Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Blue Slime


It was the 3rd time I'd covered the advanced ELD class at the middle school in four weeks. 5th period was... challenging...

The teacher expected them to work silently, and while the rest of the classes did, 5th period would not.

There's something about this age. Emotions are heightened. Brighter. And impulse control is nearly nonexistent.

When Alex went into his backpack and pulled out a container of blue goo, I knew where this was headed.

(The slime/goo stuff has been around for a bit, now. I've seen it before. Not as often as I see Rubik's Cube. A calmer class on a different day explained the recipe to me. You can find that here.)

I told Alex to put the goo away. He refused.

It was passing period, he said. He just wanted to look at it, he said. He'd put it away at the bell, he said.


By the time the bell rang to begin class, Alex had a portion of the goo stuck to the carpet on the floor... (And, of course, two other boys were also distracted by other issues at the same time.)

Somehow, I got the rest of the class settled, passed out the day's assignment, and got roll taken. Alex still had the slime out and by now it was all over his hands.

15 minutes later he was almost ready to get to work. The goo was back in its container. He just needed to go to the restroom to wash his hands. They were now blue.


via GIPHY

You know that old sign? "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine"? Apparently, this was Alex's first exposure to the idea. 

23 comments:

  1. lol! I know that "slime" all too well. Thankfully the kids I watch don't create sticky slime. Glittery slime, yes, which is it's own problem.

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    1. Oh man! Glitter? I bet it gets everywhere...

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  2. I'm betting you didn't allow him to go immediately to the bathroom to wash his hands?

    betty

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  3. Now, how did Alex get into your class. The Ninja must love the blue goo-evil grin alert on my part:))

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    1. Whoops, didn't even think of that when I was coming up with the kiddo's pseudonym.

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  4. HAHA....yes, I know that saying very well, we used to use that one at work and I use it on my daughter a lot! Kids!

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    1. Yeah, kids. He was going to listen to at least one no that day...

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  5. In other words, he worked with blue hands.
    For the record, I never have blue goo with me.

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  6. Replies
    1. It's funny when they're using the stuff appropriately. When I'm attempting to get middle schoolers into "class has started" mode, however...

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  7. That very quote hangs at my auto mechanics shop! Very good quote!

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    1. It's a good point to make. At least to some people.

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  8. Blue hands doesn't mean you can't do your work. ;)

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  9. Hopefully the lesson will stick better than the blue does.

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  10. Not his last, I bet. Well done.

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  11. I was thinking "take that crap up and turn into office" but I love your solutions so much more!!!
    Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead #AtoZChallenge

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  12. Well done, you! You managed to get the focus on!

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