Bouncing 'round the classroom

I went back to work today. Not fully recovered but so bored that the thought of spreading my germs didn't hold me back one little bit. Luckily I wasn't teaching in the morning so I had a long lie in.

Only three classes today, the first of which only had two students. Interesting though and it gave me the chance to concentrate on their individual needs. Unfortunately they were the best and least best of the group (don't you love that euphemism?) so finding a happy medium wasn't easy - in fact it wasn't possible.

Best bit of the class? Shiralee's uncontrollable coughing fit. You know how, once you get started, you just can't stop? Well that was me. So I'm half way through telling them what I want them to do and I get the urge...

Now normally I can control my cough reflex but this one wasn't to be held back. I tried to keep talking, I reached for my bottle of water, I unscrewed the top but before I could raise the bottle to my mouth, the coughing started.

And once it started, it didn't stop. This was coughing with a vengence. All those times I'd supressed a cough, all those times I'd washed away the urge with a drink of water - the cough was back and it meant business!

First it was the coughing, then going red in the face, then my eyes started watering, then I had difficulty finding time to breathe, finally I bounced around the classroom. All this time my students were staring at me...

And what was going through their minds?

I wonder if she'll forget to give us homework!