I want to laugh but I know it isn't appropriate [Sunday School advice, please!]

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thenewmrssears

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I teach 2nd grade Sunday School which in my opinion, means I should be nominated for the Sainthood. 😛 2nd grade = 2 sacraments, the “inbetween” age, and children who need to use the restroom every 5 minutes…and there are 20 of them.

I have one student in particular, let’s call him Joe, who says the darnest things!

Last week’s zinger was funny [in my adult mind], but not in Sunday School. Keep in mind, at the time we were talking about treating people with love, so he wasn’t completely out of line.

The conversation went like this:

Joe: Mrs. Sears, I heard that mommies and daddies must kiss to have babies. They must love each other. Is that true?
Me: That isn’t really what we are discussing, but kissing is a sign of love, yes.
Joe: My mommy and daddy kiss a lot.
Me: Joe, please. Stay on topic. Now, back to treating others with love –
Joe: Mrs. Sears, I am on topic. My mommy and daddy love each other. Sometimes I hear them kissing with the door closed.
Me: Joe, that is eno–
Joe: Sometimes, they get really loud and it sounds like they are jumping on the bed and yelling at each other.
Me: Joe, please stand out in the hall with a time out.

Now, of course, internally I am giggling because it is funny when kids say things like this…no matter how inappropriate. Of course, I was also completely mortified!

How do you handle situations like this? I didn’t bring it up to the parents other than that he was disruptive, because I didn’t feel right bringing up their personal life with them.

I don’t have any of my own children, so my exposure to kids is limited to my Sunday School class. Any advice parents and/or teachers and/or Catechists?

I could use it…it looks like this class is going to be a handful [just like last year’s class]!!! :o :o :o
 
Oh boy there is no way I could have kept in a laugh. I have a hard enough time with my own kids.😃
 
I have been doing this for 30 years.

Here is an alternative to try, if the situation ever re-occurs.

Joe: Mrs. Sears, I heard that mommies and daddies must kiss to have babies. They must love each other. Is that true?

Me: That’s very true, yes - very good, Joe! The love of a Daddy for a Mommy is like the love of Jesus for the Church.

Joe: My mommy and daddy kiss a lot.

Me: That’s very good, sweetheart - they must be very happy.

Joe: Sometimes I hear them kissing with the door closed.

Me: I hope, sweetheart, that you go away and play, like a good boy, when that happens?

Joe: Sometimes, they get really loud and it sounds like they are jumping on the bed and yelling at each other.

Me: You and I need to continue this discussion after class, Joe, because right now, I need to tell you something about St. Paul. Now, St. Paul said to the Corinthians … (continue with lecture as though interruption never happened)

The first principle is to acknowledge the child and make sure he understands that he has been heard and understood. Otherwise, he will keep on trying to make his point. He won’t stop until he feels that he has been heard and understood, so the faster you can get to that point, the more quickly you will be able to get back on track.

The second principle is, if he won’t let up, give him a time and a place where he can tell you whatever it is that’s on his mind. This way, he will be able to stop and wait for the appropriate time, instead of continuing to interrupt. (When you get him aside on his own, you can then explain to him more clearly that his parents’ behaviour in the bedroom is not something to discuss with others, especially not at Sunday School.)
 
Class rules - go over them.

Have a reward system. At the end of class if they have not rec’d a check mark for breaking a rule, they get a sticker. It is amazing how good kids in CCD will be for a sticker.

For violations, first time is a check mark, second is a visit to the DRE’s office. She decides if the parents get called.

Also, if you are the only teacher, 20 2nd graders prepping for Sacraments is huge. Get an aide or two or three - moms could be asked to volunteer… an can take mr Chuckles out if he disrupts class.

Pray and be brave, they can smell fear.
 
There is a second teacher, but he was out at the last minute with the flu so he missed class.

We’ll go over the class rules again on Sunday.

Oy…
 
Joe: Mrs. Sears, I heard that mommies and daddies must kiss to have babies. They must love each other. Is that true?
Me: That isn’t really what we are discussing, but kissing is a sign of love, yes.
Joe: My mommy and daddy kiss a lot.
Me: Joe, please. Stay on topic. Now, back to treating others with love –
Joe: Mrs. Sears, I am on topic. My mommy and daddy love each other. Sometimes I hear them kissing with the door closed.
Me: Joe, that is eno–
Joe: Sometimes, they get really loud and it sounds like they are jumping on the bed and yelling at each other.
Me: Joe, please stand out in the hall with a time out.
Click to expand...
Awesome.
 
I have to agree with jmcrae. Little Joey really wasnt’ being disruptive, he was just trying to understand something his parents do. Next time follow jmcrae’s suggestion - acknowledge and if the child doesn’t give up, tell him that this is not something you wish to disucss right now and you will answer his quesitons after class, or that he needs to ask his parents about it.

Brenda V.
 
At least Joey is growing up as witness to a happy, healthy marriage! 😃

I would have laughed… couldn’t help it!
 
I taught first grade for four years, and now I teach fifth. First grade was funnier. If parents had any idea what their young children relate to their teachers on a regular basis they would be absolutely mortified. I would share some of the tales I’ve been told, but modesty forbids it…😉

It made it really hard to look the parents in the face (without laughing) after little Bubba had innocently described his parents’ connubial bliss. Oh, well! At least they’re happily married. I’d rather hear something like this than have a child tell me her older brother had to hide in the back yard all night because the police were looking for him.😦
 
How did the other children react? Did they snicker or were they just as confused?

Perhaps you should have brought this up with the parents so they could be quieter.
 
Yeah, I know I would sure love it if the RE teacher came up to me and said, “You and your husband night want to be quieter when you’re having sex.” :eek:
 
All in all I would say the whole conversation was innocent and I wouldn’t call it disruptive. I taught for many years. I had a big bra come in when studying the letter “B.” I have had question about how you would know if a baby was a boy or girl when it is still in the Momma’s tummy. I have had questions about how someone can look like their Mom and their Dad. My own daughter thought that the neighbors above us liked to jump on their bed. She even asked them how they got away with it because her Momma wouldn’t let her. If your going to teach, be prepared to have those moments. Don’t get flustered and move right along.
 
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