it's the little things...

I have a student, K., who can't seem to help himself from getting into trouble.
...but he's one of those kids that you just can't help but love.

Earlier this year, he got in trouble for stealing a handheld pencil sharpener in my classroom from another student. I dealt with the problem accordingly. But when I asked him why he did it, he said, "Because I thought the pencil sharpener was cool."

So I asked him if he thought it would be cool to steal a pencil sharpener from me ...if I had a cool one. "Oh. No, Ms. T. I would never steal from you."

I told him, "Well, if you would never steal from me, than you need to think of it as me the next time you think about taking something from someone."

Today I stopped him as he headed out to recess because he had work to finish. He groaned as I handed him the papers. I looked at him, smiled, and said, "If I didn't love and care about you so much...I wouldn't keep you in from recess...BUT because I do, you get to complete this work." I handed him 2 out of the 4 papers he needed to do (so not to overwhelm him.)

A few minutes later, I stopped to help another student and when I looked up, he was gone. I told the other workroom teacher I would be back. I found him outside playing basketball. He again groaned as I showed him the other two papers.

As we walked down the hall, I asked him the questions off the paper. He knew them ALL! I looked at him and said, "If you know these, then why don't you do them????" The corner of his mouth curved and one shoulder rose and fell. I couldn't help but smile back. "Just do them! Okay?" I responded.

At the end of the day, I walked into the gym where the bus kids were waiting. Up pops K. He comes running over with his arms outstretched, smile plastered across his face, and gives me a hug and tells me, " Have a good weekend, Ms. T., can't wait to see you on Monday!"

... it's the little things that make teaching worthwhile.