Vice Principal Bernard steps into my class for an unscheduled observation and . . .

[Gilda Dent]

He's wearing a smart purple suit, and purple and purple striped tie, and crisply tailored purple shirt. As he steps in the door, I'm helping Bernard Hooks with her phonics assignment, and reminding Bernard Evans that he needs to finish his assignment before using the computer. Bernard Cooper is drawing a picture and I check to make sure she's finished writing the descriptive sentence before drawing a picture to match it. I tell Bernard Jones to get her feet out of her desk, and send Bernard Zhou to help Bernard Wallace partner read this week's story.

Every student is wearing a "Bernard" name tag. Mine says that I'm Bernard "The Charles" Dent.

We're in learning centers, so we have a little time to chat. He asks why I'm calling all my students Bernard. I tell him we're studying poetry. He nods his head as if that makes perfect sense. He asks if that's why all of the colors on the color chart are labled "purple". I confirm that it is. I offer to get him his own Bernard name tag, a purple one, of course, and soon have a group of students encouraging him.

Bernard, an adorable little Irish girl with the expected purple hair, runs over to my desk and gets Mr. VP his purple Bernard name tag.

"I'm almost afraid to ask," he says, "but why are you 'the Charles'"?

"Bernard Osborne," I ask a little girl with purple hair in a cute purple jumper, "can you exlain to Mr. VP why I'm 'the Charles'"

"'Cuz she's the one in charge." Bernard says. Vice Principal Bernard nods again in acknowledgment, smoothing a stray purple hair back into place.

I get my evaluation tomorrow.

Gilda

[west3man]

That was trippy.

I think you slipped a little "Bernard" into everybody's milk, at lunch.

[dingo]

I will be the one to go out on the limb.

I did not understand that.

Could you annotate or something?

[Winslow]

Why am I humming Jimi Hendrix . . . .

[Gilda Dent]

We're studying poetry.

Two of the poems we're playing with are "Bernard" and "Purple" by Jeff Moss, one of the original Seasame Street guys. They follow a similar pattern. "Bernard"'s premise is what would life be like if Bernard were the only name in the world. I kinda cheated by using last names also. "Purple" is about what life would be like if purple were the only color in the world.

The kids have been writing their own "What if ________ were the only ________ in the world" poems all week.

This is so much fun sometimes it ought to be illegal.

Gilda

[dingo]

We're studying poetry.

Two of the poems we're playing with are "Bernard" and "Purple" by Jeff Moss, one of the original Seasame Street guys. They follow a similar pattern. "Bernard"'s premise is what would life be like if Bernard were the only name in the world. I kinda cheated by using last names also. "Purple" is about what life would be like if purple were the only color in the world.

The kids have been writing their own "What if ________ were the only ________ in the world" poems all week.

This is so much fun sometimes it ought to be illegal.

Gilda

Thanks for explaining. I started reading that story with an image in my mind of a VP looking like Bruce Banner in an all purple suit, was waiting for him to hulk out but just got more confused as it went on.

[Shellhead]

Thanks for explaining. I started reading that story with an image in my mind of a VP looking like Bruce Banner in an all purple suit, was waiting for him to hulk out but just got more confused as it went on.

I was picturing the Joker.

[Dan Apodaca]

I was picturing the Joker.

I saw Sherman Hemsley.

[mattbib]

I was picturing the Joker.I saw the "Batdance" video.

[dingo]

I saw the "Batdance" video.
Then you probably will require therapy.

[Justin D.]

Insane people are some of the best teacher. Good job.

Of course, insane people are also insane. So . . . purple purple purple.

[Spike-X]

Bernard, you are awesome. Your students are lucky to have you. I'm purple with envy.

[Paul McEnery]

There's either something wrong with dingo, or with me, or with you, or with your principal, or possibly all of us.

Because that all made perfect sense to me.

Come to think of it, that's dingo who's a drongo, then. :D

[Paul McEnery]

Oh, and you are now officially stuck with "the charles" as your new name.

[Joe Rice]

Totally going to steal that.

[Gilda Dent]

Oh, and you are now officially stuck with "the charles" as your new name.

Nah, around here that would be Bernard Cronin. I'm only the Charles in my classroom.

Gilda

[Perry Holley]

He's wearing a smart purple suit, and purple and purple striped tie, and crisply tailored purple shirt. As he steps in the door, I'm helping Bernard Hooks with her phonics assignment, and reminding Bernard Evans that he needs to finish his assignment before using the computer. Bernard Cooper is drawing a picture and I check to make sure she's finished writing the descriptive sentence before drawing a picture to match it. I tell Bernard Jones to get her feet out of her desk, and send Bernard Zhou to help Bernard Wallace partner read this week's story.

Every student is wearing a "Bernard" name tag. Mine says that I'm Bernard "The Charles" Dent.

We're in learning centers, so we have a little time to chat. He asks why I'm calling all my students Bernard. I tell him we're studying poetry. He nods his head as if that makes perfect sense. He asks if that's why all of the colors on the color chart are labled "purple". I confirm that it is. I offer to get him his own Bernard name tag, a purple one, of course, and soon have a group of students encouraging him.

Bernard, an adorable little Irish girl with the expected purple hair, runs over to my desk and gets Mr. VP his purple Bernard name tag.

"I'm almost afraid to ask," he says, "but why are you 'the Charles'"?

"Bernard Osborne," I ask a little girl with purple hair in a cute purple jumper, "can you exlain to Mr. VP why I'm 'the Charles'"

"'Cuz she's the one in charge." Bernard says. Vice Principal Bernard nods again in acknowledgment, smoothing a stray purple hair back into place.

I get my evaluation tomorrow.

GildaHee hee hee!

I may just have to start referring to people randomly as Bernard... just like the Badger always called people "Larry".

[Typo Lad]

Sigh.

Why can't I write as well as you?

[Guapo Méndez]

Good one!

Charles in Charge rules!

[Sir Tim Drake]

That is an interesting story.

-- Sir Bernard Drake

[thehod]

I suppose anyone in your class who was actually called Bernard would have had to be known as Nursie then?


Lets see who gets that reference.

[BoosterBronze]

I love your story, and now I wish I had my english degree, so I could do your lesson... or find some way to shoehorn it into my World History lessons.

BoosterBernard.

[Gilda Dent]

In additon to the "Meets standard" in four categories "Exceeds Standard" in nine, and "Needs improvement" in one, I have this note: "Ms. Dent continues to integrate innovative teaching techniques into her teaching as a means of meeting objectives."

Hee hee.

I vary my leader title from day to day. Today I was "The Big Cheese".

"Too Many Daves" works well with the name tag tie-in also. On day one, everyone wears a "Dave" nametag, and on day two, they get one of the silly names from the poem. I was "Moon Face".

The part that was the most work was relableing anything in the room with a color tag "purple".

Bernard "The Picard" Dent

[howyadoin]

I vary my leader title from day to day. Today I was "The Big Cheese".Mind if we call you Bruce, then?

"Too Many Daves" works well with the name tag tie-in also. On day one, everyone wears a "Dave" nametag, and on day two, they get one of the silly names from the poem.You need a copy of "These Are the Daves I Know" from Kids in the Hall.

[Bouncing Boy]

I suppose anyone in your class who was actually called Bernard would have had to be known as Nursie then?


Lets see who gets that reference.
Mouth is open Nursie, shut it.