FIELD TRIP!

     I was scheduled to sub in Grade 3 two weeks ago.  The teacher knew she'd be attending a conference and knew she wanted me back in her class to share her chair.  What I didn't know until I showed up that day is that we were going on a field trip!  The local symphony was sponsoring an educational day for 3rd and 4th graders.  I was lucky enough to be going with them.  Before the trip, we discussed the need to use the bathroom before we left, we discussed the proper way to applaud politely, and the proper way to sit in our seats quietly.
     After we had a chance to review symphony etiquette, we headed downstairs to get on the lovely yellow school bus for our trip to the high school.  As I stood outside the bus to watch the children board, I heard them all say "Hi John" to the driver.  As I entered the bus, I was indeed surprised to see that the bus driver they referred to as John was the English teacher (and football coach) that was at my high school over 35 years ago.  From that day to this, I have NEVER referred to him as "John."
     We had a wonderful time at the symphony, the class was very well behaved and they loved the bassoon and the violins and the cellos, flutes, piccolos and clarinets.  What a wonderful way to hear five 5th Symphonies!
     Alas, as the day was quite cold, students did have indoor recess that day.  A bus ride, an hour long symphony, indoor recess - all of this should have raised the flag for me that I was in for a rough afternoon of short attention spans and pent up energy.  There were tears and sulking (not by me!) and a few quick meltdowns, but by and by, the day ended on a happy note and the children all got off onto their bus, with their homework folders, and with their library books in hand.  I'm sure I'll be back...