My 7th and 8th grade Life Science students have been complaining about their insect collection assignment. "We can't FIND any bugs!" "I don't want to TOUCH bugs!" "What if I can only find one bug?"

I told them that the 1st and 2nd graders seem to find plenty of bugs at recess, and maybe they should ask the little kids for help. I mentioned that Hannah brings home a couple of bugs a day to feed our turtle, Neville.

"Wait a minute... are you Hannah's mom?" asked Cody, a 7th grader.

"Yes, I am. Why?" I replied.

"Hannah POKES me," he said. "She just walks up and pokes me all the time."

I laughed, but did ask Hannah about this after school.

"Hannah, have you been poking a 7th grade boy named Cody?" I asked her.

She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, and said, "But Mom, I don't poke him very hard."