Middle school teachers have the best job. Hands down. There really is no comparison when the room is quiet, the kids are focused, and all of a sudden your most inquisitive and sarcastic student's hand goes up with a question. Throughout the course of the year I've heard many of comments and lines from my students, and even though I know to expect random statements, you never really know what is going through these kiddos' minds.
Friday, this was exactly the situation I had before me. A quiet classroom, hard-working students, when a hand went up.
Student: "Mrs. Tyson, can I ask you a question?"
Me: "Is it appropriate or relevant to instruction?"
Student: "Well, uh, I guess it might be."
Me: (A little intrigued, because their questions are rarely unamusing.) "Okay, what's the question?"
Student: "Well, I was just wondering. Um. Can you still stand the smell of your husband? My mom said that when she was pregnant she couldn't stand the smell of my dad."
Me: (In a very shocked, not knowing what the appropriate response is to that question when responding to a 13 year old, I answered...) "Well, not sure where that came from when you were supposed to be finding the main idea, but yes, yes I can still stand the smell of my husband."
I do believe we need to review the important concept of what relevant and appropriate classroom questions sound like. Have I mentioned that teaching middle school is very entertaining?
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