March 2026 SOLC–Day 3
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
I actually don’t love teacher reels. Ok, well, I do love some of them, but many of them have a bitter edge that I don’t appreciate. This one popped up the other day and made me laugh, so I sent it along to my colleagues. I can’t figure out how to attach the actual video here, so I took a screen shot for you, but you get the idea. Just picture a few more yapping geese coming in and out of the frame, and coming in reaaaaalllll close!
In my classroom this year, ongoing talk is not solely a morning activity. It’s a day long affair. I can definitely relate to that black lab. (And hey, my name’s Molly, so I’m practically half lab anyway*!)
Case in point: This morning after I direct the kids to get ready for recess, student after student approaches me.
“Hey, Mrs. Hogan,” J asks, “Do you wanna know my secret soccer move?”
“Of course!” I say, putting my book down and reaching for my coat.
“Ok, well, I just move my body toward the ball and then when the ball gets close…”
“Can I go in the cupboard to look for a book?” someone interrupts.
“Wah-wah-wah-wah…ball….wah-wah-wah-wah…real fast…Wah-wah-wah-wah” J. keeps talking, Charlie Brown teacher style, as I am distracted by other incoming voices and simultaneously trying to get ready to head outside.
“Yes.” I answer, shrugging into my coat, putting my hat on, trying to hear at least some of what J’s saying.
“Are you on duty today?” M. pipes up.
“Yes.” Phone in pocket.
“I wanna be a beaver when I grow up.”
What? My hand stills as I reach for my sunglasses, and I turn toward the last voice, realizing it comes from Y, and totally abandoning any effort to listen to J.
“Can I go to the Lost and Found? I think I might have left my gloves on the playground last week. I was playing on the pirate ship with….”
“Sure,” I interrupt, “Just go on down after we head out the door to the playground.”
“What did you say?” I ask Y, simultaneously wondering if we’d talked about beavers in any way, shape or form today, while knowing full well that that’s not particularly relevant anyway.
“Can you fill out my chart?” another voice chimes in, shoving a clipboard and pencil in my direction. I grasp them and start filling out the chart, keeping my eyes on Y.
“I want to be a beaver when I grow up,” she repeats. Then, she quickly pulls her lower lip in and juts her top two teeth over it–those two typical second-grade-newly-emerged-permanent-and-still-a-bit-large-for-their face teeth. “See!”
This surprises a quick huff of a laugh from me, but luckily, she doesn’t seem perturbed by it.
Before I can respond, a curious classmate chimes in, “Why do you want to be a beaver when you grow up?”
“Cause I like ’em!” she announces cheerfully, and bounces away, in a not-remotely-like-a-beaver fashion. I can only hope she’s finally getting ready for recess.
I hand back the clipboard, place my sunglasses on and move briskly toward the door. The kids who aren’t already lined up follow me, still regaling me with information, questions and life goals.
I move to the doorway and do a quick scan of the haphazard line of winter-clad students. Fortunately, even the aspiring beaver has managed to get geared up and into her place in line. It looks like we’re ready.
“Come on geese…, I mean, kids!” I call, “Let’s get going! It’s time for recess!”
We head out of the room, and I swing back in line next to J.
“Hey, J. What’s that you were saying about your soccer super power? I think I missed a few details.”
J happily regales me with full details of his soccer prowess, all the way down the hallway and out the door to the playground.
*If you’re a dog owner or lover, you might already “get” this. But in case you’re not, or you just haven’t noticed, so many dogs, and labs in particular, are named Molly!
Nix the comfort zone 
What a slice! You describe the scene so well with the endless questions and you’re reactions. I love your “huff of a laugh” the best.
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You captured the joys of the classroom perfectly. I could imagine myself surrounded by those voices, demands, and beavers. You handled it with love and patience. That’s the teacher way.
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ooof I was overstimulated just reading this chatter from your students. Thanks for sharing your geese, I’ve seen the reel it’s funny and true! Happy March !
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The constant “on” button of teaching – you capture it so well and in such a way that we can all relate to the rapid boil of conversation and action happening all the time. I’m glad you can keep up – I think I’ve lost my “with-it-ness” with the level of brain activity required to keep up with younger students with always insatiable curiosity and the need to tell things.
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Yes! It was these moments that both amused me and exhausted me. I get many fewer doses of these onslaughts now that I’m not a classroom teacher. But we do have some kids who think of the library checkout counter as their bar at Cheers.
By the way, Ms. Hogan, do you want to know my labrador’s name? It’s not Molly, it’s Farley, like the SNL comedian. When I grow up I want to be Farley…the dog, not the comedian.
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An aspiring Beaver! That made me laugh.
You will always be my Black Lab, Baby, and I’ll never stop scratching you behind your ears.
Your Mutt of a husband.
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Hahaha….the life of a teacher! It’s certainly never boring. The beaver comment- too funny! 😉
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Not gonna lie – I started laughing the minute I saw the picture. So. Much. Talking. But no one in my high school classes has yet to tell me that they want to be a beaver when they grow up, so I’ll take that as a win.
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My daughter named Maggie said she was going to name a dog Elizabeth when she grew up. Maggie is another popular dog name. I love when you write about your students. What a lively group!
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Hahaha this was hilarious. I must admit I closed my eyes and pictured you in this slice, attention shifting every second. It’s so cool having a face to picture when reading slices that are this descriptive! Loved it!!
“information, questions and life goals”
Fantastic xD
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My first giggle was at your “half lab” comment and then giggles the whole way through. I hope he got to finish his soccer story.
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This is so freakin’ funny, Molly! You are clearly gifted in the listening and remembering quadrant of the teacher evaluation rubric! This is the stuff that exhausts us but it’s the oh so important piece of our work as teachers — the listening and knowing those kids and all they are! “haphazard line of winter clad students” – love that image!
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OMG…that bombardment of words that fill the classroom space. You totally capture my experience as well! (Although I haven’t had a student tell me that they plan to be a beaver when they grow up). I did have one when I asked if he had siblings, tell me he had 3…and they were cats!
And I really can’t imagine adding “gearing up” to the getting out to recess process! How much time does that take?
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You’ve captured those moments so well. Your slice is hilarious. I’m intrigued by the beaver image and wonder what would replace it here in Australia (a quokka, a wombat or a kangaroo). Also we did have a dog named Molly at our school in India, definitely not a labrador, but I get your point!
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