I introduced my students to Modge Podge last week, and I was careful to tell them that it is a Magic Substance and it enables people to create A-MAZING things with its magical essence. As I talked, they looked on with wonder as I explained what we were going to do with this miraculous element. I also made a point of telling them how expensive it was and that it shouldn't be wasted. And if they ever wanted to get me a gift . . . hint, hint . . . blah, blah.
It is at this point that I shall stop and tell you that I, as a teacher, always tell my students at the beginning of the year that I don't know everything and I will make mistakes. Mistakes that they will catch and pointedly point out to me, puffing up as they exclaim it to all the world, thereby making me feel like a complete bonehead. And I'm happy to do it, because as their teacher I'm prepared to "take one for the team" in order to increase their self-esteem, further their learning, etc.
And this was one of those times. One of my sweet, little, cherub-faced charges raised his hand and said "Um. Mrs. Scott, you do know that that says MOD Podge and not Modge Podge, right?"
Ah-hem. WHAT?!!!!!!
I looked at the container, then back at him, then back at the container then back at him. And I felt like a bonehead. And I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I did say to myself, and possibly out loud, "When did they change the name?" It was embarrassing. And funny. And embarrassing. Time stopped for a few minutes as I gathered my wits about me and reconciled this new little tidbit in my world of all things crafty.
I'm happy to say that I did recover.
I shared my little story with Janae, Girl Genius, because she is the Queen of All Things Crafty and Cute, and guess what? All this time, she knew that it was called MOD Podge and she continued to let me bumble on, advertising my ignorance to the world. The world!
And did not say a thing. She must have really enjoyed herself.
Anyway, Queen-Crafty-Girl-Genius-Janae works at Michael's and she says everybody calls it Modge Podge and she never says anything. So I feel a little better now.
But I'm still a little skeptical, because that's my nature. So now I have something personal to ask you. Have you been secretly laughing at me every ding dang time I've written the word Modge Podge? Go ahead. Confess. I won't hold it against you.
I feel stupid too! I think I assumed that Mod was pronounced Modge! I never knew that there was a right or wrong way of spelling or saying it! OOPS!!!
ReplyDeletehaha I never paid that much attention either! I always say modge podge! Though I'm not sure if I've typed it....well you can be sure that you're definitely not the only one that's done this! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll admit to having a small chuckle at your expense. But what am I do to? Come to one of my favorite blogs and correct you? On YOUR own blog? Besides, your friend that works at Michael's is correct - nearly everybody calls it Modge Podge. In fact, I think people probably think I say it wrong when I call it Mod Podge!
ReplyDeleteMy friend recently chewed my butt for pronouncing it 'mod podge' instead of 'modge podge.' She told me the 'ge' is silent hahaha
DeleteNow THAT is funny.
DeleteI am laughing so hard right now because I could have sworn it was called MODGE podge. HA.. When did they change the name I wonder? I'll bet you are an absolutely fantastic teacher Jill, and probably you made that students day.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Summer. I'm with you, I think they changed the name.
Deletehi Jill I am new to reading your blog, I am also a Jill, from Australia, I am laughing right now As I too have always called it maodge podge I use to work in a craft store for 10 years and always called in modge podge, did they change the name. Or did someone years ago get the name wrong and the whole world caught on. Love reading your blog. Jill
ReplyDeleteThanks Jill. I'm going with "they changed the name, " for no other reason than to save face.
DeleteI just had to go check my bottle. I don't think I can get use to calling it Mod Podge.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteI always thought it was called Modge Podge too, Jill. Of course, I'm a craft neophyte...
ReplyDeleteThey totally gave it the WRONG name, in my opinion. It should DEFINITELY be called Modge Podge, rather than Mod Podge. It just sounds sweeter to my ears!! I think most people call it Modge Podge. Maybe we should start a petition to get them to change the name :)
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad...I was just as shocked as you as I sat here reading your post. I always thought it was Modge Podge too. Now I need to go down and look at my jar of it. Wild.
ReplyDeleteJust take a magic marker and add the ge to the end, I did :)
ReplyDeleteIts a tradition, and I even called my mom-in-law the first grade teacher, she said "eh, its tradition, we all call it that in the teaching world"...so when you do the next class, just say to them that sometimes traditions over rule spelling errors...and hope that does not bite us in the rear :)
You made my day, and my hubby is wondering why I am laughing uncontrollably right now!
I've been calling it Modge Podge too!! In fact, I'm pretty sure I've been reading the words Modge Podge in every blog I've seen it in... I'm gonna have to make note of that.
ReplyDeleteBut thanks for pointing out that I'm a bonehead too! :)
Giiiirl pu-lease ;) I've always called it Modge Podge too, hahaha (but that's not saying much...I always say things wrong and my husband is always laughing at me ;)
ReplyDeleteJamie :)
Jill,
ReplyDeleteNo worries! I always pronounce it Modge Podge because it's just easier to say. Whenever I saw you write it I figured you knew but were typing it that way as a joke. Like we all say it that way so it makes sense! :)Plus, if someone says it fast, it sounds like Modge Podge. I wouldn't feel silly for it. I don't think you're the only one! :)
Never! Because it SHOULD be called Modge Podge! It just flows better. : )
ReplyDeleteso funny! i say the same thing!
ReplyDeleteI am not laughing because I thought it was Modge Podge too!!!
ReplyDeleteWell I have to confess that I had no idea it was Mod Podge! I have always thought it was called Modge Podge too! So my question is how many people are laughing at my expense? Cause in my corner of the world I am the Queen of all crafty and cute things, the Queen of OCD and of things that need to be organized and of course the Queen of control freaks! lol My friends say I am my own freak show! so really how many people are out there not only laughing at you but at me?! lol
ReplyDeletefrom the looks of it-we are all in good company. Just tell people that you changed the name because you are cool enough to do that. (at least that is what I am going to think about myself because, yes, I did the same thing.)
ReplyDeleteI only realized a few months ago that it was Mod Podge & not Modge Podge. I think Modge Podge sounds better anyway!!!
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was Mod Podge then I was around people who called it Modge Podge and I felt like a dork for not saying it right.
ReplyDeleteThen.
I decided I could say whatever I wanted.
So I did.
So can you.
Tell those little know it alls to go get a job while they know everything.
Wow I guess I still have some bitterness.
I love the post it made me laugh.
I don't know if someone has already said this or not but I think we all call it modge podge because that is what we do (or what they USED to do) with it. I've always call it modge. I think maybe it's call MOD because it is modern and modge podge is an old thing. Who knows? But I've never laughed. I've been just as clueless! :D
ReplyDeleteToo funny :) I could swear I have some modge podge sitting in my crafts cabinet right now.
ReplyDeleteI have one word for you. Sherbet. Who the heck says that right? It's modge podge dammit.
ReplyDeleteI call it modge podge too-
ReplyDeleteand I think the devil invented it-I am terrible with it-but love it!!!!
Mod podge sounds dumb. Modge Podge should be the correct name. :-P
ReplyDeleteThis cracks me up! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI honestly never even noticed it Wasn't Modge....I think it sounds better. We should petition them to change the name!
ReplyDeleteHA! Don't you love it when kids pick up on our mistakes. I remember one of my kg2 students used to get on to me they way I said "king" because I didn't pronounce the "g" -- I said it more like "keen" -- I think everyone thinks it SHOULD be Modge Podge. Now doesn't that make more since? What is mod anyways? Have a great weekend. Tammy
ReplyDeleteok, this is cracking me up! I thought it was "Modge" too. that's what everyone calls it around here. I don't have any of it, but friends do and I've used it before w/ them for various projects!
ReplyDeletehow odd!!!
I don't think I have ever heard anyone call it Mod Podge. Besides, I think that Modge Podge sounds a whole lot better. But I totally get it with your students. It is hard for me when some of my students correct me to bite my tongue.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Allie. What the heck is "Mod" - that sounds really stupid. Everyone knows what Modge Podge is! If someone said to me Mod Podge I wouldn't know what they were talking about!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm new to your site, over from Words of Me Project, but I will tell you that I would not have corrected you either. All my crafty friends (at least I think all of them) call it Modge Podge. But leave it to one of your little cherubs to point it out, eh??
ReplyDeleteGlad I stopped by... I'll be back!!
ha ha, I call it modge podge too... sounds better like that anyway!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a teacher... he'll appreciate this story :)
I have to admit, I knew it was Mod Podge, but this does explain why I got a call from my Sister-in-Law at 6:30 in the morning a couple of weeks ago asking me if I knew what that stuff was called that you used to glue paper/fabrics onto decorative crafts. :D She just sent me the link to your blog, and now I've been up an extra hour reading it. Not sure that's a good thing, but I haven't stopped laughing yet!
ReplyDeleteJill,
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. As you have read many of us have called it Modge Podge. But thanks for going down that road and sharing so I too can correct myself!
I also called it Modge Podge, until now that is...LOL.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right on about the kids being very quick to point out our teacher missteps. :-D I like how you tell them that "you will take one for the team to support building their self esteem" that made me smile. As an ES Teacher myself, I'm enjoying your posts about school AND all the fabulous ideas for personalizing your classroom! You're so creative!
Three years and $3 short?... but I'll chime in!
ReplyDeleteI believe it IS pronounced modge podge, because that is what we are doing - "modging." and Mod Podge came out in the '70's when everything was "mod." It was originally a DIY thing that the company got on the band wagon with.
It was a play on the words, and now look where it has us! ;) Love that stuff.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
Back in the 70's, before a company made it MOD PODGE...it was a craft known as Modge Podge. We just used Elmer's glue. My grandma was way ahead of her time, and her craft magazines called it modge podge.
ReplyDelete