What's a snow squall?

It's not funny.  I mean it.  It's not.  Today, I experienced one of those moments where words take on a whole new meaning.  Connections were made.  It was something.

Earlier, about lunchtime, I overheard a teacher ask another, "What is a snow squall?"  With a general shrug of the shoulders and mumble about it being "like snow showers" as her reply, I kept walking.

"Snow squall" is not a term I've heard before.  I thought on it while getting back to the google form I was creating for a fifth grade assessment.  "Maybe I should ask fifth graders what they think a snow squall is," I think.

From my room, I can hear most happenings of the hallway (and most of the time-the bathroom).  Sometimes, fourth grade gets rowdy when changing classrooms for Science/Social Studies close to the end of the day.  I've had to break up a couple of time wasters partying outside my door before.  Every once in a while, I'll check to make sure the strange noise I'm hearing isn't someone in need of help, or an exorcist.

Just now, I heard third grade pushed their way outside for recess.  It is a welcomed sound as they have been inside for recess yesterday and most of last week.  It is chillier than I anticipated and I wonder if the kids prepared for going outside to recess, coming to school properly dressed.

Suddenly, there is a disturbance in the hall.  It sounds like a riot.  "What in the world?" I think.  "Is someone hurt?  Is there a fight?"  My goodness, I stick my head out the door just as adults raise their voices over the din of the masses.

"THIRD GRADE!!!  THIRD GRADE!!!" an adult is trying, vying for the attention of this uprising, from somewhere by the doors.  Her getting louder tactic is not working.  I can't even find an adult to make eyes at for all the ruckus and ridiculousness.  "There is squalling, for sure," I think.  After many, "Can you be okay?"s and more "Not okay."s, the teachers trapped at the back of this storm emerges to regain control of the crowd.

It seems that as third grade made their way out to recess, the potential weather moved in.  A blizzard-like condition sat right down on the playground causing an upheaval in attitudes and auditory levels.  A snow squall made itself known.

I was curious.  I had to look it up.

I laughed out loud at the exact wording in the two definitions, as if these kids were on a mission to personify the dictionary.  Vocabulary work at its core!

Is it irony or coincidence?  Oh, kids!  This life would be boring without them.

Have you encountered the word squall lately?