You've Gotta Friend In...

There were many instances this week that gave me a sneak peak into how my year is going to go (more than likely).  Here's just one example of the kind of students I have this year...

Towards the end of the day on Friday, I was needing a pick-me-up to make it until 3.  As we were getting ready to go outside, I pulled one of my students aside and had this conversation with him...

Me: J, would you do me a favor?
J: Sure.
Me: Behind Mrs. Floyd's desk is a mini-refrigerator.  Inside that fridge is a can of diet soda.  It's not a Diet Coke, but it had a big, red K on it.
J: Yeah.  I know what you're talking about. My mom gets those.
Me: Great!  Could you go get it, and bring it to me.

So, J heads off, and I continue getting everyone ready to go outside.  A few minutes later, he comes back, and hands me the can.  As he's doing this, kids from my class are heading outside with Mrs. Floyd's class.  I thank the young man, and hand him 5 Duck Dollars (our incentive program) thanking him for helping me out since I couldn't leave the room.  The young man gets into deep thought, and then says, "You know Mrs. H.  I think B needs to also get 5 Duck Dollars because at lunch, he helped me.  I spilled my drink, and he helped me clean it up without me having to ask.  So, I think he should get 5 Duck Dollars."

I thought that was very sweet, so I gave B 5 Duck Dollars.  Then B says, "You know Mrs. H.  I think T should get 5 Duck Dollars too.  At lunch, I left my lunchbox in front of the Music room, and while I was waiting to get it, T shared some of her fruit with me.  But don't worry, I know I'm not allergic to that fruit."  So I put 5 Duck Dollars on T's desk.  Thank goodness she wasn't in the room, or it was looking like I'd have to give the whole class 5 Duck Dollars for helping each other out (and I would've too!).

Mrs. Floyd had a similar story in that a little girl in her class thought another classmate should get some Duck Dollars because he helped her carry some of her stuff in.  The poor boy didn't understand why he should get paid to do that because, after all, "She had her hands full, and I could lend a hand."

Yep.  I think this is going to be a good year.