3. V-I-R-U-S

3 V-I-R-U-S It is still Friday. Dear first-grade journal, We just came in from recess. We are waiting for Mrs. Weller to talk to us about germs. May started holding her nose again. Also Sheldon put another paper bag on his head.

Today is an interesting day in Room One. From, Junie B., First Grader Just then, there was a knock at our door. And Mrs. Weller came in. Mr. Scary went to meet her. "Mrs. Weller, I'm very glad you could come back," he said. "Room One is still worried about what happened to Roger this morning. And we need some advice about how to stay healthy." Mrs. Weller's eyes glanced over to Sheldon's bag head. Mr. Scary's eyes glanced there, too. "Some of us are a little more worried than others," he said kind of soft. Mrs. Weller went to the board. And she

printed some big letters: V-I-R-U-S "Virus," she said. "These letters spell the word virus, children. Have any of you ever heard the word virus before?"

Lucille jumped right up. "I have! I have!" she said real excited. "My nanna grows viruses all over the place! You should see our house, Nurse! Sometimes we have fresh viruses in every single room, almost!" For a second, Mrs. Weller's face went funny. Then, all of a sudden, a light bulb came on in her head, I think. "Ohhhhh. I think you mean irises, Lucille," she said. "Irises are very beautiful flowers, aren't they? But viruses are tiny little germs that can make people sick." Lucille started fluffing her hair very embarrassed. Then she fluffed and fluffed and fluffed. Until finally, she sat down again. Mrs. Weller kept on talking. "Boys and girls, there's a stomach virus

going around school. And I'm guessing that your classmate Roger has caught it now, too." May nodded her head and pointed at herself. "That's why I'm holding my nose," she said. "See me, Mrs. Weller? I'm being smart by not breathing the germy air." Mrs. Weller looked kind of puzzled. "Yes, but you're still breathing, May," she explained. "The air is simply going in your mouth instead of your nose." May looked shocked at that comment. Mrs. Weller smiled. "I'm sorry, dear. But I'm afraid it just doesn't help to hold your nose," she said. "In fact, one of the easiest ways to catch a virus is to touch your nose with germy hands." May didn't move a muscle. She just kept

on sitting there looking surprised. Finally, I leaned over and tapped on her. "I think that means you, nose squeezer," I said. Lennie and Herbert laughed real loud. They enjoy my humor. After that, Mrs. Weller printed four rules on the board about how to stay healthy: 1. Do not share straws or glasses or forks