9. Kid from the back

Well this one was during coaching classes for entrance exams.

The math teacher reduced a given problem to a simpler form and challenged the students, “So this expression doesn’t fit any of the given standard forms for us to find the particular integral. So what do you propose we do?”

A kid from the back shouted, “The next question.”

10. Preschool

I’ve taught preschool for years, and one of my favorite “dad” responses to children who are being whiny is “Hi, _____. I’m your teacher!” (Eg,”I’m thirsty.” “Hi, Thirsty. I’m your teacher!”).

Anyway, one day, after a long week, I sat down to lunch with my class and say to a child (we’ll call him Tommy), “Boy, Tommy. I’m really tired today.”

Without skipping a beat, he swallows his Mac-n-cheese, looks me right in the eyes and says, “Hi, Really Tired. I’m Tommy.”

That was the day I knew I had taught him all I could.

11. Smart enough

Took my class to an art gallery. As we waited for our tour to begin we played on the small playground near the door. A prep school kid in a uniform approached two of my boys and said, “I bet I’m smarter than you are!” I watched to make sure no blood was drawn – my students can hold their own pretty much anywhere and they don’t accept insults casually.

But they were cool. “No you’re not. Are you in Grade 2?” The boy said he was and one of my boys said, “So then we’re all grade 2. So we are all grade 2 smart.’ He went back to climbing the monkey bars.

But the prep school kid continued. “I know I’m smarter. Let’s do some math and I’ll prove it.”

The toughest kid in my room looked this guy square in the eye and said, “Well, I’m smart enough not to do math when I’m having fun on a playground.”