Calgary Opera: Cinderella

Totally enthralled by @CalgaryOpera 's Cinderella #ffcaedu pic.twitter.com/nP9dey3jr3

— 3AFFCA_NWE (@3AFFCA_NWE) March 3, 2017

I really like you guys' voice.
-Arwin
I liked the show you put on.
-Swara
I really like your high singing.
-Daxton

Calgary Opera came to our school today and performed  Cinderella. I love watching students during these performances because they become entranced! A play is way better than TV, for sure.

I loved our music teacher's lesson shared after the story: kindness matters. Cinderella could have been nasty to the step sisters after she ended up marrying the prince. Many would say they didn't deserve any kindness...but she was kind anyway. We should all be a little more like that.



What is behind the black curtain?
- Cooper
How did you change dresses by dumping the sparkles?
-Austin
I saw the prince behind the stage.
-Joshua

Theatre is like a live magician. Everyone wants to know how the tricks work! I especially like watching these kinds of things with kids because they ask the questions I want answers to too. Cinderella changed from her work clothes to her ball gown in a flash, right in front of us. Although, after the play, when the kids asked about it, Cinderella really didn't divulge the secret. She just added to the mystery by saying they dumped sprinkles on her to make it happen.

I liked the piano.
The apple you threw, was it real?
- Raheem

The pianist was amazing. I was enthralled with his skills as well!

Why didn't you kiss?
-Aleah
Did you kiss Cinderella's hand or not?
-Areej

I was a little worried this would happen in the play. I can see chaos totally erupting if anyone kissed on stage at school! Kissing someone's hand is enough for us!

How long have you done this?
- Ethan
Are you guys in school?
-Noah
Are you guys an adult?
-Evelyn

Kids always seem to want to know how old the actors are. I have a theory that they are so amazed by people older than them doing what seems like imaginative play so well that they get fixed on the question or whether or not these are adults.

Why did you pick our gym teacher as the step mother?
- Kaeleigh

They dressed him up in a big hat and a hugs fancy scarf swung across his shoulders. He'd stomp out and point his finger at the badly behaving step sisters. Roars would erupt from the students!

Dad's Balls

Conversation this morning as we were coming into the school:

Student: Mrs. Ackroyd, you know my dad's balls?

Me: Pardon?

Student: You know.....my dad's balls?

Me: okay.... (Thinking: oh dear....where is this going?)

Student: He used to have LOTS of hair!

Me: OH!! Your dad's bald!!!

Morning Supervision Conversations

I love being on supervision in the mornings. The things kids say are hilarious. One of the more interesting conversations this morning:

Student: Mrs. Ackroyd, my back is really sore.

 Me: Oh dear. Why?

 Student: I cast a spell on myself to grow wings. I think it's working.

Back to Class!

There's nothing like getting back into the classroom. Lots of hugs. So much to share. Everyone wants to talk at one time. They missed me!

...and gee I missed them.

Group Hug

Prison Sentence

In our school kids get homework every day.

I know. I know. 

Lots of people could go on about why kids don't need homework.

Our philosophy is that it needs to be something they can do independently and should take 20-30 minutes. No big deal.

This past week we have had less homework because we have been having swimming lessons. It has caused us to change our schedule s bit and cut out some things. As a result, there has been a lighter load when it comes to homework.

Today I did to them, "I hope you have enjoyed this week because next week we are back to our routine."

One of my clever children blurted out, "Oh man! It feels like when you are finally out of jail and then someone sends you back again."

What??? Are you speaking from personal experience here, my dear??  LOL

Family Secrets

Recently, one of my students was telling me about a trip their family went on overseas.

"And my mom wanted to bring some seeds, but you're not allowed - so she HID them in our booster seats!"

Oh boy.

Bathroom Problems

While walking down the hall the other day, I heard a darling little voice from the boys washroom shout: You are NOT supposed to pee on the door!

.....do I have to stop and deal with this??? 

Cupcake Fairy

I was in Study Hall today when one of my favorite grade two students came along. I had a cupcake that I had scooped from the staff room. I didn't have time to eat it at lunch so I was carrying it. My favorite grade two student asked me where I got the cupcake. There was a bakery box at the back of theroom with more cupcakes (likely the birthday boy or girl had taken a couple to the staff room to share with teachers and the rest were in the  classroom). My guess is my favorite grade two student wanted one as well.

FGTS: Where'd you get that cupcake?
Me: I got it from the Cupcake Fairy.
FGTS: The Cupcake Fairy? What's that?
Various other children tell her: Don't believe her! She always teases.
Me: (whisper voice) It's actually true. Don't listen to those jaded Grade 3 students. You know how Santa visits all the good boys and girls?
FGTS: Yes
Me: Well, the Cupcake Fairy visits all the good teachers.
FGTS: Really?
Me: Absolutely

FGTS pauses and thinks.

FGTS: But Mrs. Brown (names are changed to protect the innocent) doesn't have one.
Me: (with an assuring nod) I know. I don't think we should talk about that.
FGTS: (wide-eyed) Oooohhh. I see.
Me: Mhm!

I'll have to be sure to carry cupcakes around more often so she is reminded that I'm a good teacher :)

Thinking Moustache

Some people put on thinking caps. Others put on thinking moustaches.

Such a funny boy. Every time is said his name, he would respond in a deep raspy voice, "I'm Mr. BB today."

Best Homework Sentence of the Day!

I was madly going around the room correcting homework this morning, when I had to stop and smile because I was reminded of how wonderful these kids are.

Best sentence of the day:

Censorship

Today, during Reading Buddies, a censorship momentum started. Guinesses Book of World Records has always been a popular read in my classroom. This year my kids think they are inappropriate though. I told them I wasn't entirely sure I agreed that they were inappropriate and asked them to sticky the inappropriate pages. A frenzy of stickie use began!!

Not even sure how to go about teaching a lesson on censorship in Gr. 3!!

Digital Citizenship

Sometimes the kids are smarter than me on these things.

Today we were talking about animal life cycles and how animals care for their young. Some animals look after their young, and some animals, like reptiles, lay eggs and never see them again. As we were talking about mammals and how they nurse their young, one of my students got thinking (you could see the wheels whirring!), and said, “If male mammals don’t help care for their young, why do males have nipples?”

I commented that that was a great question and said perhaps he could take on the assignment to find out for us.

 

He said to me, “Actually, Mrs. Ackroyd, I’m not allowed to google nipples because all sorts of bad stuff will show up.”

 

Oh ya. Oops!!

 

I’ll take that one on J

 

 

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.....And in case you're interested. You can read here to find out why men have nipples.