241. The teacher recognises how hard the work has been, and breaks the lesson with a game.  Today’s game is that we form groups of three, and decide upon an animal sound.  We wander around the class and when the teacher claps her hands we must close our eyes, make the animal sound, and try to reform our group without opening our eyes. It is a chaotic mess of animal shouting.  I love school.

242. The ‘farm animals’ come to school and we are able to pet chickens, rabbits, goats…

243. The time of my music lesson clashes with the subject I dislike most, so I get to miss out a lesson.

244. A friend who has a hard time at home falls asleep at her desk, and the teacher tells us to work quietly so as not to wake her.

245. Grammar or punctuation lessons are based on a recent celebration, like Halloween, Easter, Harvest… or when they include names of children in the class.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when all sorts of things happen with farm animals!)

236. The teacher rewards us with raffle tickets, and we draw names out of a hat each day for treats.

237. We get to build things. Using plasticine, straws, wood…

238. After parent interview night, I find a note of encouragement in my desk, from my mum or dad.

239.The class is stuck inside on a beautiful day and the teacher says, ‘Oh my Gosh. It is DEARO’ time. It is DEARO time.’ And someone asks, ‘What is ‘Dearo Time’?’ and the teacher says, ‘Drop Everything And Read Outside Time. Get your hats. Get your most excellent book, and line up at the door.’

240. I am having trouble doing a test and the teacher stops at my desk, stares at me, and says in a loud voice, ‘I am not going to mention any names, however, someone needs to check their booklet because they may have missed a question. And I am not looking at anyone in particular.’ But he is looking straight at me.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when my name is drawn out of the reward hat three times in the same day.)

231. We film News on our ipads and have live crosses to an interviewer at a pretend event. We make props and wear wigs, glasses and ties. It is so much fun.

232. My teacher and my mum and dad meet. If it is for something good or bad, it is still about me, and that gives me a good feeling. (Just as long as it is good. Gulp!)

233. I am trusted with the classroom keys. (And I secretly think about hiding them, but I don’t.)

234. The teacher has a cool nickname for me. I was once in a sit-up competition with the rest of the class, and I was still going strong, two minutes after the rest of the class had stopped. The headmaster heard what had happened and called me ‘The Machine’. That nickname lasted all throughout primary school.

235.I miss out on a treat that everyone else gets, so the teacher organises something even better for me.

(Copy copyright:  i love school when I have a nickname.)

226. We go on an excursion and I get to walk (sometimes run or stumble because someone behind has pushed) down the aisle of the bus when going on a school outing. My friends’ happy faces surround me. There is that strange plastic smell, and the excitement of going some place other than the classroom.

227. An eruption of screams and squeals sends everyone running in the direction of the sound. (Kids should really run in the direction away from the sound of screams and squealing.) We lean over each other and see a tiny lizard or spider, who is probably a thousand times more scared of us than we are of it.

228. My teacher organises a wonderful excursion. (Not the one to the recycling centre, or the sewerage centre.)

229.My teacher gives the children who have trouble speaking, the job of thanking the people who run a presentation. (Their thankyou is almost as long as the presentation.)

230.We learn a new game for sport.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when small bugs are involved.)

221. I make a bet with my friend, where the loser has to be the winner’s slave for a day… and I win.

222. I colour in a picture using crayons, and my paper is on top of a deskmat or some other object, so an imprint comes through into my colouring.

223. The ball goes over the fence and the teacher trusts me to go and get it.

224. I am on the oval at lunchtime and I hear a little Aboriginal girl singing in her own language.  It is so beautiful.

225. One of the other kids comes back from an extended holiday and gets to say news. And beside them on the floor is a bag, and inside that bag are presents for the class. The gifts will be strange and small, and from far off places. They will probably bear tiny Chinese lettering! Even though I am supposed to be listening to the news, all I can think of is, ‘What’s in the bag?’

(Copy copyright:  I love school when I learn about other cultures.)

216. It is the first day, and my desk is stacked high with files, pencil cases, tissue boxes, and stationery.And it is all perfectly stacked, unlike the kid beside me, who can’t move their hand away without everything toppling over.

217. The day before our Easter holiday break, the teacher has organised an Easter Egg hunt, and we are an older class. I love school.

218. I am chosen to thank the person who came to visit the class.

219. The teacher is feeling sick but still comes to school, so instead of work we do fitness, games, free time writing and drawing, reading and drama.

220. My friends and I try to burp the alphabet.

(Copy copyright: I love school when with my friends.)

211. On the way BACK from the excursion most of us are exhausted, so the teacher makes us play ‘the silent game’.  We call the game ‘dead fish’.  This is when we all pretend to be dead fish on the bus.  Some kids do actually fall asleep.

212. My friends and I need time to sort out a problem, and the teacher gives it to us.      ‘You see Jilly told Tina that I said to everyone else that her and Keith were in love. When Tina found out, she told everyone that I had lied, and then half the class suddenly ganged up on me. First I had to stand up against Ellie and Jessica who told me that I was being mean. Then I spoke to Tina. Then I spoke to Tina with Caitlin, to prove that I didn’t tell her that Tina and Keith were in love. And then I spoke to Jilly, who said that she thought she heard me telling Jenni about Tina and Keith. Then I spoke to the teacher. And the problem was sorted. Tina and I are still best friends… but we don’t like Jilly anymore.  But I think Tina and Keith are in love.’

213. The teacher, who has an old ‘bomb’ car, says, ‘As a class reward this year, if you get 1000 class points, you can paint my car.’

214. I am lining up for a treat from the teacher, and the teacher reverses the line, so the kids at the back get served first. I am at the back. (It has worked out so well, but I am not sure where the line will start next time.)

215. I invite a special-needs child to my party, and the teacher hears about it, and I get a merit award at assembly for caring and kindness. (The reason the teacher heard about it is because the special kid was really happy and told the teacher. It is the first party, held by a school friend, they the kid had ever been invited to.)

(Copy copyright:  I love school when you get a reward for playing the part of a dead fish.)

206. I am picked to design/draw a poster to advertise a school event.

207. I get 90 percent in a test. I work extra hard and get 100 percent in a test.

208. The teacher lays down a hard, firm rule but changes it for me.

209. We sing and talk loudly on the bus, on the way to an outing.

210. The class is taught how to meditate. (Renee falls asleep and I have to wake her gently.)

(Copy copyright: I love school when I can relax and forget about the hard times at home.)

201. The teacher is late for class, and we are playing and shouting, and someone calls out, ‘The teacher is coming.’ And we all sit at our desks in silence, pretending to work. (I usually have a bubble of laughter that wants to break out.)

202. The class goes on an outing.

203. I get a merit award, and even though my mum and dad can’t attend, my teacher is watching and gives me a ‘thumbs up’.

204.My teacher makes us reflect on lots of things… and he never gets angry at what we write.

205.The teacher asks me nicely to clean off the blue pen scribble on my arm.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when we go on ANY school outing.)

196. We play a students/teachers game of soccer and beat them.  Other students line the outside of the pitch and cheer, some for the teachers and some for us.  There are always a few good teachers, but it is easy to dribble past most of them.

197. We use our calculators. Before the teacher gets organised, my friend tells me a riddle, then turns the calculator upside down to reveal the answer. (The numbers, when upside down, look like letters.)

198. The teacher reads us a story and gets really involved in it. I mean really involved in it. They shout and rant and rave, and even let fly drops of spit. I love it.

199. My work is so good that I must go and show it to another teacher. There is a hint of the unexpected here, because some of the teachers will show my work to their class.  Others will give me a treat.  Others will pat me on the back.  It is all good. And a little bit embarrassing too.

200. I am the first one to get out at lunch time. It is so weird seeing the playground empty, and I feel like the King of it all.  I can sit where I want.  I can say and do as I please. I sort of claim the school as my own.

(Copy copyright: I love school when teachers accidentally spit on a kid while they are reading, and the kid just pretends it didn’t happen.)

191. The history teacher organises for my grandparent to visit the class to talk about life in the olden days. My grandfather is so nervous at the start of the talk.  But the kids love him.

192. A friend shares their recess with me. (I wish I had sweet strawberries every day.)

193. The teacher calls out somebody’s name to go and see the headmaster, and the whole class goes ‘Woooh’ in a perfect chorus. Even the teacher smiles.

194. I stay away from school because the class is making toolboxes for Father’s Day. The next day I tell the teacher that I have no dad and my uncle is away. But still, he has made me a toolbox, and he says I should give it to my mum or grandmother, but fill it with flowers or cans of drink.

195. You can’t find your lunch money so you tell the teacher and he/she gives you some of their lunch. (The bread is stale and the food is bland, but it is the thought that counts.)

(Copy copyright: I love school when I feel like part of the class.)

186. We have ‘Convict Day’, and dress up as convicts. And the teachers have organised for us to …scrub the corridor…walk in leg irons…make and wear toe-rags…be lined up against the fence in stocks…scrub clothes in an old copper pot…

187. The teacher gets too carried away inside a book.

188. I can’t find my pen, and a kid in the class who I hardly even know, lets me use their spare pen.

189 The teacher tells someone else to pick up the rubbish I have dropped.

190. For Father’s Day we have to write about a significant male in our lives. I write a description of the teacher and I say how good he is, and how much I like the lessons. He gives me one of his knowing smiles and says, ‘You are a manipulator!’ I grin because he rewards everyone with extra sport time. And everyone thanks me.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when people are generous.)

181. We dress up for Halloween, share ghost stories, and watch a scary movie.

182. The teacher plays a 10 minute game of silent ball that actually lasts 20 minutes.

183. We fill up one of the teachers’ old shirt and trousers with scrunched up newspaper, stick a monster mask on it, and sit in the spare chair in the classroom for Halloween. We also make a ghost, carve a pumpkin, and spread spider web around the room.

184. I am part of the class singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to someone else, and watching them smile.

185. The teacher realises that I will NEVER get a hundred per cent in ANY spelling test, so s/he lets me play spelling games instead of sitting a test. (I think I like spelling now, but before, I hated it.)

(Copy copyright:  I love school when we celebrate things.)

176. It is a sport carnival and we are all huddled in a tent for a short time because it is raining cats and dogs.

177.The whole class is working in silence and a ball hits the window, making us all jump; leaving us laughing and talking.

178 .I open my desk to get my book out, and the book I want is sitting right on top, so I don’t have to go digging around inside.

179.I get to the sport equipment first and am able to choose what I want.

180.I almost faint in the classroom, so the teacher takes me to the staffroom on our way to the next lesson and, while the other children wait outside, he gives me a chocolate biscuit. All of a sudden, all the other children are saying, ‘Ohhh! I feel faint.’ The teacher laughs, and I finish my biscuit.

(Copy copyright: I love school when I eat chocolate biscuits.)

171. I swing on the chair and get that perfect balance point. (Hands out wide, feet under my desk to catch me if I topple backwards. Eyes to the board. Tongue probably sticking out sideways.)

172. We have a visiting wheelchair basketball champion who brings in wheelchairs, and lets us try them on the court. We all take turns and we all have success, but he is a real champion and spins around, skids to a stop, and ‘runs’ circles around us. Afterwards, we look at videos on youtube and see him in action on the international circuit. Too cool!

173. I want to talk to the teacher at lunchtime and s/he is waiting in the class and wanting to talk with me too. It sure is nice to have my own personal sounding board/psychiatrist/brother/sister/mum/dad on hand.

174. When our next unit of work is something like superheroes. Olympics. Inventors. Convicts. Natural disasters. Space…Monsters…comics…

175. The class disruptions are absent and the day goes smoothly, and you actually learn something.  These disruptions can take the form of shouting teachers, shouting kids, mean teachers, mean kids, humming and tapping teachers, whistling kids, kids kicking your chair, kids on anger management plans, teachers who should be…

(Copy copyright: I love school when the next unit of work on monsters is run by a mean teacher who tells us to describe our ‘bad monster’/anti-hero/antagonist. And I describe him.)

166. I show a bad test result to a teacher, and instead of getting angry, he asks, ‘How are you going to get a better mark next time?’ (Thinking about thinking is strange, but I feel more in control.)

167. The bell rings, and I realise it is the lunch bell, not the recess one.  Woah! Time is flying.  There is only one more session of work before the end of school.

168. The teacher forgets to collect the homework. (When I have forgotten to do it.) This is a miracle.  Kids who don’t do their homework usually have timeout on the bench at lunchtime.

169.  The teacher is late to class.  We talk, too loudly and spend time milling around the room, nowhere near our seats.

170 . It is the Sport Carnival day and because all the teachers are busy, a few of us wander around doing as we want. We move between different faction bays, talking with our friends.  We sneak out of the bays and spend time around the spectators. There is even a small creek that we are able to check out.  Actually, the only place we don’t want to be is where we are supposed to be – in the faction bays. Life is good.  A few of the younger kids have brought in sweets, which they give to us when we ask.  One year, I even bought some sweets at the canteen, which was out of bounds for students.

(Copy copyright: I love school when I think about thinking.)

161. I arrive at school and find an envelope with my name on it, on my desk. After the initial surprise, I realise that it might be an invitation.  I forget whatever else I am doing, and open the envelope.  My fingers are moving as quickly as they can, getting in the way of each other.  The last thing I want to do is accidentally rip the invitation, so there is a fine trade off between speed and care.   Finally, the envelope is open and inside I find a party invitation. This is definitely one of the reasons I love school.

162. The librarian recommends a book to me.

163. While lining up for athletics’ races you hear Mum and Dad shouting encouragement. You are trying to ignore them but your friend points them out and laughs with you. (Especially when you deny knowing them.)

164. There is the soft sound of quiet talk in the classroom, and suddenly, for no apparent reason, the whole class goes deathly silent. The teacher hasn’t asked us to be silent, nor has she threatened – it just sort of happens. It is just so weird it is wonderful, until some drongo says, ‘Why isn’t anyone talking?’

165. There is a serious issue that I know about, and when I am talking everybody listens intently.

(Copy Copyright: I love school when I get a party invite because I know how much it means!  Many parents only allow kids to pick  3 or 4   friends to come to their party, so if you are picked, you are really valued as a friend.)

156. I walk into the classroom for the first day of the year and a desk has a name-tag on it for me. I was feeling nervous before that, but now I know the teacher has thought about me. I feel as if I belong somewhere. Now I can unload my gear and find my friends.

157. The teacher fumbles over his words and gets tongue-tied and has to try again. But he can’t get his words out again, so he tries again.  Still, he can’t do it!  He gives up and screams in exasperation.

  158. Another teacher sneaks into the room, and takes a seat at the back of the class, and talks with me for 10 minutes (until my teacher notices). The whole time she is talking, I feel as if I am part of a wonderful joke, with a powerful ally. She asks what kind of work I am doing, and whether my teacher will notice us soon.  She asks if I have had a good day.  She asks me…

159. The teacher chooses who our partners are for an activity. Because the teacher chooses, I am not afraid of being left out. It is horrible when I am; if my friend is away, or if she has found a new friend. The completion of the activity is not as important as who I am working with. If I am with the right person, then the teacher can ask anything of me.

160. I open my lunchbox and find a tiny little sticker on my apple. And now I am armed, just waiting to put it onto someone’s back. I stick it onto the side of my lunchbox and have my lunch, nervously talking with my best friend. And wait until it is time to play! And then I walk beside him and pat him on the back as a sign of friendship. Half a minute later I slow my step to see if the sticker is on his back. Yes!

(Copy copyright:  I love school when a teacher is unable to say what he or she wants.)

151. The teacher wants one thing and a lot of us kids want another, so we have a class vote, and the kids win! The teacher scratches his head and says, ‘How did that happen?’

152. The teacher lets me have my pen licence. Some kids got their pen licence after the second term last year. Some kids got their pen licence in the third term last year. I waited all year but still didn’t get it. My handwriting is a little like chicken scrawl. Then I forgot about it. The following year the teacher said, ‘Attention everybody! I have a huge announcement. Pens down please. Today, I must award a boy who has stood tall amongst you. Many of you attained a certain item last year, but this boy of resilience has waited for more than a year to get this item. Can we have a round of applause for… And I will now officially hand over this Pen licence for persistence and effort. And no one can argue with that.’

And there is a HUGE round of applause.

153. We are let out at lunchtime and there is another group sitting where we normally sit, so I go up to them and tell them it is our spot. I am nervous and alone when I approach them. They tell me that anyone can sit there. They laugh at me, knowing that they have the power.  And then my friends arrive, and we argue the point, and those kids move away. I love justice at school.

154. The teacher lets us choose our partners for an activity.  I leap from my chair and so does my best friend, and then we are standing next to each other and bubbling with positive energy.  We have both listened to what is required, so are able to get straight on with the task.  Working with a good friend means that the lesson is already successful, even if we can’t do what is asked of us.

155. We make electrical circuits. I love the wires and light bulbs and batteries.  I love trying to get that bulb to light up.  (And for homework we had to make a model which included an electric circuit. My friend made a fan.  Another friend made a car that was powered by an engine. I made a model house with a room that lit up. I love school when we build things.)

(Copy copyright: I love school when the pen licence is given out to everyone.)

146. We get extra reading time. I love this because I have a great book from the library. And the free time cuts into a health lesson. And even though the teacher says it is only for 5 minutes, it usually ends up being 20. And we are allowed to sit or lie on the floor. And there are cushions. Oh, what a life.

147. The teacher calls out my name as one of the children who scored 100 percent in a test. Even though I studied hard, I did not expect one hundred percent.   I am so surprised I swell with pride, and the others applaud.  I am normally a sixty percent kinda guy. You have to love school when this happens.

148. The teacher tells us not to run, but as soon as we are out of sight, we all make a mad dash for it. Down the corridor, down the steps, across the basketball court, to the bags and out to play.  Us kids love freedom.

149. The teacher is late to the lesson, so the principal tells everyone in the class to start clucking like chickens at two o’clock. When two o’clock comes, and clucking chickens interfere with the lesson, the teacher grins.

150. One of my friends is playing soccer at break time, and kicks the soccer ball, and his shoe comes off. He is scrambling around trying to play the game and get his shoe back on, while I laugh at/with him. Usually he ends up grabbing the shoe, and running around with one shoe on and one off.

(Copy copyright:  I love school when, after your shoe comes off, you can slip it back on without having to undo the laces.)

141. We have free time to draw.

142. We write stories and read them aloud and the other kids think mine is great.

143.The teacher tells us ghost stories. He once told us about the time he stepped off a bus and there was a face and hands facing upwards in the dirt towards him. That one really freaks me out. And the time that a bell was being rung at a grave site, so they dug up the coffin to find out if the person was still alive… but the grave was empty. And another story he told of was when he was lying in bed and suddenly there was a chill in the air. But he was too hot under the blankets so he stuck his leg out. And he heard a noise near his leg. And the mattress dropped. And suddenly he felt clammy, slimy hands on his leg. Someone was pulling at his leg. Pulling it really hard so he started screaming out to his wife to save him. And he was being dragged under the bed. Screaming! Screaming! ‘My leg is being pulled! My leg is being pulled!’ Just like I am pulling your leg now.

144.I see two of the old teachers doing the waltz together at the Graduation Dance.

145.I have no lunch money and the teacher offers me some, but I refuse. Then the teacher says, ‘I found it. I don’t want it. Here take it.’ And he gives it to me and walks away. (And you know it is his. Unfortunately it is only enough to buy a sandwich, and not any of the frills – oh well!)

(Copy copyright:  I love school when it is  free time to draw.)

136. You have to read something at the assembly and are nervous, but the teacher says, ‘You are a good reader. Besides, I’ll be just near you and I’ll help if you want.’ When the moment of the big announcement arrives I muck up big time. I am laughing nervously. The teacher smiles. Some of my friends tease me lightheartedly. And, and, and… I can’t wait to do it again next week.

137. It is open night and my work hangs in the doorway. It will be the first thing that anyone will see when they enter the class.  The teacher said, ‘When they see that work, their expectations will be lifted.  They will think, ‘Oh my gosh!  What kind of class is this?  Wow!”

138. Everyone has to help clean the class. Suddenly the teacher tells us we can all go, except these people. And he names some kids who weren’t helping out. (Today I am not named – phew!)

139. There is an electric pencil sharpener. I love the whirring sound. I love not having to twist my hand around. I love the sharp point on the pencil. I remember back to Year 2 when one of the girls stuck her finger into an electric pencil sharpener, which was revolting!

140. I call out to a teacher who is breaking the school rule of ‘running down the corridor’, and he grins back at me.  I love school!

(Copy copyright from the : teacher who runs down the corridor grinning and thinking ‘I love school’.)

131. The biggest klutz in the school takes the most amazing one-handed catch. Most of us just stood there and stared, until the event sank in, and then we ran up to him and congratulated him. And we patted him on the back, and spread the news. The only person who wasn’t happy was the kid who got out, who tried to make all sorts of excuses as to why they should stay in. ‘I didn’t even know he was playing. He can’t catch! Let’s start again.’

132. On the first day of summer, the teacher flicks on the air-conditioner, and I realise I am sitting right in front of it.I love this so much because no one else is as cool as me. (I don’t like it so much when icicles start to form on my lips.) The air-conditioner is set too cold; I should have known this, when I notice the teacher brings a jumper to school. 

133. It is a disco and we have to form groups of ten, but we only have nine people. A special needs girl doesn’t have a group, so we invite her into our group, and now we have ten. And we all have the best fun.  And we even win a prize for our dancing.

134. The teacher breaks one of the Three Golden Rules: Be safe. No putdowns. No sarcasm.

My friend, Sam, isn’t listening and the teacher says, ‘Good listening skills!’ Suddenly the teacher freezes and says, ‘Sorry Sam, but that was sarcasm – when I say one thing but I mean the opposite. Try to get better at listening Sam.  I suppose I must put my own name on the punishment list for using sarcasm. Oh well.’    And does!

135. The teacher climbs up onto a desk, while we are working, to hang up some work, and looks like a stick insect. At one point it looks like he is going to fall, but after a quick step, and plenty of arm swinging, and a bit of panic, he is balanced again.  I love that.

(Copy copyright: I love school when the climate is perfect.)

126. My assignment is overdue, and each day I am hassled by the teacher, but I suppose I am lazy. Then another assignment is due and another and it is all too much. And I am losing one lunchtime after another trying to catch up but I can’t. And the teacher talks to me and we discuss the problem, and he says I don’t have to do all the work. (Now I can sleep peacefully again.)

127. We do Art.

128. You race to the water fountain and get there second. The person who gets there first usually has the warm water in the pipes. And you can say things to him like, ‘Oh! You beat me again. Oh well, I’ll beat you next time.’ But you never do!

129. My mum turns up at school and I organise for my best friend to come over for a play. It is all so unexpected and it happens so quickly. One moment I am looking forward to television, homework, sandwiches and chores, and the next moment I am looking at computer games, fun times and cakes.

130.The teacher plays a 10 minute game of silent ball.

(Copy copyright: I love school when the Mona Lisa is around.)

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.