Sorry about the lack of posting! My VPN has been acting up at my apartment and I am only able to be on American internet for five minutes before getting kicked off. That is just enough to post a status on Facebook, comment on a few others, and then check People.com for the top celebrity headlines. It is certainly not enough time to construct the eloquent prose that makes up this blog...
But anyways....
Love has hit my classroom. It hit a little over a month ago. My third grade girls have discovered the complexity and mystery of the fourth grade boys in my classroom. While their love is often unrequited, they still persist. I have been hearing alot of high-pitched squeals whenever I tell them to pass something to a boy. The other day I confiscated a note from one of my female students. Of course this note was written in Chinese, so I had no idea what the context of the letter was. The girl though, held on to this note for dear life, which made me think that it contained some not-so-nice information about another student. I told her if she did not give it to me, she would have to give it to the head of school. She reluctantly held the note out, but when I reached to grab it, she started to rip it up. Eventually, I was able to retrieve the pieces, although I feel like she was going to eat them pretty soon rather than hand them over. At my first break, I went to get the note translated by one of the Chinese faculty members. This is what it roughly translated to: (Names have been omitted to protect the hearts of my not-yet-even preteen students)
Dear Male Student,
It makes me sad to say I can no longer be your friend. I like you alot. I know that you like another girl, and that girl likes another boy. I want to talk to you, but I am very upset. This is the second time my heart has been broken. But do not worry, I will not cry this time. I can no longer talk to you. I am ending our friendship. Please do not talk to me, it is too hard.
Female Student
This third grader was very sad that the man of her dreams (the second time around) did not feel the same way. Looking back, I do not think I remember this much drama in third grade. Times have changed....
I have also gotten other notes (all in Chinese)
Dear Male Student:
I know who likes you! If you want to know, write who you like on the piece of paper, and give back to me.
(No signature)
I received this note from a fourth grader who did not want to get in a relationship at all. The girls really love him though. Whenever his name comes up, at least one girl giggles. He did not know who put this letter in his desk, making me wonder, Does the person that wrote this realize that in order to get the letter back, they need to sign their name? But then again, not having a name on something is a very common occurence for my students, especially with homework. I try to battle this with sarcasm, which they don't understand, when they hand me homework without a name on it. I say, "This looks really great, I wonder who it belongs too?" They reply, "Me!" to which I say,"Well, I don't know that. How would I know that?" They get slightly confused, but now are picking up on the fact that it means their name is missing from their work.
SO....any tips on crushing the love bug in my classroom? Unfortunately since my boys are so rowdy, I need to sandwich them in between the gentler gender in order to maintain calm in my classroom. Funny that I said the gentler gender, because the girls in my classroom tend to show their affection by kicking and poking the boy they fancy. I have lost track of who likes who and if anyone is dating anyone, because I am pretty sure that changes on a daily basis.
I did not think that I would have to deal with this in third and fourth grade. Oh to be young and in love...
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