The First Week

School is back in session, as is my early morning alarm. The first few months of school bring me less sleep, excitement for a clean slate, lots of rule setting, plenty of laughs, and parent phone calls so the kids know that I mean business.

Some of this week's events are worth remembering...

Student 1: "Umm. Mrs. Krueger... Well, I don't mean to be rude but... Ummm (imagine a young girl who cannot decide whether she should focus on my eyes or my belly the entire time while talking to me)... I've heard rumors about you... umm... I heard that you have... umm... or are going to have a... um... are pregnant?" Then she looks up at me with the most unsure and genuine eyes I have ever seen.

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I need to use the bathroom."

Me: "We JUST took a bathroom/drink break 10 minutes ago. Right now it's our reading time."

Student 2: "But, I have a bladder infection. I need to go to the bathroom."

Me: "Ohhhh. Really? That's a big deal. I'm surprised that the nurse or your father didn't tell me about this. I also find it hard to believe you didn't have to go for three hours this morning, and now you have to go twice in ten minutes. But, since I start every year trusting all my students until they give me a reason not to trust them, I should probably let you go, right?"

Student 2: Shakes her head up and down.

Me: "Okay, well, go to the bathroom and I'll make sure to talk with the nurse to make sure we can have a plan set up for you until this passes."

----

Next Day (same student)

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I can't have lunch today."

Me: "Oh, no. Why not?"

Student 2 "Because corn tacos make me throw up and I don't like grilled cheese."

Me: "And you didn't bring a lunch from home?"

Student 2: "No."

Me: "Well, you ARE going to be hungry at lunch time. You should pick one that you think would be best for today even if you don't eat it all. OR you can call your dad and ask him to bring you a lunch from home."

Student 2: "I just won't eat lunch today."

Me: "Are you sure? You WILL be hungry."

Student 2: "Yes, I'm sure."

Me: "Okay, I won't order a lunch for you. Remember, there won't be extra lunches at lunch time."

Student 2: "That's fine. I don't want lunch."

Right before lunch (same student)

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I need to go to the bathroom."

Me: "Right. Because of your bladder infection?"

Student 2: "I don't have a bladder infection."

Me: "Wait. You DON'T have a bladder infection? (Oh, surprise!) That means you lied to me."

Student 2: "No, I didn't lie to you."

Me: (getting a little more stern with my voice now) Yes. You did lie. Yesterday, you told me that you had a bladder infection so you could go to the bathroom during our reading time. That is lying."

Student 2: "But I don't have a bladder infection now."

Me: "Bladder infections don't go away in less than one day. Now I have to figure out what to do, because I don't know if I can trust you. I don't even really know if you DO have to go to the bathroom. Since you lied to me yesterday, what should I believe?"

Student 2: "I didn't have a bladder infection yesterday."

Me: "Well, since I don't even know if that's the truth, I'm going to have to talk to the nurse today because I forgot to talk to her yesterday, and call home so I can get honest answers about this. I wish I could trust what you're saying, but now I need to talk to someone who hasn't lied to me." I turn and walk away.

Student 2: Sulks away.

---Getting Ready to Walk to Lunch---

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, did you order a lunch for me?"

Me: "No."

Student 2: "Oh." And looks down at her feet.

Me: I walk away.

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, can I bring the cherry tomatoes that I picked from the school garden this morning to take to lunch?"

Me: "You bet! That's a great idea, because I'm sure you are very hungry. That will at least give you something to eat."

---At the Lunch Table---

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, am I going to get in trouble?"

Me: "For not ordering a lunch? I'm not mad about that. I just know you're hungry. But you made that choice."

Student 2: "No, I mean, will my dad be mad at me?"

Me: "I don't know. You know your dad better than I do. I just met him yesterday. But I am going to call home to let him know that you are going to be one hungry girl after school."

Student 2: Looks at me with alarm.

Me: "Okay, well, it's time for me to go eat my lunch. I'll see you at recess."

Student 2: Puts her head down on the table.

Me: I leave.

---At the Lunch Table: Different Student---

Me: "Student 3, how did you get two milks with your lunch today?"

Student 3: "I brought 50 cents to buy it."

Me: "I'm glad you remembered that an extra milk costs 50 cents. Who did you buy it from?"

Student 3: "The person who gives out the lunches."

Me: "Okay, I'll go make sure that you paid and that she knows who you are if you plan on doing this often. Which lady was it again?"

Student 3: Explains which woman it is

Me: I leave to go ask her and get about 10 feet away from the table.

Student 3: "Mrs. Krueger!"

Me: I turn to the student.

Student 3: Extends his arm out, holding the milk to me.

Me: Look at him with terribly disappointed eyes. I take the extra unopened milk and return it. I come back and say, "This is a problem." and then walk away.

---During Lunch---

I call Student 2's dad. He is NOT happy. She, of course, does not have a bladder infection. She also didn't pack herself an afternoon snack (which dad told her to do the night before), so she was unhappy before she even got to school. He wanted to talk with her. I go to the lunch room to get her before she makes it to recess. She is BAWLING with her friends when I find her. I motion for her to come with me. She breaks down in the hallway, already knowing she's in trouble. I prep her for her talk with her dad. I tell her she needs to know that everyone makes mistakes, even adults. All she can do now is to learn from it and not do it again. I give her advice on how to accept whatever punishment she gets from dad and know that it WILL pass, it IS temporary. We talk about the importance of trust. I tell her that tomorrow will be a new day, and that now she'll have to work on earning trust back. While she's on the phone with dad about to break down, she looks at me across the room and I motion for her to breathe and calm down. She does. After talking with dad she hangs up. I tell her good job for making it through a hard conversation. She said her dad is mad. I said he's probably more disappointed about her choice, just like I was. I remind her tomorrow is a new day. She nods. I send her outside.

I call Student 3's mom. She immediately knows her son was lying. I told her how I handled it and said they should probably have a conversation at home about if he needs another milk, or an extra drink from home.

With 5 minutes left of my lunch (I still haven't eaten) I felt like a hard a** teacher. Sorry, that's the only way I can describe how I felt. I was strong, confident, and didn't hesitate to make any phone calls home. I was ready to take on and take down anyone. I had to tell a colleague. I credited my increased sense of power to my baby belly. Oh, what a year this will be!

---While students are playing/exploring with math manipulatives, after snack time---

Student 4: (quite loudly) "It smells like peanut butter over here." And he looks at me questioningly. 

Me: (from across the room) "I don't know why."

Student 5: (who is sitting next to the good smeller responds loudly) "Oh! I have nuts."

Me: (from across the room) BURST OUT LAUGHING! None of the other kids laughed, but I did! The adult in the room!

Student 5: "No, I mean for snack. But yes I do... But no... "

Me: "It's fine! I understand. Let's move on."

We both have big grins on our faces.

Yep. It's going to be another interesting year - as every year is.

Happy Saturday!