I want to share a conversation that I had with one of my first graders yesterday in class. First, some background:

I was about to give the "Coins" test, after teaching this whole unit. I was actually pretty excited to see how they would do; I've put a lot of work into my lessons and trying to reach them all at their different levels. We were sitting at the carpet and I asked if there were any last minute questions before taking the test. They did have lots of questions: none of them had to do with what the test was going to be on. So, I was about to send them back to their desks to get started when I heard:

Matt: I have a compliment!
Me: Oh? About me? ("Finally!" I thought. "I'm about to get some appreciation for all the hard work I do!")
Matt: No! About me!
Me: (dejected) Oh. Ok. (at this point, my master teacher leaves the room to have a good laugh)
Matt: Do you know why I'm so good at math? Cause it's in my name: Matth-ew!!!
Me: Ok. Well, let's take our test now.

And right after that:

Megan: (quietly) I have a compliment about you, Mrs. Rowley.
Me: Oh, really?! (I thought we could wait on the test to hear one more student comment, right?)
Megan: You're a good teacher!
Me: Aww, thanks, Megan.

I'm going to miss these kids when I go onto my next placement (which I just found out today: Whittier Christian Elementary, 6th graders).

P.S. For the most part, they did great on the coins test: 13/19 students got 90% or above!