Fourth Grade

HELEN: Well she certainly enjoys tennis now. It’s funny how people change, isn’t it?
ANNIE: I don’t know, do people really change?
HELEN: I think they do.
ANNIE: But they still stay who they are, pretty much.
HELEN: I think we change all the time.
ANNIE: I think we stay the same, but grow a little bit.
HELEN: I think if you’re growing, then you’re changing.
ANNIE: But we’re changing from who we are, which we always stay as.
HELEN: Not really, I don’t think so.

- Bridesmaids
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. . .

My niece is going into fourth grade this month. She is sort of excited. Only sort of. The school supply trip was excellent. The learning will also be great. It will, however, be distance learning.

So, school at home.

I remember fourth grade. I loved that it was not at home.

Miss Joan Wamsley was a brand new teacher. She introduced herself, then surprisingly, asked each of us to introduce ourselves.

The introductions led into logistics. She stated some basics:

Each of you is a budding adult; you are capable of going to use the bathroom without asking to be excused.

If you don’t take care of your personal hygiene, your friends will take it upon themselves to tell you. Take a shower every day, and use deodorant; you are growing up!

Each week, we will have a student produce a collage of photographs, writing, clippings, anything that represents who you are and where you came from.

Words I will not tolerate: ‘stuff’, ‘thing,’ ‘weird.’ You can be much more creative.
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It seems we should have class rules, so let’s make them together. What should they be?

And then we all gathered on the floor in front of Miss Wamsley at her easel, and developed our class rules as a team. I noticed, as expected, they were tempered and coaxed from us by her; naturally, she had plans for the class rules, but she patiently facilitated our realization and ‘creation’ of them. It was a short list.

1. Hands to yourself.
2. No running in the classroom.
3. When a problem comes up, try to solve it without an adult first. And if you can’t work it out, then consult with the teacher.
4. Pay attention to the speaker, give your undivided attention.
5. Do your own work.
6. Do your best work.

What will her rules be?

1. Mute your microphone.
2. Stay in frame.
3. Stay off other apps and devices.
4. Pay attention to the speaker, give your undivided attention.
5. Do your own work.
6. Do your best work.


. . .


I agree with Annie.

We’re changing from who we are, which we always stay as.

Yeah.