Help the Teacher!

My first year of teaching elementary school nearly killed me.

I had a group of first graders who had been put together for a very experienced teacher because of their various behavioral and academic issues. Unfortunately, the principal who created the roster retired, and the new principal moved that teacher into a different grade. Which meant that me, new and inexperienced teacher that I was, got the class from, well, let’s just say it wasn’t heaven.

On this day, I was teaching a math lesson involving plastic money. While I realize that giving kids chances for real world practice when learning new skills make sense, it also was an absolute nightmare with this group of children. Imagine all the chaos that could ensue with lots of little coins.

Of course, today the problem wasn’t the kids. It was me.

I picked up the box of coins to pass them out, lost my grip, and the entire container of plastic money went flying everywhere.

My helpful (and rambunctious) first graders flew out of their seats shouting “Help the teacher! Help the teacher!” at the top of their very robust lungs.

Horrified, I squatted to try and gather the coins. I will never forget, reaching wildly for the rolling plastic quarters and looking up to see a pair of high heels clicking by.

My heart sank.

My principal decided to pop in for a little observation.

Sigh.

There went my good score for maintaining classroom discipline.

Today, I love remembering that experience, even though at the time it was painful. When I’m feeling frazzled, I hear the children’s voices chanting, “help the teacher!”

A good reminder that help, even if it isn’t always in the most palatable form, is always there.

And a good laugh makes everything better.