The Arm Rule

Oh, elementary school, how I am adjusting to you.

Middle school kids don't exactly want to be very close to you. They have a fairly decent-sized personal space bubble and remain a safe distance away.

Elementary kids? Elementary kids sneak up on you with their stealthy little feet only to make their presence known when they sneeze in your ear. Or worse...when they breathe right in your face.

Just last week I had one of my dearest little 4th graders approach me before school began. She was about a foot and a half away from my face (already too close for comfort) when she leaned even closer and whispered, "Mrs. D, I threw up all night and this morning and my Grandma says I should go to the nurse after 10 this morning."

Well, at the word "threw" I began holding my breath until I got red in the face, moved away from her, and took in clean, fresh, non-germinated air. Now, I am somewhat of a hypochondriac, but I've also spent my first years teaching catching a whole host of viruses and bugs without sick children breathing in my face.  I love my kiddoes, but I will not add to the probability of catching things.

So now we have the arm rule in my classroom. Whenever you approach Mrs. D, you must remain an arm's length away at all times. And because their arms are so short, for them it is an arm and then an extra hand's length away.

I hope no one important ever walks in.

Because when the kids stick their arms out like that to make sure they are far enough away?

They kind of look like Hitler Youth.