Interesting Christmas Gifts

Of course with any holiday gifts that students give to their teachers, it's the thought that counts. But sometimes you have to wonder... what were they thinking??

Yes, that is a goat. With an inscription. In Chinese.

Language Barrier

Persia: Ms. Kirch, Leni is talking about me behind my back and I don't like it.
Me: Okay, this sounds like a good time for an "I statement". Let's go talk to her.


Persia: Leni, I felt mad when you... went all gangster on me.
Leni (who is an ELL): I do not know what "gangster" mean.
Persia: I didn't like it when you got all up on me.
Leni: When? I do not know when you are talking about.
Me: OKAY. Persia, it sounds like you need to let her know next time it happens. Leni, try to be nice to Persia. Now, let's all go back to work.

Joke's on Me

Student: "Hey Ms. Kirch, what's under there?"
Me: "Under where?"
Student and her whole table of other students start laughing uncontrollably (because I said underwear).

I wouldn't have been surprised if one student did that to another, but that's a pretty bold trick to play on your teacher.

First Day of School Quotes

The teachers created a video, lip-syncing and dancing to the song "Happy" by Pharrell. It played on the morning announcements the first day of school, and Andres turned to me and said, "No fair! You guys got to party!?"

Yep. That's what teachers do at school when the kids aren't around.

Green Folder

Supply list: one (1) green folder

Harold brings in this:

Blasts from the Past

Here are some (more) quotes that I found written on scraps of paper. And I'm not just posting them because they're about me, I promise!


"Ms. Kirch, you are so nice that all the hate in the world couldn't make you mean."

"You are, like, such a good teacher. You could, like, teach a whale to fly."

Are you sure you're in third grade?

Me: (sternly) "Do you plan on shooting spitballs in the cafeteria in the future?"
Student: "Three words: not gonna do it."
Me: (totally losing my cool and cracking up) "Okay..."
Other Student: "Man, I told you it was four words!"

When reviewing what they learned about American Indians in second grade

"Ms. Kirch, back when the American Indians were alive... did human beings exist yet?"