"Minipulating"

I know I'm getting annoying always talking about school. But lately, school is my life. 

The day goes like this: 

Wake up at 4:45.

Gym from 5-6. 

Get ready 6-7

School from 7-4. 

Complain about how tired I am from 4-7. 

Contemplate moving off the couch. 7-8. 

Bed. 8:00. 

Pathetic. But I like it. 

So.... 

Here's another post about how I love teaching. Really this just cracks me up. Maybe this lady will be the only one that laughs since she's the only one who can relate. 

Every Friday, the 5th grade has something called "Arts Friday". Every teacher teaches something "artsy". The last few weeks, I've decided to teach music- singing to be more exact. (I'm putting that big ol' music book I had to carry around for a whole semester to use. My teacher would be proud.)

Now here's the thing about me... I can't sing. No. It's awful. I have no clue what I'm doing. Most of the time the kids are teaching me what to do. Half notes, pauses, beats, etc. I don't know music. In fact, I just mouth the words at church to save myself the embarrassment. So teaching 30 kids every week how to sing different songs is waaaaay out of my comfort zone. It's just a good thing they're as tone deaf as I am. I think? 

Anyway, back to Arts Friday.... 

I also have something in my class for management called a "Smile Chart". Every kid has a little chart on their desk with 5 smiles on it. If they get all 5 smiles crossed off, I have to call home. (Did that a few times  this week. The kids still can't look at me in the eye they're so upset.) Anyway, if they get 2 smiles crossed off, they can't go to Arts Friday. So, last week I had a kid that couldn't go because of his smile chart. He was hysterical. Just sobbing and whimpering while doing his work. The whole class kept coming up to me saying, "Nick (**name changed) is crying. Are you going to do something about it?" So I went and approached Nick and told him the same things my dad told me while I was growing up. It went something like this... "Nick, you know, there are consequences for every action we make. Sometimes those consequences are good and sometimes they're bad. Unfortunately for you, it's a bad consequence and you can't participate in Arts Friday." He begged and promised me he'd be better, but I told him he's already made his choice and I can't go back on my promise. (The whole time I was saying all this, I just kept thinking of those lessons we hear about the Atonement in Church. I felt so merciless.)

So in the end, the big bad mean teacher ended up letting him go because I'm full of empty threats. Except calling parents. I love that. 

Nick's mom comes and helps on Wednesdays in my class. I told her about the whole escapade because I thought it was funny. 

Today I received a letter on my desk that said the following: 

Dear Miss Leiter. 

I'm sorry for crying all day and over reacting about arts friday. now I'll take the consaqunses and not got to arts friday. If I have two smiley faces crossed off I will not cry about it and say ok and not go. I'm sorry and I will not go to arts friday and not complain about it. I'm sorry about minipulating you. so in conclusion I will never cry about it again. 

from Nick

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I got it. 

I loved every word! 

What 5th grader knows the word manipulating? 

Anyone want to bet that his mom was over his shoulder telling him what to write? 

I love it and I love being a teacher. 

Oh and I'm running the St. George Marathon on Saturday.
It's my only hobby.