Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Teacher-Created Chaos

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life sponsored by Two Writing Teachers.
It was one of those rare, quiet moments in my 4th /5th period block of 19 boys and 9 girls. Quiet is something that is rarely achieved in this classroom.  Everyone was engrossed in his or her Mock Newbery book and anticipating lunch.
Suddenly, I heard that annoying sound!  Another student with hiccups.  We've had an epidemic of hiccups  in our classroom lately.  Some are the loud, gut-wrenching kind that disturb the entire class.  This afflicted student was a bit quieter which is why most of my students didn't hear her and become totally distracted.
My dad always claimed that a good scare was the best cure for the hiccups.
So... I crept up behind her, shouted "BOO!" and scared the living daylights out of her and the entire class!
My students wanted to know why I was crying.  I explained that hearty laughter always brings tears to my eyes.
Once everyone calmed down, I asked the afflicted student if she still had the hiccups.
Nope, they were gone!

11 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful tale of "the cure" that I suspect was heard on the bus, in cars and in dinner tables everywhere! I love that you "blamed-credited" your dad for the cure!

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  2. BOO! I love that Ramona. Your stories are filled with joy.
    THanks,
    Bonnie

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    1. When I shared this slice with my students, they corrected the Boo! What I actually said was, "Stop it!" I remember pausing and trying to think of what words might scare the hiccups out of her. My memory is not what it used to be!

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  3. That is funny - but it does work! I can't believe you have a class with 19 boys...oh my! I hope you Mock Newbery is going better than mine!

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  4. I felt my heart jump when I read the Boo! You really brought us to your moment.

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  5. Too funny, Ramona! I bet your kids look at you differently now. Keep them guessing at what will happen next. :-)

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  6. Hiccups can be distracting for sure, Ramona. Glad you found the 'cure' that the whole class can enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  7. I didn't hear about it at the McCarthy house but what a great story! Sometimes we all need a good scare and sometimes it is impossible to resist giving a good scare.

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  8. Whatever works! I love the way you described your reaction - tears of laughter.

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  9. Ha! How fun to be in your classroom! I love your willingness to be silly! And I hope your Mock Newbery is going well! Our 6th graders are having a great time with it!

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  10. Girl, I am so glad it WORKED! Would hate to have you go through all that and STILL hear the hiccups afterward! Dale was cured one afternoon when we were having Sunday dinner with Cecil and Mary, our fun loving adopted grandparents. Cecil told him he'd pay him a nickel for every hiccup he had. It only cost Cecil a DIME! Another CURE!

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