Halloween Hooligans and Shenanigans

Halloween 7th Grade Style
A few of my favorite Halloween comments:
"Can we just skip Halloween and go straight to Thanksgiving? I'm ready to EAT!"

After school on Halloween the same little boy that I talked about a few posts ago started the day informing us that his Captain America costume was in his back pack. As soon as 7th grade was dismissed, he ran out of the room with his costume to go change. He proceeded to come running back in my room screaming, "I'm Captain America! I own America!"
Later when he needed to use the bathroom, he announced, "Captain America is taking a trip to the American bathroom!"
When I asked him if he was going Trick or Treating, he looked at me like I was insane and then said, "Yes, I'm going trick or treating! You're never too old to eat candy."
Then, he went out in the hall and "flew" up and down the hall way for a solid 5 minutes screaming other random things about Captain America.

Heart Break 7th Grade Style
We had a parent conference with a young lady who has been very slack the first quarter and was close to failing almost every class. Later in the day, we found out she and her boyfriend had broken up. The boy was devastated. We're sure she just needed more time to focus on school and that it was all her, not him. Here is the face of heartbreak.

Anger 7th Grade Style
We had picture day several weeks ago and got the pictures back this week. There were two students who tried to refuse having their picture made. They wanted to wait until they could do re-takes because they forgot it was picture day. You would think this reaction would be from girls, but it was actually two boys. I might would have been a little more understanding if they had been respectful in how they refused requested to not have their picture made. But, because of their rudeness, I was determined that they were going to take their picture. I won the battle and this is the result:

I laughed so hard when I saw this second one. Both of the boys laughed pretty hard when I reminded them how mad they were the day these were taken. So worth fighting that battle!

Concern 7th Grade Style
I completely lost my voice today. I don't think this has ever happened to me. I always think it's cool when my voice goes hoarse and have always secretly wanted to lose it. I don't know that that wish was very wise. It hurts and is hard to control 90+ 7th graders without a voice. My students were very sweet today. It was funny to watch their faces as they strained to hear me when I did talk. By the middle of today, it was so bad I just typed what I wanted to say and projected it on the board. By the end of the day, I couldn't get above a whisper. These were the comments I got:
"You need to eat a lemon."
"Have you been drinking tea with honey." I said no, but I probably should. She said, "Good, you need to." (in a firm motherly voice)
"Did you forget to wear a coat last night when you were out trick or treating?"
"Did you scream too much last night at a Halloween party?"
"Did you eat too much candy?"
"Are you sick?!?"
"What's up with your voice?"

Not having a voice makes it REALLY difficult to fuss at boys who are crawling around on the floor trying to tie each other's shoes together. When I got over to them and tapped them on the shoulder, one said, "It's a good thing she can't talk or she would be yelling at us right now." Wise children. 

I essentially had to be my own incompetent sub today. I didn't feel great and had very little energy. (It takes a lot of energy to strain your nonexistent voice and try to talk to a room full of people). So, I would get each class started on their group work and then sit at the front of the room on my computer. When students would raise their hand with a question, I would make them come to me. I don't think very much got done today, but they stayed in their seats and the volume stayed under control, which was about all I could ask for.

Yay for a weekend with an extra hour of sleep!