Whattta Load of Junk

Kid: "Are we learning any Common Core this year?"

Me: "Absolutely, everything we're learning is based on Common Core standards."

Kid: "Oh. Well my mom says Common Core is a load of junk."

Me: "Oh? If she has any questions or concerns about what you're learning this year, tell her she can give me a call. I want her to be very comfortable with what her son is doing in school." How about you? Do you feel like you've learned anything new this year?"

Kid: "Nope."

Me: "Well, did you know how to make compound sentence before 4th grade?"

Kid: "No."

Me: "What about the patterns we've been identifying in math? Did you see those before 4th grade?"

Kid: "Well, no."

Me: "Both of those come from the Common Core standard. It seems you have learned something from those standards, right?"

Kid: " No. They are just a load of junk."

I guess you can't fight genetics. 

Brass Yourself

Whoops.

As I've done too many times to count, I spoke before I thought. 

And had this conversation with a child:

Me: So Timmy, what instrument are you going to play in orchestra?

Fifth Grader Timmy: Trumpet

Me: Ah, so you're a brass man. (Wait! Did I just say that?!?)

Fifth Grader Timmy: I guess I am! Maybe I'll call myself that!

Me: Um, let's not.