Yesterday, March 14th, I thought it was March 15th. To be precise, I thought it was: Wednesday, March 15th. Of course it wasn't. I just didn't know that.

So, I write the date out on the board (Wednesday, March 15th), directions to turn in homework, beware the ides of March and the launch question for the day.

Students stream into my classroom. I great them. They read the board, find their chairs, turn in their homework and ask me about the Ides of March mispronouncing ides more than 50% of the time. I tell them, don't worry I'll explain.

I mean this is an exciting day and an exciting story and I don't want to tell it a 100 different times.

So the bell rings and I welcome everyone to class. Then I warn them to: beware the Ides of March. <em>Blank stares</em>. I ask them what happened today in history? <em>Wrinkled eyebrows</em>. I tell them that Shakespeare made this line famous. <em>Flickers of recognition</em>.

I tell them today is the day that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate by among others one-time friend Marcus Brutus. <em>And everything clicks</em>. I love moments like this.

Then one stray hand raises. I call on this student and student very politely says: I think today March 14th.  A sea of heads nod in agreement.

Me: <em>Really</em>?!

Apologetically, a cellphone is produced and the date reveals that it is in fact the 14th.<em>Oh</em>.

So I repeat my warning: Beware the Ides of March. Because really, what else can I do? Then I start class in earnest.