Traumatic...

I think I may have caused myself and my students major trauma.

I play "Words with Friends" with my ELD (language learners) class a few times a year.  I usually pit girls against boys, put my iphone under my projector (I'm sure that's what they were planning when they made them...right?  anyone?) and let them play each other.  I use this over a regular Scrabble board because it will tell them if they spelled a word wrong or if it doesn't exist.  The kids get super into it and yelling and gesticulating ensues.

So recently I decided to play against the class.  They were desperate to beat me (which shouldn't be that hard...I'm really bad at Scrabble.  I don't have the patience to think up a word and instead just throw down any tiny word that I can think of) and were really putting their all into it.

They put down their word and I put down mine.  This continued for a while, until I brought the game to a crashing halt and a fit a giggles.  I put down the word "thong" - you know, like a flip-flop.  A few boys get the giggles (did you know that high school boys giggle WAY more than the girls.  True story).  Then I hear someone ask what that is.  Discussions in Vietnamese and Spanish began and then more giggling starts.  It takes me a second to realize that they are like 5 year olds and are giggling at the mere thought of thong-underwear.  I, being the "mature" one in the room, say "hey you guys, thong means..." and then I bend over to grab a pair of flip-flops out of my cheer bag (behind my desk).  As I pull them out, the class goes into a creepy silent lull.  As soon as I show the shoes, the class ERUPTS in giggles, a few of them are literally gasping for breathe.

Apparently they thought I was going to produce a pair of tiny thong underwear.  In my classroom.  In front of my class.

I think I may have traumatized my students.  I know I walked out with a sore stomach from all the laughing.