Yes, that is the theme, thank you

Okay, so tomorrow begins the two days of benchmark testing. Oy. We need lots of pumping up for benchmarks.

Today I decided that we were going to read a story and discuss the theme. Like, get on the carpet kids, and let's share some Dr. Seuss and then talk about his literary implications.

So we read Yertle the Turtle.


If you don't know the story, its about this turtle name Yertle who rules over everything that he sees. He starts in a pond, cannot see enough, makes a throne of 9 turtles to see farther, and then more turtles stack up and Yertle can see farther and farther. Well this turtle named Mark keeps trying to tell Yertle that being on the bottom is painful...Yertle doesn't listen....wants to go higher than the moon....and so Mark burbs, and Yertle tumbles down. He ends up being king of the mud.

Brilliant story.

So, my kids were doing the "turn and talk" and discussing the theme. Then, I had them share.

Here's what I got (and expected to get):

"The theme of Yertle the Turtle is do not be bossy, because people will stop wanting to be your friend and stop helping you."

I appreciated that complete sentence. Then, I got this:

"The theme of Yertle the Turtle can be said in a sentence: The more power you try to gain, the less power you actually have."

PAUSE. STOP. REREAD. I TEACH 5TH GRADE.

I think I can retire, because that is the freaking best answer I have ever heard in my life.

Oh, apparently I have taught you something this year, my little geniuses.