The Magic Wand Story

A few weeks ago, B and I went to Tampa to see Leigh and Dave. We spent a day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure so that Leigh and I could go to....

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!

It was, in a word, awesome. We had SO MUCH FUN! Bryan, Dave and "Medium Mike" (not to be confused with "Big Mike") came along because Universal serves one of their favorite products:

Beer!

(You thought I was going to say wine, didn't you?)

We do drink other things. Like beer.

I digress. At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter you can buy your very own, very powerful magic wand. 

This is outside THE Ollivander's Wand Shop.

We just came from a verywetJurassicParkride. 

We were veryveryverywet.

Give me a break.

Leigh modeling the magical powers of her Harry Potter wand.

Dave was very scared.

Being the brainiac that I am, I picked up a Hermoine Granger wand.

Within days of our trip, I was back at work. I am in the same grade, at the same school with the same fabulous teaching partner.  I inevitably spend the first few days lamenting the loss of my former students, waving to them in the hallways and feeling a great sense of satisfaction when they stop by my room in the morning for a hug before starting their day. 

My new batch of cuties are already challenging me to stay on top of my "game." They are incredibly sweet, but incredibly talkative. Incredibly. Did I mention they were at least really sweet?

Seriously -

They. Will. Not. Shut. Up. 

EVER.

About 12:30 last Friday, I reached my limit. 

There were 42 tiny humans and 3 tall ones. The tiny ones were winning. We were trying to have a veryserious conversation about homework, putting first things first and being proactive when I might have lost it just a little bit. 

I remembered that my magic wand was in the back of the room.

I rushed back to go get it.

I rushed back up in front of the very talkative cutie pies.

Me: Do you know what this is?!?!

Them: (silence and dumbfounded stares... finally!!)

Me: THIS (holding up said wand) is a MAGIC WAND! From THE Harry Potter World! And it is REAL! And it WORKS!

Them: nothing. (again!!!)

Me: If you do not CLOSE YOUR MOUTHS, I am going to give ALL OF YOU TYPE 2 COOTIES!!!!!!!

Them: Gasps. Shock. Wincing. (You could smell the fear.)

Me: THERE IS NO SHOT OR CURE FOR TYPE 2 COOTIES!!!!!!!

Them: Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! 

Me: Do you understand?!?!?!?!?

Them: Yes ma'am. 

It was the most magical moment of my (almost) 9 year teaching career. 

My teaching partners in the back were choking down laughter, but it worked!!! We might have the most gullible kids on the planet, but they believe in that magic wand. All I have to do it reach for that box and I hear: "Type 2 Cooties! Hush!"

And they say kids have no imagination.