School Camp Out?! (12/1)

Yep! I said, "school camp out." Have I lost my mind!? Actually, I didn't have a choice. The other fourth grade teacher told all of the students and asked the principal about it before she said anything to me. I feel obligated, or else I would be a party-pooper. I hate assemblies because they are chaos and children do things they shouldn't, so how do you think a camp out will go!?!?! But, don't you worry. I had stipulations.

Stipulation #1 - Stick to the theme. The camp out was supposed to give kids the opportunity to relate differently, under different circumstances. So, then let's plan activities that help children relate as a team and learn to appreciate what each person offers the team.

Stipulation #2 - We have to plan and have a schedule, and we have to stick to it. I hate when children wonder all over the place doing whatever they feel like at the moment when I work hard to provide something for them to do.

Stipulation #3 - Invite parents to participate too. I wanted a few parents to spend the night with us. But that didn't fly with the other teachers involved. They said it underminded our authority. (I didn't think I would say anything to the child that I couldn't say to them in front of a parent, but...) So, it turned out that parents could come until 11pm, but then they had to go home.

Stipulation #4 - I would not be the only guy spending the night. This was all about comfort in numbers. I didn't want anybody gossiping or saying bad things about me. But, one of the other teachers made a very good point. If they didn't trust me, they wouldn't let me be in a room with students all by myself. Ok, ok. But there still had to be other guys.

With just a few meetings, planning and letting ideas flow, I feel pretty good about camping out with students. I am actually kind of excited. I just want to know for sure that all the students will stay together and not try to get away and do their own thing.