Jumping Spider

It happened. The thing that is never in a textbook. The thing that is never in a practicum. The thing that is never mentioned in class. The thing that is never on a test.

What to do when a student A starts yelling that a spider is in her/his desk?

I asked the student to move his/her chair back and back away slowly. I asked all students to freeze. All students froze.

I began pulling things out of the desk waiting for the tarantula and I to come eye to eye.

I started to give up hope that I was going to find Charlotte.

Then, every class, has a man's man. This kid wants to be a Navy Seal (wanted to before this past weekend). He inches calmly closer with a paper towel.

Charlotte is spotted. Insert Navy Seal's paper towel while I hold the paper that's supporting Charlotte.

Student A then begins yelling, 'don't kill it. you can't.'

At this time, Navy Seal proclaims, 'you know it's a jumping spider.'

Great. Super teacher is faced with 2 options. Scar a child for life by killing his friend that had frightened him so OR try to evacuate Jumping Charlotte to classroom window.

I chose the latter.

I don't think I've skipped, balanced, and encouraged a spider across a room and out a window to leave Navy Seal watching him on the outer ledge.

Sheesh. And, then class melted/resumed. Amount of lost time barely 2 minutes.

Moral of the Story:  Oh, the unpredictablility of children, first the spider was a nuisance and then a friend. Only if adults had it in in this order. Nuisances then friends. So many, are friends then become nuisances.