Ok, I lied. I said that I wouldn’t torture you with the details of my first classroom activity but I will and I am. Right now. Hey if you don’t like it, leave. It’s my blog and I can bitch if I want to!

I’m not quite sure how to type out the sound you make when you stick out your tongue (I believe the technical term is raspberry), so use your imagination and insert your own sound effects. (Actually, if you go here you’ll hear the sound I’m referring to) Now, while you’re doing that, do a “thumbs down”. And that basically explains how my first activity went. To put it another way….it sucked!

Despite the fact that I could tell (and have told) 72 “high energy” children to sit down, be quiet and enjoy the ride while travelling at 100km/hour along the DVP…..during rush hour traffic… on a Friday….. before a long weekend, the idea of leading 14 grade 3’s through a simply energizer game scared the crap out of me! And before I go any further, I need to say that, yes, I am 100% aware of the fact that hell would have to freeze over before anyone could do 100km/hour on the DVP on a Friday before a long weekend - it’s just not possible. I was just trying to make a point. Anyways……

I was so nervous and so apprehensive about the whole thing, that I totally forgot everything I had mentally prepared the night before. There was no modeling of expected behavior; the rules were not clearly explained, they basically stared at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. Actually, this is probably what they heard….. click here In a nutshell, I asked a grade 3/4 class to do something they had never, ever done before….I asked them to line up…..according to….(this is meant to build excitement)….their age….youngest (can you feel the drama)….to….oldest!!!!!!! OMG!!!! I am a horrible, horrible student teacher! And they just couldn’t do it. (Go here to hear the appropriate sound effect)

In the end, I threw in the proverbial towel and called it quits. My MT had to step in and help me out. They stepped in with such grace, dignity and control! I was in complete awe! Granted they have been teaching for almost 10 years, and in the teaching industry, experience is absolutely priceless.

Anywhoo….with my first disastrous activity under my belt I was able to move forward. Since Wednesday, I have played several successful games with the students. I was calm, I was cool, I was the stupid, fun Jenn many of you have come to love and put up with! Have a fabulous weekend!