Pumpkin and Spice
“Squeak, squeak, squeak”.…is the greeting I hear every morning when I open the door to my third grade classroom.
I walk over to the opposite end of the room and greet the class guinea pigs, Pumpkin and Spice, right back.
Pumpkin, typically munching on hay, glances up at me as I reach in the cage to pet her. Spice, on the other hand, is sleeping in the blue hideaway in the corner.
Every morning when I open the door to begin the day and greet students, they run past me to give their own greetings to Pumpkin and Spice.
Ahhhhh, the guinea pig mom life.
I have always wanted to have a classroom pet; however, in my beginning years as an educator, I found the idea of taking care of a pet, on top of teaching, to be far too much. I wanted to wait until I felt more settled in where I was.
One summer afternoon a few years ago, I was browsing Instagram and found a photo of the cutest guinea pig in the hands of a smiling student. The caption told me that the student had used this pet as a tool to help calm her anxiety. The teacher had pictures of other students with the pet, and each caption told the story of how this addition brought many benefits to the classroom. I reached out and found that she had acquired the pet through Pets in the Classroom (https://petsintheclassroom.org/), a grant program supporting teachers in enhancing student development through daily interactions with a pet. After filling out an application and obtaining permission through my administration, I was given the funds to purchase a pet and the required materials.
I decided to go with two hermit crabs, Peanut Butter and Jelly! My students grew very close to them, and I sent videos to parents each week that detailed their interactions. Over time, I noticed the benefits and the change in my classroom dynamic. Peanut Butter and Jelly were teaching the class responsibility; students had turns cleaning the tank and feeding them. It allowed my quieter students to take on leadership. Other students experienced stress relief when school was rough that day.
Unfortunately, my kids walked into class Valentines Day to find both had passed away. It was not the ideal day for BOTH of them to die, but it allowed our class to grieve together and understand what it meant to mourn. Our classroom had a few giggles when someone had created headstones for Peanut Butter and Jelly. They were anonymously placed in their tank at the end of the day.
This year, I reapplied for the grant and decided to get two guinea pigs, Pumpkin and Spice. I have to say, these ladies have been a BIG hit!
When asking my scholars their opinions on them, they were pretty honest and delved deep.
Becky shared, “I dont have pets at home, so I look forward to coming in and seeing them. They stink sometimes, but I ignore it when they look up at me!”
Emily laughed and said, “I notice they always squeak during math. I am not sure what it is about math, but they seem to listen and maybe learn along with us. Thats what I think.”
Addison said, “When I am angry, I hold Pumpkin and feel less angry. When I am sad, I hold Spice and feel happier. They are like the Calm Corner we have.”
Ben told me, “I get really nervous when we do testing. I sit the closest to them, and seeing them makes me feel less anxious. It helps me quite a bit, Ms. Brinkman.”
Although I have invested more in eliminating odors in my classrooms (my girls have a funky smell!) I love to play with them during my prep times and sing to them in the mornings when I am preparing for the students.
Have you ever had a classroom pet? What are your thoughts on adding one to a classroom?
Rebecca Brinkman
Rebecca Brinkman is a third-grade teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. She has taught at the same school for her entire 15-year career. Her campus is a second home and it has a strong family feel to it. This is what draws her back every year. She is excited to begin her “Sweet 16th” year of teaching! She has taught 2nd grade for ten years and 3rd grade for five years. She has served as a team lead on her campus for six years. She earned a Masters in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, as well as a Masters in Reading. She also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University. Rebecca achieved National Board Certification in the fall of 2019 in Early to Middle Childhood Literacy. She is passionate about building relationships and creating magic in the classroom for her scholars. She credits her former speech teacher as her reason for becoming an educator. She profoundly impacted her attitude towards school and self-esteem as a young student; Rebecca realized she wanted to make that same impact on children by helping them realize their strengths and pushing through personal challenges. Her second biggest passion is travel! She can often be found planning her next big adventure. She also enjoys hiking, reading, storytelling with The Moth, volunteering and bucket listing. The quote that resonates most with her is, “The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately.”