I Don't Get It!?!?!

I hate the phrase "I don't get it". I hate it for a couple of reasons. The first reason I hate it is because it makes me feel inadequate as a teacher. What do you mean you don't get it? Didn't I just spend 20 minutes talking about it? Didn't I just show you 800 different ways to do it and practice it with you? Didn't you and your classmates just do 1800 practice problems of it? Didn't I just ask you, "Are there any questions?" "Is there anything you don't understand?" Didn't we go over everything again? Why then, when I give you the assignment and start to walk away from the board do you, in a whiny voice say "I don't get it?"
The other reason I hate the phrase "I don't get it" is that the word 'it' is undefined. I could say "I don't get it" too. I don't get all the money I want. I don't get a new pair of shoes every week. WHAT IS IT?!?! I tried to explain to my class that saying "I don't get it" gets them no where. Come to me and say "I don't understand where that 13 came from in the work you showed on the board." Or "I don't understand why the procedure this way instead of that way". Define IT! This has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves of teaching! Part of me wants to yell "I don't get why you don't get IT!" But instead, I spend another 20 minutes reteaching a lesson that often leads to yet another round of "I don't get it"s! Ugh.
And in other news...when did the idea of a "sack lunch" become "bring something that you have to heat in a microwave"? We waste alot of recess time (which doesn't hurt my feelings) and argue over the microwave on a daily basis. One day last week 10 of my 12 students needed to use the microwave. I don't want to take it out of my room because I use it pretty regularly. But I can use it in a minute or less, while I send the kiddie-os to wash up. They on the other hand never know how long to cook something. They are never ready, and they don't listen for the ding so that the next person can use it in a timely manner. The result--wasted time. And don't get me started on silverware! :)
Tomorrow is Friday!