My students this year have moved up so many times with me that I have ceased to be their favorite or least favorite or most aggravating teacher and just become their Teacher. This has led to such hilarious moments as:
"Ms. T, I can't stand Ms. H, she's so aggravating!"
"Why is she aggravating?"
"She never stops talking!"
"I never stop talking either and you put up with me."
"Ugh, that's different, Ms. T, you're just ... here." (Softly, to himself. "You're always here. Why are you never on vacation?")
A student asks me to write cards while I'm trying to finish breakfast. Being a disaster with ADD, I try to do that and drink my smoothie and wind up with smoothie everywhere.
One of my other students, shouting at the first one: "Why did you do that? You know she can't do more than one thing at a time!" (They're not wrong.)
On the way back from lunch, a young man informs me that he can do a cartwheel. Sure, I say, because I have very little forethought. He does not crack his head on the sidewalk, thankfully, but it's definitely not a cartwheel.
"That's not a cartwheel," I inform him. "This is a cartwheel." I do a cartwheel.
The dozen or so other students in my class, sounding more horrified than impressed: "Ms. T! You can't do that!"
Another young man informs us that he can do a front flip. One of the girls in his class looks at me with grave concern, then snaps, "Well, don't," at him, apparently trying to prevent me from also attempting a front flip and cracking my head on the sidewalk. At least someone in the class has some forethought, even if it isn't me.
And for a bonus, we had "dress like your favorite teacher" day.
One boy, shaking his head. "Ms. T, I can't dress like you. You don't got that drip."
I clear my throat. "Was that the only thing stopping you?"
Another girl frowns at my outfit, then contemplatively says aloud, "Where does Ms. T even get her clothes? Like, who sells that?"
"Thanks sweetie," I say, and a third student reminds all of us that none of this is on topic for our class.
"What will you do without us, Ms. T?" she adds, but five other children immediately inform the class that I will be following them to their next educational foray and then raising their children, so I guess we'll never know.