"May I have your attention please. We are now going into a Shelter in Place lock down. Please stay in your classrooms until further notice. This is not an emergency situation. Continue on with class as normal. Please do not text or use your cell phones."
I make sure my door is locked and sit down at my desk. This is my third hour speech class. If I have to be locked in a room for an indeterminate about of time, this is the class I want to be locked down with. There's not an annoying kid in the bunch. And, they are pretty funny in their own way.
Immediately, the chatter begins.
"What's that mean?" I explain that something is happening and to be safe, they want everyone to stay in the classroom."
"Is this a drill?"
"Probably not," I explain "As Mr. F said, it isn't a dangerous situation, but we need to stay in the room.
"How long will we be here?"
"I don't know. You could be here all day. And if we stay in lock down, I'm sure glad I'm locked in with this class rather than several others."
They giggle and smile.
"Can we leave and go to the bathroom?"
I laughed, "No. No one can leave."
"But I have to go. What if it's an emergency."
"I guess we'll hold up a blanket and you can use the garbage can." (I'm being sarcastic. The students takes me seriously.)
"Do you have kleenex?" they say, looking around the room.
"Yep. And I actually have a roll of toilet paper over there on the computer cart."
"What about lunch?"
"No. We have to stay in the room."
"We are still in a Shelter in Place lock down. Remain in your classrooms and continue on with your normal procedures."
This is easier said than done.
"Are we going to miss 4th period?"
"Maybe."
"Yea! I don't want to go to Math."
"Can you hear our stomachs growling, Mrs. Day? They keep taking turns."
"Really. Are we going to miss lunch?"
A conversation about food begins. They love the bagels on Tuesday at lunch. Several girls say they always eat salad bar on Tuesday just so they can have a bagel.
Another announcement. We need to stay in the room even though fourth period will be starting.
"Yea! I'd much rather stay here."
"But what about lunch/ I'm really hungry."
"Maybe they will bring sack lunches to us."
I quietly take inventory of the supplies in my room. I keep breakfast items in my cupboard because I seldom remember to eat breakfast before I leave for school.
"Well, I have a few breakfast bars, a bagel (yes--a lunch bagel), and three containers of chocolate pudding. I'll share if I have to. But I won't share my water. You die faster from dehydration than starvation, you know." I know--a bit sarcastic. But it lightens the mood.
They aren't concerned about the water, just the food.
"Really? You have food!"
"Yep. And I'll share."
Collectively, they calm down.
They continue chatting and researching.
A stomach growls.
"Mrs. Day, you're gonna have to share that bagel...."
It's amazing how food takes a precedence over everything else. Glad you had a class that you enjoyed spending time with.
ReplyDeleteAnd what are the kids most worried about??? Thank goodness for the snacks! Hope all was okay and you weren't locked down too long.
ReplyDeleteAll was fine. It was an unannounced drill. None of us knew that it was a drill, but every kid handled it well.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wonderful conversation that gives a glimpse into the minds of teens! Bathroom and food...what a riot! I'm glad everything was fine. Love your sarcasm with the kids, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny. The first things they always think about are food and the potty...and whose class they will be missing! I'm glad if you had to be stuck, you were with a group like this. Sounds like a, ahem, fun day!
ReplyDeletehehe, what a fun post! I love how you shared the little snippets of conversation popping up just as they really did. I'm sure my students would say just the same things! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer; the snippets of conversation are hilarious and they really give me a feeling of being in the classroom with you all during lockdown. I actually have a 'lockdown' story to tell about our first drill. Maybe I'll borrow your slice idea some day. Oh, Mrs. Day, you're going to have to share that slice idea.
ReplyDeleteLove the chorus of rumbling stomachs. They weren't hungry or didn't have to go to the bathroom until they couldn't.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story in dialogue. You made a likely event humorous and thoughtful. Did you share the bagel?
ReplyDeleteI despise unannounced drills. I understand the need, but I am not sure I would have been able to pull off your playful humor during a "soft lockdown," which is what they are called at our school.
ReplyDeleteThe dialogue here is just perfect to show the exchange between you and the students. I especially love your line about the water. :) I take pleasure in the perverse, just like Elsie :)
The way you let the dialog tell the story really worked--awesome post! I found myself sort of wishing I had been there with you. Well, sort of. I have chocolate in my cupboard... :)
ReplyDeleteThis is hysterical! I also love the dialogue. You had me wondering if the piece would end with your whole class diving into your chocolate pudding containers. When I taught K, I used to whisper read to my kiddos during lock-downs and you know what, they listened like champs. Funny. Lock-downs, not so much. Thanks for sharing, Deb :).
ReplyDeleteIt's very, very good that you have this terrific relationship. Otherwise, I suppose there are no guarantees with hungry teens. The dialogue made the whole post Deb. How fun, and funny you made it sound, & isn't that the point? Even with the old ones, there could be a little anxiety hiding out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI nominated you for an award! Check out my blog for more details :)
ReplyDeleteChelsea
www.mypinkscribbles.blogspot.com