It started with the sign on my desk that reads, “Vampire Parking:
Violators Will Be Bitten.” This fun notice keeps kids from sitting at my desk,
the one spot in the room that is always pristine. While I don’t always have the
time or the energy to keep the entire room neat when I must share it with over
forty children every day, I can at least protect my desk and its contents.
At first, my students laugh at the sign.
“Oh, that Mrs. DePetrillo. She’s so silly.” After all, I have a number
of funny wall adornments in the room such as a “No Whining Zone” sign and a
Spiderman poster. But when they see me actually sit at the desk, their minds
start to put it all together and they use their inferring skills. If the desk
only allows vampires to park there and I’m parked there, then I must be a
vampire.
Let’s add to this some other evidence I’ve overheard students
discussing recently:
1. She
wears a lot of black.
2. She
is kind of pale.
3. She
never puts the lights on in the classroom. Why does she like it so dark?
4. The
blinds on the windows are always closed. Is she trying to keep the sun out?
5. She
moves pretty fast. She was at her desk and now she’s already at the front of
the room!
6. Her
dog looks like a werewolf.
Factor in that some other adults in the building have been adding fuel
to the fire with tales of me requesting specially tinted windows that block UV
rays or of having seen me in Target in the mirror aisle and not seeing my
reflection and we’ve got some very convincing arguments here.
Just last week, I was elbow deep in a math lesson, scribbling away on
the whiteboard with my back to the class. When I turned around, more than one
student had out a small mirror, trying to capture my reflection. They’re being
very scientific about it at least. Running tests. Asking questions. Supporting
theories. Refining conclusions.
I told the students that we’re going to turn this speculation into a
writing assignment where they must give their opinion on the matter with supporting
evidence. Am I vampire or am I not and why do they think so? I plan to give
them more evidence for both sides of the issue as the month of October unfolds.
It’ll be a fun game to play in between the tedious and tortuous NECAP state
testing where they basically have their little brains fried and I have to watch
it happen and can offer no assistance. Trust me, fried brains is a tough smell
to get out of the room.
Anyway, they appear to be excited about this writing endeavor. One
student even asked me if when the assignment is done, could I tell them the
truth about whether or not I am a vampire. I answered with a cryptic, “We’ll
see.”
I can’t wait to see their reaction when I wear my “I Heart Vampires”
T-shirt to school.
Toodles,
Chriswww.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com
www.christymajor.weebly.com
