Sometimes they are just tired

I was reading an excerpt from a super cool book to my students that I was really excited about. I read it with enthusiasm and vigor. I placed a great deal of effort into pronouncing the words correctly with appropriate emotion and significant tone.

Despite my greatest efforts, my students were not that into it.

Their eyes drooped. Their shoulders slumped, and their heads sagged.

I stopped.

"You guys look tired."

Almost in unison they responded, "We are." One girl added, "I've been here since 7:00 am."

It was 3:00 pm. The end of the day. They are thirteen years old.

I closed the book, and we waited for the bell.

One boy came up and said, "sorry Mr. Bower, but I'm just really, really tired today."

I said it was okay. They went home.

We'll try again tomorrow.