Bruce Krieg

Today, while waiting for kindergartners to come in for music, a girl at the front of the line asks me “Mr. Krieg, why is there a mouse in the music room?”

If you are an elementary teacher, you can imagine what went through my head.  “…these students can come up with more things to blurt out….did she really see a mouse?….why didn’t she scream, isn’t that what little kids do?…if there is a mouse, how in the world am I going to finish music sections for the day with the mouse promenading around the room?  “Five year olds obviously can’t keep information silent and by this time, the most of the kids are speculating and searching with wonder and curiousity.

Anyway, while we were singing our “Music Train” song that we sing every week at line up, I decided to take a few sneaky peeks for myself and possibly reveal this mystery mouse.  My eyes scanned the edges of the room and I did see the cute little mouse. Can you imagine how I was going to continue?

So, I changed my plan (it was almost pointless to continue the plan anyway) and surrendered to their curiosity.  I told the kids there is a mouse in the room and he likes to sing and dance but he’s nervous to have students staring at him.  One boy, before I told the class they could have 30 seconds to try and see the mouse, turns and looks up at me and whispers “Mr. Krieg, I see him!” This boy’s eyes were big and round like he couldn’t believe what he just saw.  I winked at him and told him not to mention it.

Shortly after, very shortly after, other kids began to notice him going in and out of a cup that was on the floor.  I made a smoothie this morning and took it to work in a travel cup, thought I rinsed it out enough, but it was still great for our little visitor.  He was stirring between the mug, underneath my desk, behind instruments and pushed up as close to the wall as he could.  This is really when I decided to change plans…because I knew others would feel the energy and follow through with curious eyes.  What needs to happen if for the students to be comfortable with the mouse in the room.  That became my secret goal.

It just so happened that we have been learning a folk song titled “Noble Duke of York”.  We changed the words like this:

• Original B section, “A huntin’ we will go, a huntin’ we will go. We’ll catch a fox and put him in a box and then we’ll let him go”

• New B section, “A huntin’ we will go, a huntin’ we will go. We’ll catch a mouse and put him in a cup and then we’ll let him go”

After this song, we sang Mousie, Mousie, played a music game nearly identical to Duck, Duck, Goose and the mystery of Mr. Mouse was solved.  The kids were fine. Of course there were only a few minutes left.  I told the kids that I will find our visitor in my cup that was on the floor and take him out to the field where he wants to be.  Right after the kids left, I found the mouse in my cup and walked outside where I noticed it was recess time.  Some of the kindergartners were around and were able to see the mouse.  They followed me back to the field and watched and waved goodbye to the mouse.

I absolutely love my job!