Mr. Potato

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 students. You should hear the disappointment in their voices when the learn they missed out on a "Mr. Potato" day. It's comparable to the reaction I get when they learn I didn't buy him in Korea. If you ever feel compelled to ship something over to Korea, you can send a Mr. Potato or two.