121. Teachers prank each other. (One time our teacher’s desk was covered in tape. Another time a teacher told us all to start sneezing at 2:00 o’clock. Another time one teacher hid and jumped out to scare the other teacher. Another time the bottom of the computer mouse was covered by tape so it wouldn’t work. Another time, foam balls were everywhere…)

122. We have 10 minutes left in a lesson and the teacher asks if anyone knows any good jokes. And we tell jokes until the bell goes. Like the one which goes, ‘How does the lion like his food? ROAR! Raw!)

123. The teacher plays classical music, and sometimes s/he even tells us the story behind the music. When Beethoven wrote his 9^th Symphony, he had to sit with his ear close to the keys, and he had to pound the keys so he could hear the music. Also, when he first showcased the 9^th Symphony to the public, his conducting was a little out of time of the orchestra. And when he was finished a member of the orchestra had to turn him around to face the audience so he could see them clapping. He hadn’t heard a single note. Here is a link to David Caddy’s son, Ben, playing viola in Rome. (http://concert.arte.tv/fr/lunaclassics-nelson-goerner-paul-meyer-et-les-jeunes-talents-2014)

124. I feel sick all morning. I tell the teacher, and within half an hour, Mum is there to take me home.

125. I feel sick all morning. I tell the teacher who says, ‘You can go to the sick bay.’ Mum and Dad don’t come to pick me up, but I do relax in the room on a bed, and I even fall asleep.

(Copy copyright: Feel free to add your own comment on ‘I love school when…)

116. There is a new treat in the canteen and my friend buys me one. It is a chocolate covered ice-cream. I thought the canteen was only allowed to sell healthy food. Perhaps the chocolate is dark; I believe that dark chocolate is very, very good for you. I know it is very good for my mum’s bank manager. Because Mum often has overdrawn her account… but she never goes without chocolate.

117. I open my pencil case for the first time, at the beginning of the year, and I find new pencils, textas and crayons.

118. The teacher helps me choose a book that I can read to my little lower class buddy.  Well, the book he chooses is one of Dr Seuss’s. I just love those books.

119. A boy has a birthday the same day as a school disco, and the teacher says how wonderful it is. Then he states that everyone in the class is friends with everyone else, and he asks who wants to dance with the birthday boy. Then the teacher says, ‘Raise your hands if you want to dance with the birthday boy.’ And I raise my hand nervously and look around, and see most of the class have their hands raised too. I have a little giggly feeling in my tummy.

120. The teacher puts work up around the class, my piece happens to be above my desk. It is totally lucky because as I look around, no one else has their work about their head. It is like my halo. Perhaps I will be a saint soon. I hope not too soon because most saints are dead! Gulp! Heh heh!

(Copy copyright:  I love school when we read picture books like those of Dr Seuss.)

111. One of the old, hard-as-nails teachers (She wants everyone to think that, but really she has a huge heart) picks up that I haven’t been hugged in a long time. She gives me a hug. (She smells lovely and her hug is warm. At one point I am not sure if she will let me live, but just as I am about to faint, she lets me take a breath.) Another time, I saw the strictest teacher in the school (Tall, bony, thin and witch-like) hugging a little boy who was crying.  Hugs are one of the  things in the world everyone loves giving and receiving.

112. The teacher starts a lesson, in maths, on dividing decimals by decimals but then says, ‘I have never, ever done this in my life, and most of you have calculators, so we are just going to go to another topic.’ And he does. Yep, it is a good thing in education when a teacher is human.

113. I sing in class. I just done mean in Music lessons. I mean, when I am writing a story or reading a book, or doing some computer research – actually that is the best time. Sometimes, sometimes, the teacher lets us put on headphones and listen to music. One time I was singing in maths and a boy complained to the teacher, saying that he couldn’t concentrate. The teacher responded that normally we don’t sing, so today we’ll allow singing. And I sang my heart out.

114. I hold the hand of the special girl who cries on staircases, and I walk her down the stairs and she doesn’t cry. This gives me a great feeling because the teacher trusted me, the girl trusted me, and I managed to get us both downstairs without tumbling, falling and being the whole ‘broken crown’ thing.

115. I see the teacher driving to school with his head out of the car window. I am on the train one day and I see the teacher driving along beside us. He accelerates, which makes me think he is racing the train. Then, in a dual carriage situation, he sticks his head out the window. His long hair trails behind and his face wears a grin; he loves school too, that guy.

(Copy copyright: From the I love school, even when I’m an old teacher, group.)

106. Instead of a written test, the teacher has it as a multiple choice on Survey_Monkey. (The free version only lets the teacher ask 10 questions – ha!)

107. The teacher has little chats with me about how I am going at school. And I feel all fired up.

108. When I start sneezing (because it is hay fever season) in the middle of a silent lesson, and can’t stop. And it gives everyone the giggles.

109. The teacher tells us that he was once standing in line at the Royal Show, waiting to go on an awesome ride.  With no time to cover his mouth, or turn aside, he sneezed

a HUGE sneeze. And the ‘contents’ of that action landed all over the shirt of this giant guy. (The contents were like a green egg-white.) The guy, whose back was now wet and clingy and greenish, ignored the teacher, but the teacher was too scared to stay in the line, and walked away, missing out on the ride.

110. We write stories and then we have a book launch. At the launch the teacher reminds us of what goes in a story. Then we break into small groups to read our stories aloud… with popcorn and marshmallows. That is what happens at a book launch.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when I am working quietly and the teacher sneezes loud, loud, loud, LOUD.)

101. I come to school from my dad’s place, but my school socks are at the other house, so I aren’t wearing socks. And I feel embarrassed and hateful. And the teacher sees me being hassled by some of the others and says, ‘It isn’t really a day for socks is it. Good thinking.’ He takes off his own socks and walks away, only with shoes. And we all laugh.

102. I get a sticker on my work.

103. We get to choose which instrument to play in a music assignment.

104. The teacher tells us to put our heads on our desks and close our eyes, and he plays quiet music for 10 minutes.

105. Your parents can’t afford a printer and an assignment is due, and instead of chucking a wobbly, the teacher says you can print it at school.

(Copy Copyright:  You gotta love school when there is music.)

96. I realise I am getting an award at assembly because the teacher has accidentally left the certificate on the computer screen.

97. You are told there is a pupil free day.

98. One of the activities is to find certain things in magazines and cut them out.

99. Someone puts a silly sticker on a classmate’s back and the teacher takes it off.

100. You only get 5/10 for a mathematics’ test but the teacher notices your improvement and congratulates you.

(Copy copyright: The ‘I love school and stinky feet gang.’)

91. You have done the wrong thing, and the teacher decides to ignore it.

92. Your school jumper is found in the lost property box.

93. You don’t quite have enough money for something, yet the canteen lady gives you the item anyway.

94. You discover last week’s lunch sandwiches in your bag.

95. The teacher runs across the playground to meet my dad and to tell him all the good things I am doing. Then she runs to the carpark and tells my step-dad the same thing.

(Copy copyright:  The ‘I love school when’ mob.)

86. We get to use the ipads….. often.

87. I didn’t use to like writing. But the teacher read to us from a free verse poetry book. In different chapters things are described or emotions are felt. The teacher gives us a choice of things to write in free form. He says, ‘How do you know it is poetry… because it looks like poetry.’ I love writing now best of all.

88. My dad didn’t like my teacher before, but now he does.

89. There is an air of excitement because through the window we see that the teacher has re-organised the desks.

90. My teacher tries to dance and s/he looks funny.

(Copy copyright:  The kids who love school.)

81. We play the game, ‘egg, chicken, dinosaur.’

82. A maths’ lesson on fractions involves fairy bread.

83. My mum is picked to help out on a class outing.

84. The teacher picks between two students using rock, paper scissors.

85.We are all quiet, listening to a story, but I am bending my ruler back. It snaps, with a LOUD crack. Some kids jump. A piece of plastic flies out at the teacher and hits the wall beside him. He slowly turns to look at where the plastic hit the wall. I expect him to yell, but his face creases into a smile, and he says, ‘Very lucky my young friend. Very lucky!’ Phew!

(Copy copyright:  Say ‘I love school’ in a loud voice.)

76. The teacher does that activity where everyone has a piece of card taped to their back, and you have to wander around the class writing positive things on each persons card. Then you take the card off and read it. And treasure it because you learn something about yourself.

77. We play a 10 minute game of wink murder.

78. On my birthday the teacher tricks me into going up to clean the white board, and when I get there the class sings happy birthday.

79. The teacher chooses my work to read out to the class.

80. We do an experiment on mould, and the ‘double-bagged’ samples of the most disgusting mould sits around the class. Every now and then I see one of the other kids being squeamish.

(Copy copyright: Don’t tell anyone I love school.)

71. Instead of a written test, we are told to do a poster.

72. I lose a tooth, and the teacher says I can take it home and get some money from the tooth fairy. And I grin knowingly, and hope the teacher is right.

73. The teacher reads a book and the classroom is silent, and the teacher suddenly shouts out an exciting bit and everyone jumps. And laughs.

74. The class jobs are handed out, and I get to be the Messenger.

75. The pencil sharpener fills up and explodes. (All the shavings go onto the floor, but no one sees they came from me.)

(Copy copyright: The kids who say they love school when.)

66. I see the best, goody-two-shoes girl get the same punishment as the rest of the class. And I know that everything is fair.

67. We get an extra science lesson.

68. A maths’ lesson on fractions involves packets of fizzes or smarties or pizza or… (basically, anything with food in it.)

69. The teacher runs a pie-throwing booth to raise funds for the poor, and I throw a pie at the teacher, and it finds its mark.

70. The teacher runs a pie-throwing booth to raise funds for the poor, and I throw a pie at the principal, and it finds its mark.

(Content Copyright: When did you last hear a kid say, ‘I love school!’?)

61. Someone kicks a ball so, so, so high.  (That feeling of dread.  That feeling of, ‘Don’t go higher.  Don’t go higher.’  And my friend is shouting, ‘Higher!  Higher!’) And the ball leaves the school grounds.

62. The teacher reads a book about pride, dignity, shame.. those things not often discussed. And the whole class is silent.  Then, the teacher gives us five minutes to think about times in our own lives when we may have experienced these things.

63. We learn about area and perimeter from a youtube story called ‘Spaghetti and Meatballs for all’.

64. The teacher asks my mum and dad to write me a secret letter, and he also gives them some suggestions. When I open my letter I read how proud they are of me. I read that they saw me growing beautifully. I read that they love my smile. I will keep that letter under my pillow.

65. The teacher calls out a list of the children who have returned something to school (a permission slip, a signed note, a signed test…), and my name is called.

(Content Copyright: Gone are the days when kids didn’t say, ‘I love school.’)

56. We have silent reading, sitting outside under trees.

57. The teacher pulls me to one side and says that he can recommend the best series of books for me, but he shouldn’t really because there is ‘blood and guts’ in it, but he does anyway. When Mum finds me reading that book she also reads it and loves it.

58. The guest presenter makes fun of me but the teacher stands up against him.

59. The old teacher in another class, who taught me years ago, asks me a hug. I haven’t had a hug for a long time, and her hug reminds me of safety.

60. The teacher reads a funny book, which makes me laugh.

51. Someone  interrupts my learning, and the teacher deals with it.

52. After getting a haircut, and feeling nervous, the teacher smiles and says, ‘Who is this super model who has come into the class. Nice to meet you.’ And he reaches out for a handshake.

53. My spelling test result is always 3 out of ten or 2 out of ten, and the teacher says I don’t have to do the weekly test anymore. (He knows my spelling is not getting any better) Instead, he lets me play spelling games on the computer … and I learn spelling rules, and my spelling actually does get better.

54. The teacher tells me that I will love a certain book, and I read it and do love it. It wasn’t too hard or easy.

55. The teacher tells us a story from his life.

(Content Copyright: I love it when I hear kids say, ‘I love school.’)

46. I get to paint.

47. We do readers’ theatre.

48.  The teacher reads out someone’s writing and it is one of the best writers in the class. And I know that my piece of writing is the next on the pile. The teacher turns to it and smiles, and reads out something and praises it. (And I am the worst writer in the class.)

49. I open my lunchbox and there is a note inside from my mum or dad saying, ‘I love you.’

50. We play a game of ‘all it’ in class.

41. Two days after the class assembly a kid who I don’t know, from another class, tells me that I am a cool guitarist.

42. We get free time on the computers.

43. I have a problem and it seems impossible to fix, like fidgeting or talking or getting organised, and the teacher organises a little chart on my desk, or a special chair, or pencil, and I realise I can overcome the problem.

44. The teacher calls me to his desk and makes me look down a list of numbers, and asks me to find the biggest number. When I find it the teacher tells me that the number is the biggest amount someone has improved in reading. Then he tells me to look across the row and find out whose name matches it… and it is my name.

45. I am picked to run an important message.

35. I find a balloon in class and am allowed to blow it up and release it.

36. It is the first day at school and the teacher lays down some rules and the first is that the classroom has no putdowns and the second rule is that no sarcasm is allowed. And I immediately feel safe and free.

37. A large group of us are seated under the basketball ring(which is a silly place to sit) eating our lunch, and a kid starts to shoot hoops above our heads. And the teacher tells him to go away for 10 minutes.

38. I skateboard down the hill towards the school, but the skateboard is going too fast to stop, so I just keep on going past. I even get to see a teacher’s surprised face. I wave.

39. On the way to school, sitting on a train, I see a teacher in her car.

31. During a class walk, someone comments that my work is amazing.

32. We are allowed to do drama.

33. The teacher sees that life at home has been bad, and asks, ‘You had a rough time at home?’ and I answer yes. And he asks, ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ And I say, ‘No!’ He walks away, but I feel stronger now.

34. I ask a dumb question and someone laughs at me, and they are told off.

35.  I am working quietly, and the teacher reads us a story.

26. The teacher asks, ‘What did you find easy about that activity?’ and my partner raises her hand and says, ‘Working with my partner. We listened to each other and we shared the work equally.’

27. I find out there is going to be a new child in the class.

28. I lose my hat, then find someone else’s and use it so I can play outside.   Later I realise it is in fact my own hat.

29. We are told to bring in our favourite soft toys, and we write a story, which includes them. And then we make a film, comic strip or blog.

30. We have a class-walk, where we get to wander around and look at what other people have done.

21. We get extra writing time.

22. I complain to the teacher about a bully, and start to feel that the teacher is going to put it back onto me to do something. Then they do, but they act out different scenarios with me, so I know what to do. And they even practise saying different lines with me. And when I walk away I even kind of want the bully to try and hassle me.

23. I stand up, after listening to a story, my foot has pins and needles.

24. After our class assembly, where I starred on my musical instrument, the principal lets me play some more songs for the whole school, and they all clap and cheer.

25. We must work with a partner, and I am allocated my best friend.

16. We are told to use red pen, but I haven’t got one, so the teacher gives me one.

17. I have announcements to do at the assembly, and am terrified so I speak to the teacher, and s/he takes over the problem and spends time getting me prepared.

18. I find some money and hand it to the teacher who says I can have it.

19. The teacher is reading a book to us, and in the book, someone is shouting and getting angry. My teacher grins and says, ‘ I am going to shout angrily and we’ll see if the teacher next door gets worried.’ And he shouts so loud.

20. The teacher stops reading a story and asks if anything like that has happened to us.

11. The class jobs are handed out and I get to be sport monitor.

12. The teacher doesn’t call you back from your play time when it is just drizzling a little.

13. I have to help clean up the class, and afterwards the teacher says there was a magic piece of rubbish. Whoever picked it up gets a reward. And the teacher calls my name!

14. I open my lunchbox and there is an unexpected treat.

15. The teacher explains how to do sums involving taking away of time. E.g. 2 hours and 5 minutes take away 1 hour and 25 minutes. And I suddenly understand it, and wonder why I wasn’t taught it years ago.

6. We have ‘free dress’ day and no one comments on my clothes.

7.  the teacher pulls me aside and tells me that he has chosen partners for the next activity, and that he has chosen me to work with a certain person because they need lots of help, and that he trusts me.

8. For the class assembly, the teacher asks what people’s talents are. I am surprised when I am allowed to do my bird calls.

9. Two class bullies tackle everyone at sport and the sport teacher isn’t firm enough to tell them off, and they ruin everything. But when I get back to class, the teacher picks up on the class vibes and bans tackling in the next game, and makes a rule that you have to pass three times, and that if you argue with the umpire you are sent off immediately.

10. The teacher reads a sad book to the class and cries.

1. The points were added up incorrectly at the sport carnival and I find out I have actually won a trophy, instead of just a bunch of ribbons.
2. I realise I am getting an award at assembly because I see my mum or dad sneak in at the back.
3. A bully has taken my work and is copying all my answers, but the work is only my first draft, and I know that all the answers are wrong.
4. I have a food allergy, and when the class has a party, the teacher has organised special food for me.
5. The teacher asks the child, sitting next to me, to go and help another teacher, and I know this has been organised  for me to have some quiet time.