Periods?

So, the other day, a little girl came up to me to ask a question. This is not rare, as she asks questions frequently, whether relating to the content or not. However, one thing was a little different than normal. She was speaking in a much softer tone than normal, so at first it was a bit hard to hear. The conversation went as follows:

Student: Ms. Murphy, when do we get our periods? Fifth grade?

Me: What sweetheart? (thinking at this moment I heard her wrong)

Student: When do we get our periods? (still speaking quietly, but loud enough to know I heard her correctly "/

Me: Umm....what?? (wanting to shrivel up into a ball at this point...thinking to myself...'These are the kinds of questions you need to ask your mom, sweetie.')

Student: You know, like first period, second period, third period? When do we get our periods?

Me: (light bulbs going off, sigh uncontrollably escaping my breath) Oh! OH! In middle school. Sixth grade.

Student: Oh, bummer. I wanted them next year. (or some sentence related to this)

Me: Okay, have a seat sweetheart.

Yeah...escapades of a fourth grade teacher. You never know what's in store for you. One thing I have learned for sure is to get complete clarification before trying to answer a question that could have more than one answer, or meaning.

more great parent responses...

OMG you poor girl... I bet you where dying. LOL I understand.

Oh my gosh--don't worry about it at all! It's part of history and culture.

Every child needs that experience in class when they see their poor teacher realizing it's all going horribly wrong!! Please, on behalf of us parents, worry not...So if she wants to come to school in a headdress and little else, I'll know why?!

TEACHER OF THE YEAR!!!

So, today a really awesome (horrendous is a better term) thing happened. I was showing a PBS "Gold Rush" documentary and didn't realize that a painting of a male Native American shooting a bow and arrow was going to be showcased to enhance detail from the time of the Gold Rush. Well, the author of this Native American painting decided it would be best to depict this certain male Native American without a loin cloth....to give a better idea of the era?

The class erupted in laughter and shouting, and who knows! I was trying to cover the t.v. while turning it and the dvd player off, all amidst turning bright red. (I think they realized I was freakin' out)

As I walked down the short path to my principal's office, every part of me dreading it as I did when I was a 4th grader, I thought about my pink slip I received yesterday.

I prefaced our "conversation" with...
"Okay, so I got my pink slip yesterday...you totally don't have to rehire me." (part joking, part serious)

He is a great principal, very understanding. He helped me to write an email to my parents explaining what happened. Here are a few responses I got after sending out an email from my students parents. If I get any other good ones, I'll make sure to post them as well...


response 1:
Melissa,
Giggle, giggle. I had to laugh a bit at your expense. I can imagine the wide array of reactions. I will also talk to my daughter this evening. NO WORRIES!

response 2:
Omg! I wish I could have been there!!! You poor thing!!! :) I can not even imagine the expression on the kids faces! I'm fine. I'm sure she will tell me all about it!

same responder...different email:
Btw she got a bigger kick out of ur reaction than the movie. I had to pull over we were laughing so hard! :)

response 3:
LOL no problem


But, lesson learned...review CLOSELY every movie to be shown in a classroom from here on out.