April Fools' Day Joke Truly Does Fool Second Graders

Teachers approach their classrooms with caution each April 1^st as they know that the students are usually chock-full of April Fools' Day jokes and tricks. This particular year, the tables were turned.

A good friend and I were both teaching fifth grade at the same elementary school. When a second grade team-teaching position opened up, Jan and I decided it might be fun to give the second grade team-teaching collaboration a try.

The year flew by and soon it was April-Friday, April 1^st to be exact. Spring break was the following week, and these little seven and eight-year olds were anxiously looking forward to having a whole week away from school.

Before the students went to lunch that day, Jan and I put our 'April Fools' Day plan' into action. We had typed up letters for the students to take home to their parents, so we distributed them to the students. With the straightest face I could muster up, I read the letter aloud. It went something like this...

Dear Parents,
You know your children have been working very hard to learn their math facts this year. However, we feel that more practice would certainly be helpful. Since the students are off all next week, we are going to take advantage of this extra time. We are holding math practice sessions from 9 to noon every day during spring break. It is important that every child attend. We know you will agree.
Thank you.

You could hear a pin drop in the classroom as the smiles dropped from these second-grade faces. Then the little hands started to go up...

"But we're on spring break next week."

"Are you trying to say that your schoolwork isn't important to you?" (At that point, Jan had to step out of the classroom for a moment as she could no longer contain her laughter.)

"But my family has a trip planned to Disneyland next week...my grandmother's going with us."

"I'm sure your grandmother will understand that math is more important than Disneyland."

Keep in mind that second graders, as a general rule, don't challenge their teachers-so they all bought into our April Fools' story hook, line, and sinker. Hey, we even had them convinced that we were right!

The questions died down and then Jan and I shouted, "April Fools'!" This usually calm group of kids literally erupted. They simultaneously cheered as they ripped the parent letters in half or threw them into the air.

Yep, we got them.

That April Fools' Day joke took place several years ago. I have seen several of those students through the years and they never fail to bring up the infamous April Fools' Day prank. It's nice to see they enjoyed our sense of humor. People sometimes take themselves too seriously these days, but a good laugh really can go a long way.