Hoarse as a Horse

Today was Field Day. Why we don't save Field Day for the last days of school, I will never understand, but there you have it. All the teachers are now wondering what they are going to do with their students for the next six days of school...
 
I was recruited to be in charge of the 4-square station. Remember 4-square? It was huge when I was a sixth grader. Anyways, we had K-2 rotating through all the stations this morning, and grades 3-5 rotating this afternoon. Each station lasted between 9 and 15 minutes. This means that I yelled out directions (you know, to be heard over all of the other field day events) TWENTY-ONE times to twenty-one different classes. So you can imagine I'm pretty hoarse.
 
It was pretty amazing to see the progression of physical coordination that each grade/age was capable of. For the Kindergarteners, the directions were simply to "bounce the ball to your friend"... but even that proved to be too difficult when I realized that some groups weren't playing because LOOK I SAW A CATERPILLAR or LOOK I HEAR AN AIRPLANE!! The first and second graders weren't that much better--they even had trouble running after a ball when it was hit out of bounds to go pick it up. It was almost like watching a cartoon: a child would run to get it, but just as they were picking it up, they would inadvertently kick it further, until they were halfway across the field!
 
As soon as I got the third through fifth grade groups, there was a big jump in physical ability. But then it I had to shout out complicated directions about what constituted an "out" because they were SO COMPETITIVE. The fifth graders were downright cutthroat--they had NO mercy!
 
After a full day of standing and walking around, sun exposure, and yelling out directions, I am BEAT!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's why you are paid "the big bucks!"

Love, dad

Anonymous said...

The world does strange things to the innocent...

Anonymous said...

Hoarse, huh? Hot tea with lemon and honey (don't mean Max!) Love you, Mom

Hannah D said...

i really felt for you yesterday when i saw a young teacher covered in elementary students during a field trip. it takes a special person!

Anonymous said...

Our middle school only has a "Class Day" for 8th graders - last Friday (with 12 more school days left) - auditorium assembly with game show trivia games and video, then outside unstructured play, BBQ chicken lunch - good stuff! Only wish 6th and 7th grades also had it.

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