March 2023 SOLC–Day 7
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We’d been having a quick narrative reading assessment. I’d read students a story and paused every so often for them to jot answers to some questions about character feelings, changes in feelings, lessons, etc. For some reason or other, we had gotten into a bit of a time crunch (so unusual, right?), so I had ended up scribing a little for one of my students. As we finished the story and got to the last question, I told S that he needed to complete that one independently. I thought he might grumble, but he didn’t, and I moved away as he picked up his pencil, concentrating on the page in front of him.
A minute later he popped up by my side. “Here, Mrs. Hogan,” he said, handing me his paper.
I looked down and saw that he’d written, “fichin” (fiction).
“Great, S” I said, “but remember the question was: What is the genre of this story and how do you know?” I pointed to the second part of the question on his page. “You still need to answer that part.”
He hesitated a moment. Was he going to refuse?
Then he frowned, grudgingly took his paper back and plodded back toward his seat. Several minutes later he appeared again at my side. He stood in front of me, paper in hand, waiting while I talked to another student. Then, as I turned to give him my attention, he held his paper up for my inspection and said, in a somehow simultaneously serious and nonchalant way, “Mrs. Hogan, the second part is just written in Chinese.”
I looked down and saw that under “fichin” S had filled a line with a series of intersecting lines, both curved and straight. Apparently he’d spent the past few minutes creating what, to him, looked like passable Chinese.
I know it wasn’t professional, but I couldn’t help it. I started laughing. It was all just too funny–His studied nonchalance… His misguided hope that I’d be taken in and accept his answer (Maybe ask for a translation? lol)…and all that creative effort expended on avoiding answering the question (which, by the way, I knew that he knew). It pushed me over the edge. As I laughed, even his lips twitched and a small smile appeared.
“Oh, S,” I finally said, pulling myself back together, “I am so sorry, but you can’t answer this one in Chinese. You’re going to have to try again.”
And off he went, paper and pencil in hand, resigned to his fate.
Nix the comfort zone 
I love this moment that you captured! And I love the moments when we are genuinely moved by a student and the “professional” flies out and we are left with laughter (or tears). My favorite line, because it gives such a beautiful hint at your student, you and the relationship you share: “As I laughed, even his lips twitched and a small smile appeared.”
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Thanks, Amy. He’s a student who I will absolutely always remember!
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Brilliant. I like the effort to be cryptic and maybe his surprise when it didn’t work.
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Pretty clever, right!? lol I still chuckle every time I think about it.
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This makes me giggle!
I love when you described S as “popping up by your side” and “appearing at your side”. It is so true, they just appear- usually disregarding any personal space.
I admire his commitment to not answering the question, and when they do it with a sense of humor it is priceless!
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They really do just pop up out of nowhere, don’t they?
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Thanks for making us laugh! That was a great teaching moment!
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It was one of the fun moments, for sure! Glad you got a laugh from it, too.
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I love that kid.
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Me, too. I think I’m going to have to start paying him for generating slice ideas! lol
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We all have at least one like him! Love the bravado and creativity…and of course, your responses are the best!
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He’s a hoot. Today he left school singing, “La, la, la” saying, “I’m singing in the shower!” with a big grin on his face. And no, it wasn’t raining!
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I’m still laughing. You described it so well, I feel like I’m right there.
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It was so funny!
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This is adorable. Your descriptions are so relatable and paint such vivid scenes: “Then he frowned, grudgingly took his paper back and plodded back toward his seat. Several minutes later he appeared again at my side. He stood in front of me, paper in hand, waiting while I talked to another student. Then, as I turned to give him my attention, he held his paper up for my inspection and said, in a somehow simultaneously serious and nonchalant way, “Mrs. Hogan, the second part is just written in Chinese.”-just perfect. And, why do they ALWAYS miss the second part of the question?!?? 🙂 Great slice! I’ll be chuckling on my way to bed.
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You’re right, those two-part questions are doozies! I’m glad you got a chuckle out of the story. It still makes me laugh.
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A classic tale! It’s amazing the lengths a student will go to, to try and avoid a task…!
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I love that he thought I might fall for it. lol
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