February 26, 2008
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The new and improved little red riding hood
i am learning that you get out of things what you put in them. if i put fun and interesting things into my classes, they turn out pretty good. and the kids really like ‘em. We are doing a play of little red riding hood. with a slight twist, due to the creative minds of the third grade. (this story is also illustrated. interestingly enough.)
“this is little red ring hood. her mother’s name is Rachel. she will take chocolate and pizza to her grandmother. She met a wolf named the good wolf. he said, “where are you going?” “to my grandmother’s house.” “I will show you the way.” The bad wolf went in the house and ate the grandmother, and put on her clothes while little red riding hood and the good wolf went into the house. the bad wolf said, “come in!” Little red riding hood knew it wasn’t her grandmother and said “you have big eyes, a big nose, big ears and big teeth. You are not my grandmother–you are a bad wolf!” “Help, Help!” And the good wolf helped little red riding hood. Then the grandmother ate spinach and jumped out of the bad wolf. the bad wolf ran away and the good wolf turned into the woodcutter.”
the spinach part was Neto’s idea. They wanted the grandmother and the woodcutter to get married, but i said it made the story too long.
the current classroom obsession is Jake. Jake is the name of my whiteboard marker. i have regular conversations with him, and he is often labeled my boyfriend (they are rather determined to get me married, one way or another). Since i write the merits and demerits on the board, when everyone starts talking or falling out of their chair i just start having nice talks with Jake about how “oh no, Jake, please don’t write LUCAS’ NAME on the board! I don’t want to give out demerits today!” and miracle of miracles, everyone quiets down rather quickly. Then something horrible happened yesterday. Jake died. completely out of ink. so i got another black marker. The hot topic at the moment is if we should find a different name, and if it is Jake’s brother, or son. We settled on brother, since i shouldn’t really date a father/son combination. i think tomorrow i will decide that Jake (er…his brother, since the original Jake is in the trashcan) is dating the eraser.
and yes, we do learn some English in these classes. i promise.
I’ll take the dream i had last night
and put it in my freezer
so someday long and far away
when i’m an old grey geezer,
i’ll take it out and thaw it out
this lovely dream i’ve frozen
and boil it up and sit me down
and dip my old cold toes in.
–Shel Silverstein
