The Kids Get Wormy

A few days ago a box arrived in the mail stamped with the words "PERISHABLE" and "Open immediately upon arrival." My mealworms had finally arrived.

I the spirit of eduction and scientific discovery and I sucked up my fears and let these critters out of the box. These suckers are gross.

I cut up some potato, but it in the bin and started to read my lesson plan for later that afternoon. Every two students would have their own cup filled with a couple mealworms. They would use magnifying glasses to be "scientists" and look at the worms up close. My teachers manual encouraged me to ask the students questions like "How many legs does each worm have?" "How many legs are at your table group?" "What do you think your worm likes to eat?" etc.

I should have known better.

The students entered the classroom that morning in high spirits. I shook each of their hands as they came through the door... but needless to say ClassKlepto had already discovered the worms I had hidden on my desk in the back corner. This kid really knows how to keep me on my toes. I dispelled the group of students and got everyone started with the normal morning routine. The curiosity was building.

That afternoon, as I started the science lesson, I immediately regretted the cookies I had fed the students earlier that afternoon (note to self: never reward children with sugar). The lesson started off well... we had a class discussion about all the things we already knew about insects and kids were eager to share personal stories about the caterpillars and ants they had already seen.

I handed out the students cups with worms inside. They looked carefully and closely with their plastic magnifiers. They were asking questions and comparing their worms to those of their friends. But, chaos ensued when I told the students we were ready to put the worms on paper plates and look at them up close.


I soon realized that these sleepy looking worms were trying to get the heck out of their small little cups. Once on the plate, these little things tried to make a run for it. They were running off the plate, onto the desks and then... onto the floor. Holy Jesus. I wanted to run... but then I remembered that I was the adult! I started scooping mealworms back onto plates. Calming screaming children who were "missing a worm." Things were getting out of control. I stopped the class and ordered all children to "PUT THE WORMS BACK IN THE CUPS!"

Soon, I had regained control and convinced myself that there were no worms still on the classroom floor (although, I was still keeping my eyes peeled). The kids started calming down and we were finally back on track. What a day.



Lesson learned: never let insects out of the cups. And never let the kids eat cookies during the school day... that's a big one.

It's All About The Little Things

Throughout the past few months, the smallest victories have proven to be my saving graces.

1. Whenever I ask my kids WHY we are doing a lesson, I can 100% count on one (sometimes all) of my kids to say "so we can be ready for third grade and then go on to COLLEGE!"

2. I can see the difference in my kids reading fluency/skills. One day while watching ITeachFor read a math problem from his book I told him "Wow, you are really getting better at reading bud, I'm proud of you!" To which he replied "Ms. M, before I came to your class I couldn't read very good. But now with all those books and stuff you letting me borrow, I'm gonna be the best in the whole class." (This would be an appropriate place to say THANK YOU to my parents, Aunt Jannie and family friends who single-handedly built my library - you are making a DIRECT impact in the lives of my students... for that I am SO grateful!)

3. Getting called "Mom or Auntie" by my students. I know it's silly, but sometimes I think they're actually confused. If nothing else, I give these kids LOVE!

4. My student's behavior is steadily improving (let me rephrase... MY behavior management is improving) and teaching is subsequently becoming easier. My students respect the authority I have in the classroom, and know that I have their best interests at heart.

5. They are developing confidence. The other day a student from a different class came up and said "I hear you are doing college and high school stuff in your class." "YEP, I replied, we are!" My kids are finding missing addends in word problems (algebra!) and writing letters on laptop computers (college...? I for one did a lot of typing on the computer those four years). I tell them EVERY DAY how smart they are. Because it's true.