Charpie's Travels

I've spent a considerable amount of time testing different threats and bribes and rewards and punishments on my different classes over the last two months. Some succeed, some flop. Some work for a day or week and then nosedive. I suppose that's half the fun of working with kids...figuring out a million different ways to deal with 60 very different little people. I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but I think I have found IT. The one thing works on every one of my classes. Even the rowdy kids are suddenly very interested in completing their work and answering questions. My students are magically more alert, quieter, and still.  Ann in Pre-K first spotted IT in its hiding spot when she ventured somewhere she shouldn't have been. "There's a very ugly toy in there!" she announced. In most of my classes, kids stared for a moment before a light went on. Then they exclaimed, "Ah! Toy Story!" Thank you, Pixar, for introducing Mr. Potato Head to my...

This week's story is about King Midas. You know, the one who turned things to gold simply by touching them. The Pre-K version of the story omits a whole lot of info but includes really tough words like "ping!" An hour or two after reading class, Andrew and Diana planted themselves on the ledge in the back of the room. I made some general reminder that everyone should be in their seats, and everyone except Diana and Andrew sat down. These two remained perched in the back, not moving, not smiling, not looking at me...or anything at all. So I walked to the back, got right in their faces, and repeated the order.  Nothing happened. Only when I started poking and helping them down did Diana (still stiff, straight-faced, and robot-like) explain, "I am gold!" They at least should get points for staying in character. And for listening two hours ago...never mind the present.