Today was one of those days at school where no one wanted to pay attention.  It was the first day back from Spring break and to make matters worse the sun was shining and the weather was just right; not too warm and not cold at all.

Every period I had with my 4th graders they kept insisting we finish our lesson quickly and have free time to play.  Unfortunately for them the opportunity didn’t present itself until the end of the day during Science.  We finished early and I told them it was okay to go outside and enjoy the weather.

It is so much fun to watch them all playing together on the playground.  My three boys always go on the swings and compete to see who can jump off the furthest.   And all five girls manage to fit themselves on one tire swing and scream at the top of their lungs.

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My sister-in-law showed me these two videos.  I found them to be extraordinarily cute, even though I’m not the biggest fan of ‘cute baby’ videos on YouTube.  Give ‘em a look.

Star Wars according to a 3-year old

Hey Jude, as sung by a chotu

In 4th grade Islamic studies we’re finishing up a unit on Ramadan.  I wish I had been a little more organized back in September and thought to teach to my students this Unit during the actual month of Ramadan.  Alas, it’s now March and we are left to talk about Ramadan as a memory, not as something we’re currently living through.

It’s fun talking about Ramadan with my students.  Their perception of Eid in school is so different from how I felt about it when I was their age.  In my elementary school days I looked forward to Christmas parties, and Valentine’s chocolates, and Halloween candy.  In their elementary school days, they’re excited to decorate the classroom for Eid, exchange gifts, and have extra time during recess to play with eachother.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved Ramadan when I was little (and still do), but it wasn’t a love that I could take with me to school and talk about with my peers.  

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My students are cute.  Everyday I have such a great time in the classroom with my 4th graders.  Even if I’m having a terrible day, they always manage to make me smile or laugh.  And it isn’t even because they’re trying to cheer me up.  It’s just the way they are.

Take for example one day in Social Studies.  I was reviewing vocabulary words with them from the chapter.  I asked them, “Who can tell me what metropolitan means?”  One of them leapt up from his seat, and stuck his hand straight out frantically and said, “Sister!! Sister!! I know!! I know!!”  I asked him what it meant, and he said so confidently,

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