An Unwanted Classroom Visitor

This morning as my students were enjoying some independent reading time, we discovered an unwanted slithery visitor in our classroom. I heard one of the little girls in my classroom, as she was heading to the bookshelf to pick out a book, say "Mrs. Tillery, I think that thing is moving." I wasn't too concerned because we have crickets and other bugs in our classroom all the time. We are a school that is in a very rural area and bugs are expected. Even mice are common and last year we had a bat problem in our gym. I headed toward where she was standing and I heard another student say, "I think it's a long worm." That's when I spotted what they were talking about. There slithering closer and closer to my students' desks was a small thin (about 10 inches in length) black snake!!!! Immediately I told my boys and girls to get into the hallway. I am not sure I have ever seen students move so fast but orderly before. It was amazing! I sent one student to the office to call for help and the other toward the janitor's supply room. In a matter of seconds there were ten or twelve adults wanting to see the commotion and then they wanted a peek at the snake. A few teachers walked in the room, headed toward the back of the room, and then immediately screamed or jumped in a chair. It was sad that they were worse than the kids, but it was still hilarious. I wasn't necessarily scared because I was focused on my students, but let me just say that if I had been alone in my classroom and I had noticed the snake I probably would have been thrown into early labor. I am thankful that my mind was occupied with the safety of my kiddos. I can handle many critters and I am known in the school as the teacher who always welcomes any kind of creatures to promote science, but snakes are not on my O.K. list. The kids know not to bring in snakes and I will never, ever, ever have a classroom (or home for that matter) pet snake. Our guidance counselor walked in my room and got the baby snake, carried it outside, and set it free. I am not sure I would have let it live, but as long as I didn't have to deal with it I didn't really care what happened to it. The rest of our day carried on normally, but I am sure that none of us will forget the day that we saw a snake in our classroom. It was a teaching first for me and I hope that it never happens again!!!