Last week we had Terra Nova testing, which was moderately stressful to proctor for the first time. However, it was nice to have some time to finish grading and watch the fifth graders show me that they do, indeed, know how to be quiet for an extended period of time.
On the last day of testing, after the last test I was letting the fifth graders read their AR books and work on unfinished homework. I sat as my desk calculating grades, enjoying my last few moments of silence before I'd have to say goodbye to testing for the year. One student opened her desk. Now, technically, she wasn't supposed to be in her desk, so I just watch her for a while. She had a cup of water in her desk and, with a smaller cup, was transferring water to other places throughout her desk. I just watched... baffled. A few other girls in the back row saw me watching and stared in horror, thinking that there was going to be trouble. But I just watched. This went on for several minutes. Finally, I couldn't help it anymore... WHAT?! Was she doing? The girl looked up from her desk, saw I was talking to her, and was seriously offended I thought it was strange she was giving the animals throughout her desk water to drink.
The fifth graders and I are going to need to have a talk about what we do with our desks.
Additionally, one of my fifth grade students has a hooded sweatshirt that simple has a peace sign, a heart and cow.
Peace, love, cows.
Yes, please.
