Tomorrow's Reading Test

Tomorrow, one of our weekly reading tests is a sight-word test where the kids have about 20 words to read out loud to me.

One of this week's words is "tidy" and it never fails that at least 4 of the kids - usually boys - get to that word, hesitate for a second and then say quietly, "Titty?" It's like they know they shouldn't say it, but that's what it looks like so they go ahead and say it anyway!

And I have to do my best not to laugh while they blush furiously and I correct them by saying, "That word is 'tidy'."

I can't wait to see how many of them do it this year.

Aaron and the Ground Squirrel

I was teaching 4th grade and I had a great class. When I say they were a great class, I certainly don't mean that they were all academic over-achievers or even that they were the best-behaved class I ever taught. But this class was a fun group. There were quite a few characters in my room. Some of the personalities were just hilarious and they made me laugh on a daily - sometimes hourly basis.

One young black man in particular was named Aaron and he was a smooth fellow. He was a very nice-looking boy and all the girls were in love with him - and he knew it. Every boy wanted to be friends with him because he was cool. He strutted into my room every day and every boy and girl there had to say "Good morning, Aaron!" And he would acknowledge them all with a cocky tip of his head and then would saunter to his seat where someone else would usually sharpen his pencils for him. If he hadn't been so likable, he would have really gotten on my nerves!

One day, we were reading aloud a chapter in our science book. The class had read it silently the day before so they were all ready to read out loud. Things were going well until Aaron's turn.

Aaron's paragraph began with, "In the spring, the ground squirrel emerges from him burrow to nibble at the tender grass."

He cleared his throat and waited until he was certain that everyone was listening to him. Then he began, "In the spring the ground squirrel emerges from his burrow to nipple..."


His voice trailed off when he realized what he had just accidentally said. As the snickers and guffaws rang out through the room, Aaron dropped his head onto his desk and I saw the tips of his ears turn pink.

I, of course, tried to pretend that he had said nothing wrong. I waited until the laughter had subsided and said quietly, "Aaron, that word is nibble."

Without lifting his head, Aaron raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Pate, you're gonna have to go on without me. I cannot recover!"

To this day, I can't see a picture of a ground squirrel without thinking about Aaron!

Why Am I Blogging?

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I've written stories, poems, dramatic pieces, novels - you name it, I've written it. Have I been published? Yes, I have. I've had several poems published and I've had nearly a dozen dramatic pieces published in various church drama publications. I was once watching a church service on t.v. from a church in another state and saw that they were performing a piece that I had written! Talk about a rush!

So what do I write about? Pretty much everything, but most of it - aside from the novels - is based in my real life. I've been a teacher since 1990 and, boy, can kids give you a lot of material! Funny, sad, heartbreaking, thought-provoking...kids can really put things into perspective for you. I've often been humbled in the presence of children who have already endured and seen more than they should and more than I ever will.

Since I now have children of my own, I have an added source of material. Michael and I have been blessed with two children, Christopher and Elizabeth, who are good-natured, funny, and sweet. They both make me laugh every day.

I am also a "weird magnet." Strange and funny things things just happen to me and around me all the time. Michael says they probably happen to everybody, but I just take the time to notice them. Maybe that's true.

So this is my blog. I have so many stories and "happenings" that I just need to record somewhere before they leave me. So come often and laugh with me and cry with me and see my heart.