Extra Pants Needed??

I had the pleasure of talking with an adorable kindergartner recently. He had a light spray of freckles, curly hair, and the cutest little personality! As we conversed and got to know each other, I asked about his best friends. He mentioned his best guy friend, who is his BFF at this point, and then started laughing as he brought up a girl in his class. Obviously he loved her company and wanted to describe his reasons, so he asked in his precious five year old voice, "Is it okay if I use a pwivacy wud?" Realizing that he was trying to get permission to say something that might get him in trouble, i said it was fine, and that I appreciated his asking. Continuing his endorsement of his female friend, he said, "She's so funny that when she tells a joke, it makes me pee my pants!" And he rolled with hilarity. I giggled right along with him and felt grateful to have had the chance to get to know this little child a little bit better before the school year comes to an end.

Duck!!

When I went to check on a handsome second grader yesterday morning, he walked into the hallway wearing sunglasses. "Wow!" I said. I love the way your black shades are lined with red. That's really cool!" With a sober expression, he said, "They're bulletproof." "Good to know," I responded, "just in case you get shot at on the playground today!" He grinned, and I rejoiced silently at the funny things kids say every day!

Please Don't Leave!

Well, just before our second graders move on to Farragut Intermediate School, I've discovered a treasure. He's a comedian-in-the-making, for sure! One day last week, I was teaching the Repeat Technique to his class. We've been having a unit of dealing with teasing, bothering, and bullying, and this lesson taught kids to calmly respond to name-calling and insults with the same words over and over, such as "I'm glad you finally noticed!", "I'm glad you finally noticed!", "I'm glad you finally noticed!" Children always enjoy coming up with their own phrases, and I was listening to their suggestions. At this point, a standout comic emerged. When I called on a dark-haired boy with a cowlick, he stood up wearing a big grin, put one hand on a hip and the other on the back of his head in a super-model pose, and said in an exaggerated Southern drawl, "If somebody says 'You're u-u-u-u-gly', I'd just say, (swinging his hips) 'Why I think you're r-i-i-i-i-ight! I must have gone into my mama's closet this morning! My goodness...I'm wearing a dress!' " His friends and I cracked up. Oh man! Why oh why didn't I get to know this little card before he gets ready to leave us for another school? I know we would have bonded big-time!

Whatever You Do, Don't Post!

As we do at the end of most guidance lessons, a class of kindergartners and I prepared to dance to a song that went with the topic we'd been discussing. This one was a rollicking tune called "B A Good Student", and it was enhanced by a jazzy brass section. When the teacher heard me announce the song, she said, "Wait! I want to make a video to show my husband." As she found her phone and got ready to record us, the kids buzzed with excitement. Some rolled their eyes and shook their heads with a grin on their faces, some nudged each other and giggled, some slapped their foreheads and said "Oh brother!". But the funniest reaction came from a little boy with a head full of golden curls. Using his OUTSIDE voice, he belted out, "DON'T PUT IT ON FACEBOOK!" I guess you could call that a sign of the times!

E-e-e-e-e-k!

I can't really remember exactly how we got onto this topic, but yesterday a petite kindergarten girl and I were discussing throwing up. Someone in her class had been sick, so I guess that's how our conversation meandered in this direction. We were both telling our most icky stories and giggling up a storm when she said something adorable. "I threw up 20 times one day." Screwing up her face, she drew a line in the air from her mouth to her chest and said, "You know....one of those bugs crawled down my throat and made me really sick." Yes, I did keep a straight face and explain the difference between a bug bug and a contagious illness, but this child's little literal self certainly did add a big scoop of joy to my Friday!