For the first six years that I taught at Lincoln Lutheran, the only thing on top of my computer monitor was Super Pawn. Super Pawn was an extra. When they sent our order for chess pieces they sent a set with an extra pawn. I put it on top of the monitor. Maybe a month later someone left a bit of modeling clay in the room and I put it on my desk. One day I came into the room to find Super Pawn, and he’s been defending my desk ever since.
This year things have gotten a little out of hand. I like to buy kiddie band-aids for my classroom and sometime during first semester we used up the last of the Dora band-aids. I asked my pre-algebra class if anyone wanted a Dora box. Ben said yes, and I gave it to him. At the end of the class he presented me with 3 “pop-up” Dora vignettes. It was totally unexpected. He could have done anything with the box. He did something I never would have expected. A while later another Ben brought in “Chief’s block of wood” from shop class. I’m not exactly sure how the block of wood fits in.
At Christmas my mom gave me some Tusken Raiders. Much more interesting to have a three way battle on the monitor. There is an ever shifting web of alliances and betrayals as different students make it to the classroom before me.
And it’s Christina’s Birthday. She’s something like 26. Happy Birthday Sis.