students WILL suprise you

[Mr. Larrabee]

This is a real pick-me-up story.

I've had a rough weekend. We're into our 7th week of school, and I spent a large chunk of my Friday evening making parent calls... homework not turned in, excessive tardies, sleeping in class, etc. I was starting to really let it affect my home life, too.

Today, as I'm preparing to start with my 4th period class, a student interrupts me. He hands me a gift bag, and tells me that the class had pooled together some money for a gift. I open it up, and find a Duncan Metal Zero freehand yo-yo. Needless to say, I was very touched!

See, a few weeks ago, I'd made a request to borrow a yo-yo if anyone had one for a demonstration. I went on to explain that I had once sold yo-yos as a college job, and so I had some tricks that could help explain some geometry concepts. Of course, weeks go by, and I do other examples and projects. To be completely honest, I had completely forgotten about the request.

This little act. It has really brightened my day, and I hope by sharing the story, it might brighten someone elses as well.

[sweetsass]

Awww! That's the sweetest thing I've heard in a while. Gwan with ya bad self, Larrabee.

[eaglesaint02]

That is so cool!!! We all need more mornings like that.

[Brimir]

very touching story... wish there were more like these out there!

[Boxcar]

That is a great story.

[Kiry]

Very nice what you write about how surprising students can be. :p I always believe in students inspiration for any kind of thing. They will show their heart if you let them find yours.Kiry:)

[thewritinggenie]

I'll confess-- I'm not a teacher, but I am a writer working with a high school tutoring website. I'm working on a monthly newsletter, and I'd like to include some funny stories about the ups and downs of teaching high school students. I'm wondering if you would mind sharing any stories that might amuse or encourage other teachers. Thanks for your help.

[Fransisca]

They really know how to get to your heart, don't they?

Little sweet surprises from the students always justify the choice I made to be a teacher. They always brighten my days.

Thank you for sharing Mr. Larabee

[avid reader]

I have been teaching a student with mental retardation after school for about 6 months. It is a program through our school, because the student cannot handle being in a regular class, even self-contained. He gets violent, and runs away, and hurts people. He is a middle school student who is very low functioning. Anyway, he was on a waiting list for placement in a group home several hours away, and he finally was told he would be leaving next week. His guardian took him to the store to buy Christmas presents for his family before he left. He picked one out and gave it to me. It was very touching because he picked it himself, and no one told him to buy something for me. And we have had a rocky year. We have had to restrain him, and he has hit, kicked and spit on me in the past. So it was very touching to recieve this present from him. We do touch our students even when it doesn't seem like it. :)

[kingrichie]

That's a great story. One of my students brought me a 3 lb. smoked ham on Wed. before Thanksgiving.

[teach1027]

That story was great. It really reminds us all of why we do what we do, because those are the moments that make it all worth while.