Every month I give my students a little gift that reminds them of the value we study for the month. For example, in December we focus on determination and I give the students chomping teeth to illustrate tenacity.
This month, our focus is on patience and, quite honestly I wasn’t sure what to get them. I came across some toy Slinkies that I had bought a few weeks back and figured I could use them even though I wasn’t sure how to tie it in with patience.
First, I decided to make them wait for it. I didn’t give it to them until later in the month, and then I thought it would make a cute gift to give on their first day of MCAS, our high stakes test.
I put one slinky on each desk as I prepared the room for the day. The kids were so excited to see them! “Slinky!” they exclaimed as they ripped them out of the plastic. It wasn’t long before they discovered that these (cheap) toys didn’t work right away… you had to pry them apart to make them slink. Another bonus for having them during our patience month!
Before I asked the students to put the Slinkies in their desks, we talked a little bit about the plastic toys and I worked in additional links to patience.
“These Slinkies are here to remind us to be patient during this testing process. Be patient with me as I read instructions, be patient with others around you and most importantly, be patient with yourselves as you work and write. We are in no rush!”
Then it was time to get up and stretch before we began. We all stood, many students with their Slinkies, and stretched. After sitting back down, I reviewed with the students how to stretch at their seats and when they feel overwhelmed to do a small stretch break before getting back to work.
As I looked around the room, I saw so many kids stretching their Slinkies. So I said, “Be like your Slinky today. Stretch when you need to, and then put yourself back together and smile.” 
Many of them stretched their Slinky, compressed it and smiled at the smiley face printed on the toy. It was cute and it made me smile.
“See, you can learn a lot from a Slinky,” I said, “Now put them in your desk where you know they will be and let’s begin!”
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Elizabeth Peterson has devoted her life to education and to reaching out to other teachers who want to remain inspired. Mrs. Peterson teaches fourth grade in Amesbury, Massachusetts and is the host of www.theinspiredclassroom.com. She holds an M.Ed. in Education, “Arts and Learning” and is currently enrolled in a C.A.G.S. program through Plymouth State University with a focus in “Arts Leadership and Learning.” Elizabeth is author of Inspired by Listening, a teacher resource book that includes a method of music integration she has developed and implemented into her own teaching. She teaches workshops and courses on the integration of the arts into the curriculum, leads an arts integration PLC (PLaiC) and is adjunct faculty for PSU. Mrs. Peterson believes there is a love of active, integrated learning in all children and from their enthusiasm, teachers can shape great opportunities to learn. 
Now I know why Donovan has been talking so much about patience at home these past few weeks!! Thank you so much for keeping us involved in the classroom with your blogs!