A Funny Story

So, most of you know that my new job is very tough. Today I drove home laughing the whole way about something that happened at school. The laughter was so therapeutic that I had to share it- and record it for when I am wondering why the heck I signed up for this.

I have a student who I refer to as my "special project." I love this kid to death, but he cannot control his behavior sometimes. It is not uncommon for him to yell out, be extremely disruptive, try to get out of work, and he tends to use bad language. He is being reinforced for "calm behavior."

Ok, so he and I are working today on reading. He is reading to me because I am going hoarse (now my voice is gone, but that's another story). I picked out an Amelia Bedelia book because he has a good sense of humor and he had never tried that series.

So here is my kiddo, reading along. He comes to a page that reads:

"Throw it to first base," yelled the boys, "Put Dick out."

So Amelia Bedelia threw the ball to first base. 

When he gets to the name "Dick," he stops. I know he can decode it, so I look up.
He says, "Well, I'm afraid to say it.....I think it's a bad word."
This coming from the boy who cusses out his mom.
Then he sits there giggling to himself trying to decide if he should say it or not.
I tried to assure him that it was a name, and that it would be okay to say because it's a name-not a bad word. I told him it was short for Richard. He could not get it through his head that someone could be called that.
So he skipped it, and kept reading. The next two pages had the name on it, too. and he would come to the word, stop, giggle, whisper it under his breath, and continue reading. It was hysterical. He would also stop periodically and ask questions like, "Why would they name someone that?" "How can he be called that?" "I don't understand why that word is a name."
His laughter was contagious. Such a refreshingly positive interaction!

I love fourth graders! (Today...)