Thanksgiving Play Gone Wrong

Each year, my class puts on a Thanksgiving play.  I didn't create this, and I can't take credit for any of it.  I just teach it to my students and help them to perform it for their parents.


This year, I'm a little more nervous about the way the play will go off.  This year I have "Tommy" in my class.  


Will he remember his one and only line?  
Will he act silly during the songs?
Will he jump out of the Mayflower?
Will he flail around while waiting (impatiently in his case) while the play goes on?


So many things can make this a Thanksgiving play to remember...and NOT in the good way.


I want his parents to have a good experience.
I want the other students to have a good experience.
I don't want the other parents to talk.


I'm honestly scared it can go so terribly wrong.


How have you ever dealt with a student like this?  What did you do?


Alexis

The Teacher I Will Never Be

Once upon a time, an average high school student in constant competition with her above average friends, sat in an oh-so-boring History class.  

Mr. Smith was the teacher.  He sat at the front of the room, "large and in charge."  He lectured to us with his cup of coffee in hand.  He always used terms like "Smoke 'em if you got 'em."  Really?  The room was so plain and boring and the topic was exactly the same.

I've never pretended that History was my favorite subject.  And I did mention that I was average.  But what happened one day in that class, was anything but average.


It was the day of a test.  I sat in my seat with my book open hoping for some last minute information to leap into my head long enough to get on the paper.  That's when Mr. Smith walked in with his usual "I'm the best thing since sliced bread" attitude, asking us all if we were ready for our test.  Then he turned to me and said, "Benty, what are you doing?  It's not like any amount of studying would help you." 


WHAT?


I got up and walked out of the class. 


That's the teacher that I will never be.


Alexis