or teach us.
1st Grader: Ummm, yeah, that's just REALLY mean Ms. O.
...here's to #toughlove.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
To Jinx, or Not To Jinx
Me: You've been working hard and I want to acknowledge that you haven't had a fight all week.
6th Grader: Why you gotta go and jinx it for Ms. O?!? Now, I'm definitely going to get into a fight... probably today.
Me: Hmm...
6th Grader: And when they ask me why I fought I'm gonna say it's because Ms.O jinxed me.
6th Grader: Why you gotta go and jinx it for Ms. O?!? Now, I'm definitely going to get into a fight... probably today.
Me: Hmm...
6th Grader: And when they ask me why I fought I'm gonna say it's because Ms.O jinxed me.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Too Many Mans
1st Grader: Iron...MAN, Spider...MAN, Super...MAN, Bat... MAN. Hey Ms. O, why are they all mans?
Me: I'm not sure why they are all MEN. There are some superheroes out there that are women too.
1st Grader: I'm going to create my own and call her... Mommy Man.
Me: I'm not sure why they are all MEN. There are some superheroes out there that are women too.
1st Grader: I'm going to create my own and call her... Mommy Man.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Painful Price
(Scene: 1st Grader slamming his front teeth into an apple, then wincing in pain...)
Me: Please stop doing that. It looks like it hurts.
1st Grader: Ooooo, it hurts so bad. But I need it to come out.... NOW!
Me: It will come out by itself.
1st Grader: That is not soon enough. By the time it comes out, the robot won't be on sale anymore! I need the Tooth Fairy to visit me... tonight.
Me: Please stop doing that. It looks like it hurts.
1st Grader: Ooooo, it hurts so bad. But I need it to come out.... NOW!
Me: It will come out by itself.
1st Grader: That is not soon enough. By the time it comes out, the robot won't be on sale anymore! I need the Tooth Fairy to visit me... tonight.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A World of 1
7th Grader: I'm so sick and tired of human beings!
Me: (Thought: You and me both... You and me both.)
7th Grader: I want to live in a world of just me, me alone! Well, maybe just for a day because without other people around to bother me, what would I talk about with you, Ms. O?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)





