Once you've been a student in a teacher's class for a while, you might think you know how the teacher will react in any situation. Sometimes, however, the teacher shows a flash of personality you didn't expect. Two examples from grade school:
Mrs. M., who taught vocal music when I was in second and third grade, had a low-key, grandmotherly presence. Once, however, our class was singing Woody Guthrie's "I'll Race You Down The Mountain." As Mrs. M. led the singing and played the tune on the piano, she suddenly sped up the tempo at the end, singing the last line as "We'llseewhogetstherefirst!" "I win!" she exclaimed. "I got there first!"
More surprising than Mrs. M.'s yelp of victory, however, was Mrs. S.'s portrayal of a character during fourth grade story time. Mrs. S. was a stickler for proper behavior, insisting that her students show courtesy at all times, particularly by saying, "Please," and "May I...?" She was the last teacher I ever expected to hear portray Sheila in Judy Blume's Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing in a childlike, singsong voice. Assuming the role of Sheila getting on Peter's nerves, she sang, "Peter's got the cooties! Peter's got the cooties!" This startled all of us. This was the teacher, after all, who reminded students sharpening pencils without asking, "You need to ask permission to do that!"
Just because a teacher has a low-key or a stern demeanor, don't assume that (s)he doesn't have at least an occasional whimsical side.
