Sense of Humor

You have to have a sense of humor to teach school or you will never make it through. For example today I was sitting on my exercise ball and teaching class. I sit on the ball because it makes me sit up straight and work my core muscles while teaching but also the kids think it is cool. I was talking to the class and all of the sudden I am on the floor. A pencil had rolled across the floor and I rolled right on top of it. And you guessed it, I had a hole in my ball. The kids thought it was the funniest thing they had ever seen and to tell you the truth I got a good laugh myself. If you can't laugh at yourself then you must be pretty bored all of the time.

But here is my classic teaching school story. Last year I had a first grader walk up to me and say "Mrs. Mangan. Oh, wait are you married?" I told him no and he said "then I should call you Miss Mangan." And I told him that was correct. Then he looked at me and asked "How old are you?" and I went ahead and told him I was 24. Then he looked me right in the eyes and said "Then you are never going to get married are you." First graders are so honest and I think that is what I love about them the best.

This year when I had my classes the first week of school one of the students looked at me and said "Miss Mangan you changed." I said "How?" She proceeded to tell me "Once you were this big" as she held her arms out as wide as she could, "and now you are this big" and she held them much closer together. (I have lost 55 pounds since February) I think that was one of the best complements I could have ever received because I knew she was being honest and not just saying it because it was the right thing to say.

Teaching school has so many ups and downs but keeping a sense of humor and relying on God to see me through every day helps me to keep a smile on my face and a love for teaching in my heart.