Our Reading Corner Had a Mid-life Crisis

Our reading corner had a mid-life crisis, and students entered this morning to find caution tape blocking the entrance to our beloved space. Yesterday after school students left our cubby area a mess; cardboard boxes to be used for a Spanish project sprawled all over the floor. Since it was not my mess to clean up I left it there. When my custodian texted me to see if I wanted him to throw the cardboard out I simply replied no.

Standing in the Party Store I had an idea that would become a natural consequence. I asked if they had caution tape, and I was directed to the Over the Hill section of the store. There I saw it. Bold, bright yellow tape that read Mid-Life Crisis Zone.

Bursting out laughing, I decided to make my purchase. I am probably close to half way through my teaching career, so it is only fitting that the reading corner I have had since 2000 is now having a mid-life crisis. I came in early and sectioned off our reading corner that also happens to be the entrance to our cubby area. Then I waited for the students to arrive.

The first student that came in walked towards the cubby area and stopped dead in his tracks. A second classmate came in and began asking him how to get in. They both were trying to figure it out when a third classmate suggested they go back to their seats with their backpacks. Neatly placing their bags on the floor students began their morning work.

As the rest of the class trickled in they quickly figured out where to head but were confused about why there was caution style tape in the classroom. One student figured it out! She exclaimed, “Look! We left it a mess yesterday and no one picked it up.” Then the questions began and kept coming throughout the day.

Q. How will we take our lunch count?

A. I will call what is offered for lunch, and you will raise your hand. Our lunch ordering board is in the reading corner, and we cannot access it right now.

Q. Maybe this is for Breakout EDU! Is it?

A. No it is not for an activity.

Q. How do I get a Band-Aid?

A. You will have to walk to the nurse and ask for one since our Band-Aids are currently in a mug in the reading corner.

Q. We need more tissues. Can I get another box from the bathroom?

A. You will have to head to the office to get another box from there.

Q. I need to fill up my water bottle. Where do I go?

A.  I think you should visit the cafeteria and use the water filtration system.

Q. What will we do for read aloud?

A. We will sit at our seats, and unfortunately I cannot read The Perfect Score. Instead we are going to read an amazing picture book by Josh Funk and do a writing activity. Also, since our Chromebooks are in the bathroom that is off the cubby area we cannot do our regularly scheduled reading stations.

Q. I want the second book in this series I am reading. How do I get it?

A. You will have to wait until Monday as that book is in the reading corner. I would be happy to give you other book suggestions based on what we do have access to. She ended up with The Day the Mustache Took Over and realized there are many bookshelves to explore in our library.

Q. What if I need to heat up my snack in the microwave?

A. Unfortunately there is no microwave we have access to at the moment, but there is extra snacks in the nurses’ office.

I never had to explain why our reading corner had a mid life crisis, and the students learned the consequences of it being closed. Though our regular conveniences were interrupted, we found other ways of doing things. This not only teaches flexible thinking and adaptability but also the fact that if you leave a mess it is your job to pick it up - not someone else’s.

Q. What are we going to do at the end of the day? We need the cardboard.

A. At the end of our day we will reflect on the reading corner’s mid-life crisis and work together to clean up the mess.

I sent the photos of the caution taped reading corner to my mother and she responded, “Are you kidding me, who left that mess?” I am sure a lot of you see a mess in your home and ask yourself the same thing. Who left the mess is a great question, as it was certainly not everyone in here. However, everyone in here has left a mess before somewhere. We all learned some valuable lessons about leaving messes during the mid-life crisis of the reading corner.