I Love Simon

I've had a recent stroke of genius that I wanted to share. This is mostly because I find it amusing, but partly for anyone who works with young kids. I'm certainly not the first person to think of this, but man this was THE discovery of my year. It's Simon Says. Simon is a genius.

I've got two little boys that I have at the same time two days per week for half an hour. They are in different classrooms, so I have to go pick one up and take him with me to go pick the up other one in his classroom. We'll call them Joe and Sam. Well at first I started with the younger one (Sam) to go get Joe from his classroom. When we got to the door Sam interrupts Joe's entire class by exclaiming, "Joe, you get to come with us now!!" The teacher and I shushed him and she gave us a look of disapproval, so I was completely embarrassed and immediately learned my lesson. Now I get Joe first. The only thing is, now my problem is that the minute they get together, they are giggling and running or skipping in the hallway all the way back to my classroom. The universal school rule of "no running" really doesn't set in until Junior High, if then. So my first graders are certainly not adhering to that rule unless it is imposed from above.

Enter the Simon miracle.

I have found that I can instantaneously stop almost any deviant behavior with the two magic words: "Simon Says." I don't even need to have a command in mind. Simply the words "Simon Says" turns these two little boys into frozen statues. It's great! Simon says stop! Simon says walk! Simon says put your hands on your head! Simon says freeze! Simon says take two hops forward! Simon says turn around!

And pretty soon we're at my classroom without any hallway disruptions. Other than Simon's commands and an occasional giggle.