The first day was interesting. None of the children had played D&D, but they were all familiar with board games. They all had fun picking through my giant jar of dice and fighting over which one's were there's, which I decided each child would get 1 set to keep (I had bought them in bulk from Chessex, so I didn't care about any beyond the ones I had already picked out).
I ran a quick game for a group of the students with premade characters, explaining everything as I went along, and then for homework everyone had to think about what kind of character they wanted to play, or in the case of the 5 DM's, to start thinking about a story.

This is quite incredible, good on you OP.

I know a horde of idiots will lambast you for using 4th edition, but ignore them.

>I've been a 3rd grade teacher for four years>
>Social studies is now D&D time.

You get to DM 4e for little children, including lolis? Wow, you must be lucky, as much as the real thing isn't actually all that glamorous.

>I told them they have to use as many of the things they learned about medieval culture in the games as they can

So are they all martial classes or what?

This.. this is glorious

The second day everyone made 1st level characters. I first explained the step-by-step process, and answered as many questions as I could before they actually started making their characters. I expected a lot of errors, so I asked the DM's to look over the characters, permitting and not permitting things, and I would then look over everything at home over the weekend. I would also look over the DM's campaign plans.

I was shocked. Despite there being plenty of mistakes, they were little different from the mistakes that I get from the 20+ year olds I usually play with. Of course, they weren't optimized in any sense of the word, but they were still pretty well done.

Some awesome ones were the two boys who were playing dwarven brothers from the clan Breakstone who drank blood (for no explained reason. It just said that on their sheets), one girl who was playing a bugbear named Pugface, and a dragonborn named S'more (it was heartbreaking telling the boy that marshmallows didn't exist back then, so they couldn't be listed as his favorite food. He just told me they were magical marshmallows, which I could only agree made sense).

>>3392238
>lolis

You creepy fuckhead. I wish I could hate you to death.

>>3392237

Well when the time comes in 10 years, those kids can then get into 8e and 9e fights

The DM's plans amazed me. Other than one which was pretty much the child having his DMPC kill everyone else's character, they were pretty well thought out. Though they obviously wanted to use stuff that wasn't for 1st level characters (all but one had a dragon), I only made a few suggestions (and made a note to talk to the one DM about his plans).

The next week, after the three days of learning about the culture, I had the DM's run a practice, pre-made adventure that I had "adjusted" and printed out for them.

Walking around, I realized I had both under and over estimated these children. Two groups did very well, with the DM's handling everything pretty well, and the player's taking it almost a little too seriously.

The other three groups had me being called over every few seconds. The two Breakstone brothers in particular had me both on the verge of being angry and laughing. They tried to kill one of the other players, and then tried to bite every NPC they encountered, and were pretty much the far side of chaotic evil. I spoke to them, about how they both had chosen to play Lawful Good, and what exactly that meant. I also told them that I would have to split them up if they kept disrupting the group. From then on, they acted like some sort of strange Scottish Vampire King Arthurs, which no one seemed to have as much of a problem with.

For the most part, it's too soon to say whether this has been a success or a failure, but the groups are starting to get a hang of things, and they seem to be enjoying themselves.

This is glorious. OP, you are glorious.

Oh hell yes you're awesome.

>Scottish Vampire King Arthurs
wat

This is. . .

I don't know what it is. . .

Prepare for parents complaining, though.

I've had a similar experience handling a middle-school board games club. Little kids can be both surprisingly good AND surprisingly bad to the farthest ends of the spectrum.

There was this kid who loudly proclaimed that his intentions were to be evil because evil is cool and tried to kill everyone always all the time. His characters had an extremely short lifespan, as you can guess.

Another girl played an elven adventurer that, while on the verge of being classified as Mary Sue, did actually never cross the line and was consistently the better-roleplayed character out there.

A kid who insisted on Gming ran his players through the most hilariously winged and out-there adventure ever. It involved DBZ-style power-ups, supersonic ninjas and Khyber (yes, the legendary god-dragon of Eberron. I had mentioned it off-hand earlier and apparently he liked the idea). Shit had no sense whatsoever, but they were all having loads of fun so i didn't interrupt them.

>>3392227
>which one's were there's
You are neither a third grade teacher nor a teacher at all. Stop lying.

this thread is beautiful and OP is a man of great heart :3

>>3392323
I actually got a phone call the second day. It wasn't too serious, it was more of an inquiry than anything else.

>>3392302
They invented their own accent. I do not know how to imitate it.

>>3392238
You're probably the reason I had so much trouble getting this job.

>>3392237
Whatever anyone says about 4e, good or bad, they can't deny it's great for children.

This is...

Perhaps the greatest thing I've ever heard...

Wait, no
>Scottish Vampire King Arthurs
NOW it's the greatest thing I've ever heard.


I wish to subscribe to your weekly informational pamphlets.

>>3392332
>A kid who insisted on Gming ran his players through the most hilariously winged and out-there adventure ever. It involved DBZ-style power-ups, supersonic ninjas and Khyber (yes, the legendary god-dragon of Eberron. I had mentioned it off-hand earlier and apparently he liked the idea). Shit had no sense whatsoever, but they were all having loads of fun so i didn't interrupt them.

this. we must do this. for great justice!

>>3392365

>You're probably the reason I had so much trouble getting this job.

Well, my apologies if that came off as too pedo.

>>3392349
Everyone knows that only English teachers can spell.
Besides, I'm surprised the OP even knows history, after all my Social Studies teachers. They were usually just gym teachers who the school needed to do something else.

>>3392385

I think he had his party fight Khyber on top of a cliff because he was "being evil" and also for the treasure.

Also, man, my kids were the worst team-players ever. They never did anything for each other for free. You want the cleric to heal you? you had to pay him. you wanted the sword that the wisard had lotted, pay him. you wanted the fighter to stay in front of you in combat? 30 GP per fight.

That worried me a bit about the values in today's youth.

>>3392332
There is one girl in my class who plays an elven cleric, who is a princess with "star-colored" eyes, who might be one of the best roleplayers I've met, including the group of adults I play with.

>>3392349
I' have a sticky ap'ostrophe key'.

>>3392395
>They were usually just gym teachers who the school needed to do something else.

I hate you, but this has been my experience with social studies teachers too.

>>3392408
THAT TURNS THEIRS INTO THERE'S?

>>3392404
They're good little free-market capitalists!

>>3392420
Did yours also not like it when you started correcting them and explaining things in more detail?

Also when you made jokes about the X Y Z Affair being a menage a trois?

>>3392389
I might lose my job even if I just say "lollipop". Which might explain my strong reaction.

>>3392395
>Besides, I'm surprised the OP even knows history, after all my Social Studies teachers.
I thought me using D&D to explain the Medieval ages would explain my level of history aptitude.

Actually though, my excuse is I'm using it to foster interest in the subject, as opposed to using it to actually simulate the time period.

>>3392457
I almost got a detention for saying menage a trois in class. But that was in International Studies, not Social Studies.

If by, "not like it" you mean "pretty much had a breakdown", then yes.

Scottish Vampire King Arthurs is the greatest thing I've heard all day.

Wow, this is way cool. Is going to make for some great stories later on. Hopefully inspires them to remain imaginative.

How were they all able to make characters? Did you buy/print a PHB for each one of them?

Hang on, you are using an american fantasy role-play game to teach them about the Middle Ages? Sweet. Another generation of children heartbroken when they visit Europe and find it isn't full of dragons and kobolds.

>>3392488
He's a teacher. They have ranks in Photocopying and Stapling.

>>3392458
You can lose your job for saying "Lollipop" but you won't lose your job for having kids play that "satanic" D&D? YOU SIR ARE MADE OF LIES! LIAR! WHORE! LIAR! LIAR! WHORE! LIAR AND YOU KNOW IT!

Any school who's that strict would shit a house full of bricks at you even suggesting it.

>>3392488
I bought an extra set, borrowed three from players in my group, and made a lot of photocopies.

Each group has a set of the books, along with a stern warning to not let anything to them, photocopies of the class powers, character sheets, and things I downloaded like blank item cards and power cards.

>>3392545
Are you permanently living in the 70's?

>>3392563
You might want to use the Touhou Powercards.

Then again, Sly Flourish, among others, might be a bit... yeah.

>>3392615
It would probably be better for him to just use cards with vaginas on them.

>>3392221

I am not sure if D&D is good teaching tool, actually I am afrair, that soem kids might have good time but fail to memorize anything and sadly, most of tests and entrance exams are based on memorized factographical knowledge, so IMO it is better for the kids to fill their heads with knowledge in the old fashioned way...

>>3392588
lolsarcasm

You sir, should feel as awesome as this picture.

>>3392678
Do you remember 3rd grade social studies? They couldn't teach you any parts of "important" history, since wars were too graphical and violent beyond their names and who was fighting, and everything had to be sort of glazed over in order to not offend anyone. So, most teachers don't give a fuck and let the kids do silly projects for no reason.

I had an awesome teacher who just let us make "dioramas", which was basically transforming the four sides of the room into whatever we were supposed to be studying. We made indian villages with teepess and long houses made out of paper and hung from the ceiling by wires, and an entire rain forest filled with hundreds of animals, trees, and vines hanging everywhere. Almost everything was made out of paper, which we took from the art supplies room by these massive rolls.

Shit was awesome.

>>3392365
>You're probably the reason I had so much trouble getting this job.

Male 3rd grade teacher I guess?

*clap* *clap* *clap*

This is why I love /tg/.

Your school's letting you do this? Considering the violent content I don't know many schools that would allow it.

OP, You are awesome and should feel awesome!

OP, where do you teach? I want to adopt children just to have them take your class.

if you're gonna raise em, raise em as neckbeards

I wish to send my children to be taught by you.

Man i would have fucking loved for my teacher to do that!

you are awesome OP

>>3392970
Indeed.

This is so awesome, you just have to be mindful and supervise them, which is what a teacher should do regardless.

Pffff. I got my 3rd grade students playing Shadowrun. Now they're all trying to work out which megacorp is secretly paying off the principal and which organised crime syndicate has snuck spies into the class. So far we've had three murders, seven suspicious disappearances, twenty thefts of computer equipment and one school bus blown up.

I don't think this'll work out, OP. I just can't see how a 3rd grader can get a proper neckbeard going.

OP, if what all you say is true, I vote you take up the trip Scottish Vampire King Arthur.

If you are lying, my dying hopes curse you with their last breath. :(

>>3393073
Elmer's glue.

>>3393082

Well now, that just might work. They do get some time for arts and crafts, don't they?

>>3393082
+ red construction paper

in my critical reading class, there was an article we read on how the education system really needs changing, as not just the students are bored and not trying, but the same goes for the teachers and it just keeps getting worse...

so really...I'd say this is a step in the right direction. teachers having fun, kids having fun. so what if it's a little neckbeardy.

I congratulate you, OP.

to sum up the thread OP: WE'RE EXPECTING DAILY UPDATES ON THE YOUNG NECKBEARDS

Any chance you intend to branch out/shift to more "realistic" settings after the first campaigns, OP?

Such as, let's say, teaching them about siege weapons by giving them campaign outlines featuring ballistae.

>>3392898
It's like cartoon violence. Nobody cares if you beat the shit out of Kobolds.

>>3393109
I remember reading an article about education on line when I was doing a project on WoW as it helps ESOL students with English interactions. Basically, the article drew an extension from board games that involve children stressing how the content and the rules helped to stress social interaction and math skills. I was taking statistics and I kind of understood how if you can pinpoint the math inclined student you could show him all the probability behind the dice. Regardless, you're basically setting them up to deal with a lot of basic math skills when handling any skill check in addition to whatever social studies content you push into the activities.

>>3393118
Are the girls neckbeards as well?

>>3393132
with repeated exposure at an early age, there may be some growth

Wow. OP, it's been said before, but it's still true: you rock. Now if only we could convince every school to do this... our conquest of the world would be wel on its way! Bwahahaa!

So the state is paying you to teach the kids nothing about any history and wasting time?

I don't usually read /tg/ (or hell, even anything on this site very often other than /s/ and /h/), but I'm very interested in the project you have going here, OP. I'm not teaching yet, but I am wrapping up my education and getting prepared to go into secondary ed, with a social studies major/history minor.

Suffice to say, I'd like to hear more about this experiment. You should keep a blog about it.

>>3393281
Well duh. He's a teacher.

>>3393282
>read [...] /s/ and /h/
Just go there for the articles, eh?


Regardless, I just realized something about OP.
He will teach the children valuable skills that will help them even beyond social studies. They will grow up to be well-rounded individuals.
However, someone will make a big fuss over it, you will be charged with corrupting the youth. You'll be kicked out, stripped of your credentials, and then you'll be out with no job.

But then an amazing thing will happen. The children will all rally behind you, and the board will have no choice but to reinstate you, and you will be an inspiration to everyone.

You will be memorialized in movie, probably played by Robin Williams, or Jack Black if it's a comedy.

>>3393349
School Of Epic Nerditude.

This is brilliant. Anything before 6th grade REALLY needs to be disguised as something fun for kids to actually learn anything, and D&D covers pretty much everything. Math, reading, writing, cartography, history, craps, social interaction. You are single handedly instilling a group of ~20 kids the will to learn. I salute you.

>>3393349
If its a negative documentary:
Delinquents and Disasters: The D&D Teacher.

>>3393509
>Delinquents and Disasters
I'd play it.

Oh how I wish I could believe this is true

>>3393509
>Delinquents and Disasters: The D&D Teacher.
Wow...nice wordplay. Hell, I'd buy a copy of the DVD just for that.

Also, I SALUTE YOU, OP!

How can saying the word "lollipop" make you lose your job?

>>3392678
simple math, bitches, as >>3393130
says

being able to add and subtract and keep small numbers straight is a skill lost in today's youth.

I love children.

>>3395135
... What form of loving, you...

>>3395282
What other way is there?

This sounds epic, but sooner or later someone's going to get you fired. Out of a cannon, most likely.

>>3392323

fuck i would, sorry OP. I think DnD is just too much for kids in the 3rd grade especially when fantasy != medieval ages.

Perhaps if it were once a week and only an hour or two out of the day. I see you are trying to do a good thing.

Bump!

I want a blog started on this OP!

Quite the story, OP.

I can't believe you, but I wish I could.

>>3397121
He said for them to use what they learned and to apply it to D&D.

>>3397279

Hmmm. I learned there was no magic, can't apply that.
No other races besides human.
Heavy armor beat people in no armor, can't apply that.
Archers were in huge blocks and fired at an area of the battlefield.
Other religions weren't accepted, only monotheism, can't apply that.
Most children born died younger then a year, before the industrial revolution.

>>3397487
Except Mr. Smar/tg/uy, Social Studies Teacher, has stated it was more to get an interest in the subject, to find something that they can identify with. They can learn about royal courts, weapons, what one did on their free time and other basic items along with things that honestly would be in other classes so they're seeing a practical use for those subjects.

Subjects don't have to be absolutely accurate and realistic for it to foster an understanding or want to learn more about a particular subject. Take 300 for example. Everyone now knows roughly about that epic battle and who King Leonidas was. I'm quite sure more than a few people decided to find out about that time after they saw the film.

>>3393054
>we've had three murders
This made me spit my drink

>>3392420
And math teachers, and english teachers, and history teachers, and computer teachers, and wait...

Schools in New Mexico fucking suck.

Yeah.

>>3399067
haha, they do. they really do. I hate this state.

>>3399067
Ahh, math teachers... I have an amusing story about math teachers:

When my sister was doing her doctorate program in math, she had to teach a math class to people who were going to be math teachers. Almost without exception, her class was filled with retards who couldn't even add fractions together. Her entire class was filled with people who only went to college because their parents made them.

OP is gonna get assraped by LOLSATANIC parents

>>3399067
Jesus christ I played that game.
What is wrong with Toady

...That aside, I applaud this thread and its contents in general. Grow out them beards, kids.

>>3399122
Yeah.

Honestly, I really think that high school is fucking retarded, elementary works by default, regardless of teacher skill, middle school, you string the kids along by telling them how college works, high school you tell a bunch of angsty teens who are at working age and can probably self educate that their entire life will be ruined if they don't suffer through every class but science, which is merely 'okay' and consists of nothing but hitting calculator and remembering equationz.
>>3399107
Absolutely nothing.

>>3399211
>high school you tell a bunch of angsty teens who are at working age and can probably self educate

anyone who believes ths is a dellusional fag

>>3399299
But I want to believe.

>>3399299
>anyone who believes ths is a dellusional fag
>dellusional

Hey Dude, you should get a browser-based spellchecker!

>>3399299
I've run a 3.5 (Planescape) one-shot for kids aged 7-12. This doesn't seem too far out there.

>>3399283

No, I am serious.

Anyone can learn to do anything at that age, they just need to not be faggots, a textbook written by a professor is better than a teacher spoonfeeding you shit every time, especially when the textbooks are supplied by the lowest bidder in public schools.

I have seen more honor students burn the fuck out once they hit high school than from any other event, occurrence, or situation, I should know this shit, I am a guidance counselor.

>>3399377
You are a faggot because I am in charge of inspecting gaydars, and yours is off the charts.

>>3399389
No, Anonymous, you are teh faggots

>>3399397
THE GAME.

>>3399397
We are all faggots here. You're a faggot; I'm a faggot.

>>3399377
Senior year of high school, I completely burned out and dropped out. Did Credit by Exam through a state college; shit was so cash.

>>3399412
I may be a faggot, but I'm not gay.

>>3399365

Yeah, fuck, when I was a liitle one, and a long time before my OLDer brother got into WoW and sold his D&D stuff because we live in bumfuck nowhere, I used to look at the goddamn tupperware containers of dice as if they were relics of a dark god, and I was a sorceror's apprentice.

I then put them into my mouth, and chewed on them.

I was vaguely aware that my brother played some awesome game with dragons and magic in the garage.

Sadly, I was never really ballsy enough to ask to play until we moved for the third time and he got rid of his shit and started playing WoW.

I think he only did that because it had a lessened stigma, and he had to work in the oilfield at an alternating week schedule, also, he was always GM.

He still keeps his old character sheets, and apparently he played SWCCG and V:TES.

And magic, but everyone and their dog owns a starter pack at least.

>>3399365
Only fags use LEGOs for minis.

>>3399439
You're a shithead.

>>3399445
No, I'm a faggot. You're a douche.

>>3399451
No, I'm a prick. You're a cockwarden.

>>3399482
Negative, I am meatpopsicle. You are a meatbag.

>>3399499
But I don't come from Canada.

>>3399499
>>3399505
I don't get this

>>3393509
Not really, all you need is candy, and only then in first grade, I mean the worksheets are so easy, that often, there's not much left to do for the rest of the day, the hardest part of being a 1-3 teacher is boredom, unless they suddenly started teaching something hard to elementary schoolers in the past three years.

>>3399507
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Milk_Bags

>>3399377
>I have seen more honor students burn the fuck out once they hit high school
Only now do I realize why my grades went from straight 'A's to 'meh' grades. /tg/, have the last 4 years of my life been a complete waste?

>>3399898
Yes, now go to college and become a cog like the rest of us

>>3399916
Yes sir. ;~;
Engineering is fun, right? Not like my entire family is full of them or anything...

>>3399898
>>3399916
College? Nah, go to trade school. Go Millwright, and in a few years you'll be able to make plenty to support yourself financially.

>>3393246
One Nation under Gygax, indivisible, With Dice and Minis for all.