(no subject)

[nola_beast]

I'm a teacher (third grade) and I promised my class that if they collectively read 100 books before spring break, we could get a pair of class pets.

To my surprise, they actually did it (Judy Moody and Captain Underpants have a lot to answer for, in my opinion), so now I have to ask—rats or guinea pigs? Anyone have experience/thoughts/advice?

Comments

[nola_beth]

Rats are cuter than anyone ever admits.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bWC-BnC7IA

[nola_beast]

They're as cute as mice, anyway. They're smart too, so I thought we could study them in a science unit.

[nola_beth]

That's so fun!! You sound like a great teacher.

[nola_beast]

I try to be. Keeping promises is important to kids.

[nola_beth]

And you taught them to love books!

[nola_beast]

Or to force themselves to do something for profit.

[nola_beth]

I like my version better!

[nola_beast]

I do too, honestly.

[nola_beth]

But maybe that's not fair, not everyone finds joy in books the way I did. Maybe someone really finds joy in math (how do numbers work??) or robots or something and that's also okay!

[nola_beast]

Some of the kids really embrace the math/science end of things while being bored with reading, but I try to keep a spark of interest in books alive by reading aloud after recess every day.

[nola_beth]

What do you read aloud?

[nola_beast]

Modern classics, mostly. We're doing Sideways Stories from Wayside School right now, to keep them awake during the gloomy months.

[nola_beth]

I bet they love that!

[nola_beast]

I'm crossing my fingers some of them read the sequels before the year is out.

[nola_beth]

Now I am too!