Today I Love the ouzel - Slice of Life 2014 - Day 28

Look!  Not only is it hard to spell, it's a messy eater!

Today I Love the ouzel bird.

Not really.

I actually kind of hate it.

But in an odd way...

Well, let me start at the beginning.

Today, Spring Break or not, was the ACSI Regional Spelling Bee, and three of my students were representing our school.  A 6th grader was making his debut, and I'm sure will be back again next year.  A 7th grader also made her first trip to regionals today after neatly clearing away all of the district competition back in February.  I'm sure she'll be back again next year as well.  

6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

But my 8th grader, Jarrod, had been there before...

and was pretty excited,

 and a bit nervous,

 about being back

 and getting one more shot at this thing

 before high school.  

The practice round went smoothly for all.  

You know you're at Regionals

 when there are no mistakes during the practice round.  

These kids mean business!

Then came the real first round and Mr. 6th Grade was 'deceived'.  

Miss 7th Grade took a wrong vowel on her pilgrimage.

And then along came Jarrod who caught an ouzel right in the face. 

 Ouzel? 

Really?

But, see, here's the thing.  

Had Jarrod caught that ouzel,

and the multitude of other words he knew how to spell

once he was out...

He could have made it to the National Bee in Texas.

The National Bee!

The National Bee...

 that would have made him 

choose

between that competition

and

our upcoming 8th grade class trip.

And trust me on this one, 

if you knew Jarrod, 

like I know Jarrod,

(Oh, how I wish you could all know Jarrod!)

after being his teacher for three years,

you would not want him to miss that trip,

and you would not want him to miss that Bee,

and you would not want him to have to make that choice.

So...in an odd, 

turned about, 

upside down,

inside out,

sort of way...

Today I love the ouzel bird.

Sort of.