Patience lost

Hello,

I got quite frustrated today.  It was actually a great day for much of it, but there is a fine line between making education fun for kids, and them thinking that it is all fun and games.  This afternoon my frustration with the blurted out requests of what they would rather do boiled over.  I went into quite a rant.  I have explained my position on blurting out to them countless times.  I have also explained to them that I work hard to plan our days, plan our activities and like to make the decisions on what we're going to do next.  So to hear request after request, yelled out, "Can we watch SchoolHouse Rock?  Can we do government?  Let's do that circle thing!  I haven't got to read my stumper yet!  Can we do more free reading?  Can I?  Can we?  I want to...  No, I would rather... Yeah, let's do that!" 

AAAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!

I'm going to pull in the reins a bit tomorrow.  Show them a more traditional approach.  It is not my style, but I think they forgot who runs the show today.  I can ham it up with the best of them, but I can also be a taskmaster.  I don't need 21 chiefs in the class.  I am perfectly fine with them asking why we are doing something.  I always have a goal and our activities always come with a purpose.  But to hear that they have a better suggestion, interrupting me, loudly... No.

I'll feel better in the morning.  I always do.  Not now, however.

I did love some of the teacher stumping questions today.  We learned about the windows in the Statue of Liberty, the last czar of Russia, US patrol squadrons and many others.  I got a Latin translation of "Look before you leap" partially right.  I guessed, "Better safe than sorry." (I give myself partial credit for that.)   I did get a cheerleading question right.  You may not believe it, and this will probably make you smile, but I was asked if I knew what a "Spread Eagle" was in cheerleading.  Yup, I knew that one.

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea