Breaking Barriers

"Ummmm,... what's that?"  a mild-mannered student was attempting to make the teacher-student connection with me as I ate a pretzel during our 'snack time'.  That's right - I said snack time.  It's equivalent to the water cooler time you hear about in the business world,.. only I have to monitor healthy food intake along with appropriate behavior when it comes to the mingle.

"It's a small, fat pretzel," I gave her a straight answer, even though in my mind, I had ideas of making something up just for the fun of it.  

Then came the awkward stare, followed by silence.  

"Yep,... that's what is alright.  A pretzel,"  I wasn't sure where the conversation was heading, but I felt that a destination should be reached quickly.

Finally, her stare broke as she muttered an, "Ahhhhh, I thought it might be."

"Yep,"  I felt a need to repeat myself, all the while thinking How long can this continue? 

With a bob of the head, it was over,.. she walked back to her desk to complete her snack time.  I went back to grading papers and munching on the remaining pretzels.  I'm sure it's moments like this that would make our President's words (echoed by my superintendent) of Every Child, Every Day ring true.

Happy Snack Time Everybody!