Conversations with Preschoolers

This week I am substituting at the preschool extended day program...and they are FUNNY.

Scene: Outside on the playground.

Preschooler O: I am four.
Me: A long time ago I was four.
Preschooler O: Are you five now?
Me: I'm a grownup now.
Preschooler O: My mommy said when I grow up I'll be a mommy too.
Me: That won't be for a long time.
Preschooler O: Yeah. I'm going to kindergarten then I'll be a mommy.


Scene: Eating (baked) Cheetos for snack.

Me: These are Cheetos. They are made with cheese.
Preschooler H: AND TOES! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Me: Haha...that is clever.
Preschooler H: AND TOES!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. TOES!  (This kid lost his mind.)

 

Conversations with Children

Scene: Reading group on the rug.

Me: Who is the trickster in our story?
Student J: The spider.
Student A: Miss C...can I touch your hair?
Me: Um, no.

Conversations with Children: End of the World Edition

Scene: Today during calendar

Miss C: And what is tomorrow?
Student N: Tomorrow is Friday, December 21, 2012.
Student D: Tomorrow is the end of the year.
Miss C: Well, it's the last day of school this year.
Student D: No. I mean it's the end of the world!
Student A: What?
Student K: The world is going to explode tomorrow.
Miss C: The world is not going to end. What do we do when the calendar ends?
Student J: Get a new one.
Miss C: Exactly. The Mayans didn't know to get a new calendar.


Later in the day...

Student D: The world is going to end!
Student K: I'm not going to do my homework because the world is going to end.
Miss C: It is already December 21st in Australia and the world didn't end.
Student D: Oh.
Student K: How is it already tomorrow in Australia?
Miss C: Well, there are things called time zones...

Conversations with Children: Favorite Colors and Puppies

Scene: Every single morning

Student A: Miss C, what's your favorite color today?

And all I can think is:

____________________________

Scene: This morning

Student K: Miss C! I'm pending!

Miss C: What?

Student K: Pending!

Miss C: Pending on what?

Student K: A dog.

Miss C: Um...okay.

Student K: We have to meet it first to see its personality.

Miss C: That's exciting.

Student K: Want to see a picture?

A Typical Day in 3rd Grade

Today I was indirectly proposed to by an 8 year old, publicly shamed for not being married, and called Mama. 

During reading, we read The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco; a story that follows a quilt through multiple generations. In the book, the quilt is used as a huppa at a wedding. The bride receives a gold coin, a flower, and salt from her fiance. I asked my group what most men give women when they want to marry them. Student A replied, "a diamond ring" then dropped down to one knee and said, "will you marry me?"

Then (a different) Student A raised her hand to ask if I was married.

And then...(a third) Student A* yelled across the room, "NO SHE ISN'T BECAUSE HER NAME IS MISS C NOT MRS. C!"

Later in the day, the second Student A walks towards me with her paper and calls me Mama. She immediately flushed and was so embarrassed that she walked away. This isn't the first time it has happened and it certainly won't be the last time.

And finally, some of my favorite student work samples from our nutrition homework.

Future vegetarian.

Future heart attack victim.

* In my class of 20 students there are six students with "A" names...obviously because it is the best first initial.

Conversations with Children: Part 19

Scene: End of the day...trying to shuffle all of the kids out of the room to the busses.

Librarian: (to me) Amy, Student A is still here.

Me: Student A! Let's go.

Student A: Your name is Amy?

Me: Yes.

Student A: I thought your name was Miss C?

Me: That is my teacher name. Kids call me Miss C. Grownups call me Amy.

Student A: But I don't want to call you Amy. I want to call you Miss C.

Me: Well it's a good thing you are only 8 then. Now go get on the bus.

What 8 Year Olds Have to Say About the Election

As heard in my third grade classroom today:

"He only won because he is a witch with a 'B'."

"My brother calls Romney 'Mittens'."

"That's who my mom voted for."

"Obama is the president again."

"No he's not."

"Yes he is, my mom told me."

"I don't like him."

"Everybody voted and he won fair and square."

"More people picked him."

"If you have a sister in high school she will have a miserable time trying to find a job."

"Wasn't Obama born in Kenya?"

"Maybe Mitt Romney will run for president again."

"He lied."

"They all lied."

The moral of the story:

Your children learn from you. Teach tolerance, not hate.

Conversations with Children: Part 2

Scene: Student K is reading about Colonial America during my RTI group.

Student K: Miss C, how did they have babies if there were no hospitals?
Me: They had their babies at home.
Student K: Miss C, did you know that some people have babies in water?
Me: Yes.
Student A: Why would people have babies in water?
Me: blink blink
Student A: Is it because they are water spirits?
Me: Yes.