"PETS?! IN MY CLASSROOM?! It already feels like I'm running a zoo! I don't have time. I don't want to keep up with the maintenance of another living being...etc...blah blah blah."
I'd like to say I totally agree. I almost want to tell you that it is far too much work and to look the other way now. Run as fast as you can!! ...but in all reality, I swear to you...having a pet in my classroom is-by far- the best thing I have ever done for my kiddos and our classroom.
So let me just go ahead and debunk all those negative thoughts running through your head. After I cover all of that, Amberly and I will share with you what amazing things we have been able to do with our pets in the classroom (because we obviously both had to have a pet if one of us was going to have one).
1. It's too expensive.
You are legitimately concerned that after all of the money you spend on markers and paper and printer ink that there just isn't one penny left for something as silly as a tiny rodent in the classroom. Let me be the first to say, I GET IT! My goodness, our entire lives revolve around school and ways to make it better. If I'm not buying things on TPT, I'm picking up bags of candy and treats for Fun Friday. I will admit I am super fortunate to work in a school district that takes care of ALOT of those minimal needs, but money is always an issue. So when I started thinking about getting a class pet, I googled pets in the classroom to decide which animal would be best for me.
Y'all. I'm not kidding. The first thing that popped up was a GRANT! Pets in the Classroom is a wonderful organization that literally pays 3/4 of what you need for your pet...plus you can reapply each year for a sustaining grant to pay for food and supplies.
Seriously, look it up. Apply. Today.
2. The kids will be way too wild. I don't need one more distraction!
Okay...this may be a tough one to read, but this is where all those classroom management techniques you learned in college come into play. If you lay out your expectations beforehand, having a pet in the classroom is nothing but helpful. My 3rd grade kiddos are still young enough that when they're working hard and they hear our guinea pig, Flash, whistling, I tell them he's proud of their hard work and to keep it up! And do you know what is awesome? They legitimately want to please Flash so much that they work EVEN HARDER!
I often find my kiddos working super hard and giving each assignment their best so they can read with Flash. It is truly remarkable!
3. I don't have the time to take care of an animal.
Let me put this simply- don't. One of the biggest misconceptions about having a pet in the classroom is that it is now the teacher's responsibility to care for it. What is the purpose of it if it is just causing you more stress?!
When I brought Flash in our classroom, I read the sweetest fiction book with them and then we read some nonfiction books to learn how to care for him. I told kids to research once they got home because I knew nothing about guinea pigs and this was their responsibility. The kids did a wonderful job and took pride in learning about this new pet. I didn't put any requirements on the research and I didn't even make them all do it!
In our research, we found out how often we were to feed him, clean out his cage, and the things he needed to survive. After modeling for the first week, I was able to let the kids take over and now they do it all!
So I say all that to say...you're out of excuses. And if you think of more, let us know. I'm sure we can help you find a solution. Amberly and I often joke that our guineas should be rewarded as "Co-teacher of the Year" because they help us so much!
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