For Future Reference

As many of you know, next year I'll be teaching 6th grade. This will bring some changes to both my teaching style and, apparently, my vocabulary.

I was out on recess duty, a task many of you cannot appreciate, while one of the current 6th grade teachers was also out. She took this time to coach me on some of the finer points of being an upper-elementary teacher.

For example, you can no longer say things like, "Hold your balls," as you are coming in from recess as you will get a resounding snicker and sneer from the 6th graders. You apparently also can't say things like, "Don't bounce your balls." Instead, you are to say a specific ball term such as "basketball" or "soccer ball." Good to know.

Going to a new grade level has also presented another problem. Two of us will have last names that begin with the letter H. Those of you familiar with schools settings know that teachers are referred to by their grade level and the first letter of their last name. Right now I'm 3-H. However, next year we can't both be 6-H, that would be confusing. Last year we were both in 4th grade so we used the first two letters of our last names to distinguish. Next year we can't do that. She would be 6-Ho. Having a "Ho" for a teacher would be inappropriate. You with me? At least it's not me. :)