Classroom Visit

At the end of each semester my students each are responsible for preparing a powerpoint presentation.  I thoroughly enjoy listening to my students walk through their research process, sharing not only what they learned from their research but also what they learned (or didn't learn :) about the research process itself and the resulting paper. 

By this time in the semester the papers are all graded, some of the pressure of the semester is removed and we are all just relaxing a little bit. 

Yesterday this beautiful young lady, who I've known for several years, was presenting her research. 

As she was discussing a semester's worth of work in front of a classroom full of her peers and her teacher (me) who is grading her, something happened.

As is customary in Mississippi when the temperatures begin to rise, men, women and children begin wearing flip flops.  You can find flip flops of every variety around here: sassy flip flops, shower shoes, casual flip flops, beachy flip flops in every design imaginable and even dressy flip flops.  On this day in particular, I had on my dressy flip flops.  I just happened to sneak a peek at my toes, which are in much need of a pedicure...and I saw this...

Standing right by my left foot was a spider very similar to this one...only bigger...with longer legs and more eyes!!

Now, I am a professional woman...I pride myself in my ability to stay calm. 

I have handled everything from vomiting, a seizure, a panic attack, angry students from time to time and once even a possible gun threat in my building.

You would think I could handle a spider, right?

WRONG!

I SCREAMED,

jumped up out of the chair I was sitting in,

and ran across the room. 

Yes, I did.

I ran across the room.

Then and only then did I return to reality and realize what I had just done. 

IN FRONT OF MY CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS!

Of course, some of the young ladies in my class sitting on the front rows also saw Mr. (or Mrs.) Spider as soon as I jumped up, and they were also sitting in their chairs with their feet up.  One was even standing in her chair!

TRUE STORY!!

This wonderful young man who also sits in the front row became the HERO of the day.

As calm as you please, he got up, retrieved a magazine from one of my shelves and, amidsts squealing provided by me and my femle students, he killed the spider.

He then scooped the spider remains up and carried it to the recycling bin.

I told him he could go ahead and toss the magazine in as well.

You may be wondering what happened to the student who was presenting.

She actually stayed calmer than most of the rest of us.  She was already sitting on the side of a desk controlling the laptop.  All she had to do was lift her feet.

After we all calmed back down, and I found a completely different place in the classroom to sit, she finished her presentation.

She also received a perfect 100 A+ on her presentation.

As did my hero :):)