When the Cat's Away...

When the cat's away, the mice will play! While hurrying through the halls the other day, I passed a kindergarten class on its way to lunch. A purple plastic Easter egg grabbed my attention because its owner was holding it up in the air jangling it rather loudly. Thinking it contained coins for buying ice cream, I said, "Well THAT'S a fun way to carry your lunch money!" 
"It's got SKITTLES in it," she explained. 
 "Well what a yummy dessert THAT will be," I replied. Raising her left eyebrow, she answered, "Ummmm, I don't think they're gonna last THAT long!" 
 And with a giggling swagger, she proceeded on her way to lunch. I guess when Mama's not around to oversee, skittles can indeed make a DIVINE appetizer!

He Speaks the Truth!

Personalities. There are all kinds in this big old world, and in second grade classes, we're discussing them as part of a unit on respecting ourselves and others. We're learning that the world needs all types of personalities because, for one thing, they help guide people in choosing careers, and of course our world needs all kinds of workers to fill all kinds of jobs! As part of the lesson, we talked about a variety of personality traits, and then I asked the children to rate themSELVES on some of them. They were to use their fingers to show me how much of each trait they considered themselves to have. For example, if they were naturally super friendly, they might hold up 8, 9, or 10 fingers. If they were more reserved and shy, they'd only hold up a few. I stressed that there were no right or wrong answers and asked them to be honest in their assessment of themselves. In a Thursday afternoon class, we were nearing the end of this activity, and that was a good thing because the last answer from the class cracked us up and created a moment of chaos! The question was this: "On Saturdays when you have a free day to have fun and be yourself, how LOUD do you like to be?" As students thought about the question and started holding up fingers to answer, one little Dennis the Menace who almost always has enthusiasm written all over his face blurted at high volume, "I'm gonna need a few more FINGERS!" Immediately, two of his buddies sitting on the carpet near him held up all their fingers and lined them up with "Dennis's", enabling him to have a score of 30! Yep, that's about right!

Boss yourself around! That's one of the self-control ideas we're learning in kindergarten guidance classes. Since strong feelings can come upon us anytime and anyplace, we need to have some ways that we can ALWAYS use to calm down as well as some ways we can SOMETIMES use (such as talk, rest, exercise, play). The ways we can always use are breathe, count, click, boss, and push-pull-dangle. After introducing the first four ideas to a kindergarten class last week, the children and I practiced taking deep belly-breaths, counting backwards slowly, clicking onto happy thoughts, and bossing ourselves around. We learned that it's not good to boss your FRIENDS around, but telling yourSELF to do the right thing is helpful. While we were practicing this bossing technique, we stuck our bossing fingers in our faces and said such things to ourselves as, "Calm down. Chill! Get a grip. Suck it up, Baby! Ho-o-o-o-ld your horses! Cool your jets, Dude. Do the right thing. Slow down, stop and think!" Looking around the room, I noticed a tiny dark-haired boy wiggling around in his chair inattentively and not participating. Calling his name, I said, "Sweetie, point your bossing finger at yourself for me. Stick that finger in your face." Still squirming in his chair, the child solemnly took his index finger, pointed it at his face, and then promptly stuck it up his nose! Ummm, that's not precisely what I had in mind, but it did crack me up!

Music Speaks!

Music can grab my attention and tug at my heartstrings, and I'm sure many of you have the same experience from time to time. Songs can also add variety to my classroom lessons, as well as giving children a chance to wiggle. For these reasons, I often include music in my lessons. In second grade, we'e in the midst of a long unit on respecting ourselves and others. A couple of topics have been on the importance of respecting cultural and money differences, so I read Dolly Parton's book Coat of Many Colors one day. Since we live so close to Dolly's home in Sevier County and to Dollywood Theme Park, the kids are familiar with her. Many of them have also seen the 2 TV movies based on Dolly's childhood in the Smoky Mountains, so interest in this book was already there. After the story, I taught and sang Coat of Many Colors, accompanied by my guitar playing. Lots of children were familiar with the words, especially the chorus, so they sang their little hearts out. As I was putting my guitar back in the case at the end of class this past Thursday, a chubby cheeked second grade boy softly called my name. This little boy has had some severe family problems to live through and is now in a healthy, nurturing environment both at home and at school. He had been sitting just 2 feet away from me, had helped me open my guitar case, and had sat mesmerized as we sang the song.
 Because there was lots of commotion while half the students were being dismissed to go back to their classrooms, I leaned forward to hear the child's soft-spoken words. I got the feeling he didn't want anyone else to hear. Looking up at me with earnest blue-green eyes, he said gently, "Miss Mimi, that song makes me want to give all the love in my heart." My reply was a hug and an affirmation. "Well I bet you have lots of love to share." I got a bit teary-eyed, knowing the struggles this sweet boy has, and I thanked God for the joy of small moments such as this one.

Time...It's all Relative!

Now we all know that kindergarten students have a developmentally rudimentary perspective on time spans, but this comment just brought out the giggles in me!  Here's what happened.  In a lesson explaining conscience and how it can help us make decisions, I told a true story about some double trouble I got into when I was 4 years old.  My little sister Beth and I did something wrong and were about to get punished when I looked my mama right in the eyes and blamed the whole incident on Beth, who didn't even take up for herself.  Instead, Beth got punished and I didn't.  "Now you MIGHT think I was happy that I didn't get in trouble," I said to the class.  "But I felt like the rottenest kid on earth.  I couldn't sleep a wink that night, but just tossed and turned and turned and tossed.  I kept thinking about my sweet little sister, who took a punishment for me, and I remembered how much I love my parents and how I'd lied to my mama's face and how she trusted me.  My conscience was causing me to feel guilty and ashamed and worried, and it was helping me think about right and wrong."  The children sat mesmerized, as they LOVE to hear their teachers' childhood stories, and I could tell that they were shocked and disappointed in me for being so mean to my little sister. At the conclusion of my story, I told the kindergartners that this story happened a L-O-O-O-N-G time ago, and the reason I still remember it is that it was the day I realized I had a conscience, and I still feel bad about what I did that day.  Now here comes the funny part.  In the midst of this solemn conversation, one of my favorite little girls, a tiny blonde with beautiful blue eyes, blurted out in all seriousness, "Hey, that was a REALLY long time ago....I was still a BABY!"  (Who knew that "babyhood" lasted for over 50 years!!)

These Boots Are Made For Comfort

Boots, boots, and more boots. I love boots of all styles and colors, except I must admit that I recently gave my high-heeled ones away, even though they were quite pretty and in good shape. I guess I just don't have the will or patience to deal with the lack of comfort and speed that come with wearing heels! Last year I found a good online deal on UGG-style boots during the end of winter sale season. On one of our few snow days that year, I went a little wild buying boots of many colors, and this year I've enjoyed wearing them very much. They feel just like bedroom shoes! Well one morning this past week, I wore my pink sparkly boots to school. As I made my daily rounds along the school hallways while the students were arriving and making their way to class, I got scads of comments from little girls who were big fans of the pink sparkles. "Ooh Miss Mimi, you look like a princess!" "Those are Barbie boots!" "You're pink from head to toe!" (Not really, but I did have on a pink denim jacket.) But I had to giggle out loud when a first grader complimented my boots and asked where I got them. "Sears," I said. "But I got them last year." Then, based purely on her first grade perspective, she screwed up her face and asked, "If you got them last year, how come they still fit?" Ha ha... I just love kids!

Best Present Ever

Not recognizing the number, I didn't answer my phone Thursday morning. Listening to the message left by the caller, I was filled with curiosity. A lady had left a cordial message saying that she was trying to get in touch with my husband, Phillip. He had been her child's special ed teacher many years ago, and she said she'd appreciate a return call from him. Since Phillip and I worked at the same school for 24 years, I recognized the name of the former student but was perplexed about the purpose of the call. After all, the boy had been one of our students around 20 years ago.

Because we only had a half day of school due to the holiday break, I was happy to go out to lunch with Phillip. I told him about the phone message, and his furrowed brow and tilted head showed me that he was as surprised to hear from this lady as I was. After lunch, I went Christmas shopping while Phillip went back home. When I pulled into our garage a couple of hours later, Phillip met me at the car with tears in his eyes. However, these were tears of gratitude and joy, not sadness. He said that the mother had called to express her appreciation to Phillip for the spark he'd ignited in her son as a young child. Her child had "graduated" from special ed fairly quickly and had gone on to get a master's degree from a respected North Carolina university. Her son is also a fine poet and writer and is thriving today. The mother said that she gave Phillip and God the credit for turning this child on to learning and for giving him the confidence to believe in himself.

Two lessons were brought home to me through this occurrence. First, every single one of us has a need to make a positive difference in this world, and we all need affirmation that we've done that. Second, I know that many times I get the urge to say or do something nice for someone, simply out of love, but most times I don't follow through. Taking the time to carry out these nudges or inclinations is what matters, not just thinking the thoughts. Phillip and I are so impressed and thankful that this kind woman took the time during this busy season to get my number from a mutual friend, to call me out of the blue, and to express these meaningful messages to my husband. Phillip ended their conversation by telling her that this was one of the very best Christmas presents he could possibly receive.

Merry Christmas, Friends, and my we all be more kind and intentional in SHOWING that kindness during 2017!

Run That By Me One More Time???

Okay, Brooke Maner, this story's for you! And I may need to apologize in advance for the off-color content of what I'm about to relate. However, it's true, it was a random, hilarious happening that brightened up a ho-hum day, and it's just too good to keep to myself! As I walked out of my office with a cow-licked, freckle-faced second grader by my side, I overheard Ms. Maner, one of our first grade teachers, talking to Siri. I wasn't trying to overhear, but since I had to walk right past her, I couldn't avoid it, and I'm glad I couldn't! I feel sure my second grade companion would feel the same. Here's what we heard Ms. Maner say to Siri (and in a serious tone of voice, no less). "Remind me to pick my nose at 3 AM." Taken aback, my little friend and I widened our eyes and looked at each other as if our ears were deceiving us. Nope, she said it again, and of course we froze in our tracks to listen. Since we were standing so close and Ms. Maner was holding the phone in front of her face while speaking to Siri, we could overhear. "I'm sorry, Misty, I didn't get that." With a sigh of frustration, Ms. Maner said it again, this time more slowly. "Remind me to pick my nose at 3 AM." Once again, Siri responded that she didn't understand. Now at this point, I had figured out that Brooke was speaking into Misty Fetzer's phone. Misty is Brooke's teaching teammate, and the two are famous for playing good-natured tricks on each other. So Brooke explained to my friend and me that she wanted Siri to wake Misty up at 3:00 and remind her to pick her nose. As the second grader and I cracked up, rolled our eyes, and shook our heads, we said good-bye and left Brooke to her endeavor. Before you go thinking that these two teachers are wacko, let me say that they both create an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie for their students, which leads to their children's enjoyment of school, along with the secure feeling that they're part of a family. This warmth also helps their students be able to put all they have into learning. Although I've seen and heard many unusual sights and sounds in my 30 years traveling Farragut Primary's hallways, this instance has to be one of the most memorable, and I'm glad I happened to walk by at just the right moment to be a witness to it!

Punny Story

Strike one, strike two, strike three, you're out!  Just like in baseball, my kindergarten students know that if anyone breaks three rules during our 45 minute guidance class, that person will have to leave our group on the carpet and go back to his or her seat.  At the beginning of each class, we briefly read the rules, and I remind the children about 1, 2, 3, out.  As I reviewed this practice with a class on Monday, I used a few Spanish words with which they're familiar:  "That's uno, that's dos, that's tres..."  And since that's about the extent of my Spanish, I asked the teacher, Mrs. Smith (who speaks both English and Spanish), how to say "seat".  "Silla", she answered, which as you may know is pronounced "see ya".  Realizing that we had ourselves a pun in the making, I giggled and said to the students, "Okay, if you break three rules, I'll say, 'That's uno, that's dos, that's tres.  SEE YA, go back to your silla!' "   Oh the joy of silly moments that punctuate a day!

Moving On....!

In the process of getting to know a long-lashed, blued-eyed kindergartner, I asked where her mom worked, and she told me that her mom was a teacher. "And does your daddy work?" I asked. "Yes," she answered. "Where does HE work?" I questioned. "At his work," the little girl answered solemnly. Stifling a giggle, I continued, "Do you know what Daddy DOES at his work?" "He works," she said in the most cooperative manner. "So Daddy works at his work," I repeated. Oh well, at least I gave it the old college try. And at that point, we moved on to talking about brothers, sisters, and pets!

A Memorable Picture Day

Picture day at a primary school! Walking through the hallways while children are making their way to class in the morning is a visual treat. It's like watching a fashion parade of adorable duds for kids, and most students are as clean as a whistle and well-groomed to boot. And this is what makes this story so hilarious. As I usually do, I walked down the first grade hallway to check on and encourage a freckle-faced, cow-licked boy. When he saw me at the door, he stood with a straight face and walked across the room to join me in the hall. As he did so, my eyeballs popped, and I'm sure my hand went to my mouth in consternation. For walking in my direction, seemingly unaware of his appearance, came a well-dressed child with a huge, jet black circle drawn around his face all the way from the bridge of his nose to his chin. I had greeted this little boy when he walked past my classroom about 15 minutes previously, and his face had been shiny and clean. Now THIS is one school picture that will bring back memorable moments for this child and his family!

Kindergarten Butterflies

16 kindergarten classes.  That's how many we have at our huge primary school, and walking in to

teach one during the very first week of school can be a daunting experience!  Actually, I taught 2 classes on their very first DAY of school, at 8:30 and 9:15, no less!  For one thing, I'm not sure whether they know how to pay attention for 45 minutes.  Can they sit still?  Will they be terrified and cry for their "real" teacher?  As I entered classroom after classroom after classroom, I would always see little children sitting criss-cross applesauce on the carpet, waiting expectantly for Miss Mimi, whom they didn't know from Adam.  Big eyes and solemn faces would watch me come in and unpack my teaching supplies.  On morning, I walked in, stopped in my tracks, widened my own eyes, and said to the teacher in a serious voice, "Are they nice?"  "Yes," she said, playing along, "they're VERY nice."  "They're not mean?  I don't need to be scared?" I continued.  "No, they're not monSTERS, they're monSTARS," she said.  "Do they bite?"  I asked.  By this time kids were starting to understand that we were just kidding around, and I heard giggles.  One petite girl with long dark hair and big chocolate colored eyes stood and walked slowly and solemnly toward me.  Close to her face she held a tiny velvet rabbit.  Stroking the bunny tenderly, she said in a genuine tone, "We'll be very nice.  Don't be scared." Of course I laughed with glee, gave her a hug, and let the children know how happy I was to meet them.  It's comforting to know that the kids understand the anxiety of new situations and will always have my back!

The POWER of a Name

I think I've found this year's Miss Personality! I have a new referral, a second grade girl with style galore, lots of charm, and a real way with words. During our initial conversation this week, she was telling me about her friends. She mentioned classroom and neighborhood peers and then thought back to last school year. It was easy for her to remember the first name of this particular friend, but she couldn't quite put her finger on the last name. With furrowed brow, she looked down and tapped her forehead with her index finger, deep in concentration. "Her last name was something like a lightning bolt," my friend said, and she drew a vertical zig-zag in the air. Since she couldn't solve the puzzle right then and there, we moved on, discussing school, teacher, homework, and family. About 15 minutes later, my visitor blurted excitedly, "Shock! It was Shock!" And she clapped her hands with glee. Of course I could understand how the connections in her mind had worked to figure out that elusive last name, as a lightning bolt could indeed deliver a mighty shock. Stay tuned, as I'm sure I'll have lots more snippets to write about this little character! 

A "Memorable" Moment

BOLO: I think that means "Be on the lookout" in police lingo. Well that's also one of the tasks our school staff is charged with during the first weeks of school. We are to be on the lookout for children who need help finding their classrooms due to the newness of the school year. You see, we have a unique setting due to the fact that we have about 1000 kindergarten, first, and second graders in a humongous physical facility. There are 50 homerooms, not to mention classrooms and offices galore for support staff. Eight of our classes are housed in portables, which means that children have to follow the winding sidewalk to their classes. Although I'm sure many students feel overwhelmed at first, we have scads of caring adults helping them find just the spot they're looking for. During the first week of school, I ran into a brand new second grader, a handsome blond boy who'd transferred to us from another town. Noticing his confused demeanor, I offered to help him find his way, which was a bit convoluted due to the fact that his new class was located in one of the outside classrooms. As we walked together, I remarked that I realized he had lots of new things to learn about...friends, his teacher, schoolwork, and his big new school building. With his chatty personality, the little boy agreed but volunteered more positive information. "I do have ONE thing that I already know, though. It's my lunch number. I know it so well that I can't get it out of my mind. It just goes around and around in my brain." Now our students' lunch numbers are located on tags that they wear around their necks to the cafeteria, where the tags are scanned for lunch charges. The numbers are several digits long and not very easy to memorize. Smiling down at him, I said, "Oh really? Those are hard to remember. What IS your lunch number?" Looking straight ahead, the personable child shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly quipped, "I forgot", and he moseyed on into class, leaving me on the sidewalk giggling!

First Day Jitters

Tears, fears, and thumping hearts. Yes, these are common during the first days of primary school. I've been on early morning duty for the past two weeks, which means that I hang out in the cafeteria to supervise children who arrive at school earlier than 7:30. Since the bell rings at 7:45, hundreds and hundreds of students fill our lunchroom for 20 minutes or so as they wait for classrooms to open. One spiky-haired little boy caught my attention the first day because he came in crying, and I noticed that he continued to quietly do so as he sat at a table with his head down. I could see those shaking shoulders and feel the child's misery. Kneeling down to check on him, I discovered that he was brand new at our school, a first grader who'd transferred from another town. Because our school is huge, with around 1000 K-2 children, I knew this boy must be overwhelmed with anxiety about finding his classroom, meeting a new teacher and lots of fellow classmates, and catching on to how first grade at a new school works. For the rest of his wait in the cafeteria, I stood nearby, occasionally rubbing his back and reminding him that he was safe and that I would help him find his classroom. I was proud of his efforts to try to stop crying and keep the volume low, and I knew this was a real struggle for him and that he wanted his mommy. When the time came for dismissal, the splotchy-faced little boy stood up, wiped his face on his sleeve, took a deep breath, and offered me his very moist and sticky hand. Knowing what was on that hand, a hesitated a fraction of a second, but of course compassion and empathy kicked in and took over. As I took his hand to walk him down the hall, warm feelings overtook me and I actually felt my own thumping heart and sting of tears. Sometimes you just have these moments when you know you're doing what you're supposed to be doing with your life, and there's no better feeling in the whole world. Later in the day, the teacher reported that my new friend had calmed down and been smiling within five minutes, which is often the case. Throughout the week, I kept my eyes on the little boy as he waited in the lunchroom before school started. For a few days, I did see some tears and a lowered head, but I noticed how kind other children were to him when they noticed his struggles. This past week, which was the second week of school, I saw no tears at all, so my new friend has found his wings and is ready to take off into the adventure of first grade! I'm quite thankful for the small moments of every day in which I clearly see the evidence of children's learning and growing!

Goofballs!

Bags galore, many stuffed to the brim, are toted by children through our school hallways en route to a big pile in our foyer.  This occurs during Sack Pack week in May, and the bags are filled with clothes and toys for Goodwill.  Students typically feel so happy that they're able to donate and help others, and many stop me along my way in order to tell me exactly what they're carrying in those bags. Recently, I noticed a grinning first grader holding two fat plastic grocery bags, one in each hand, up close to his chest. "Look, Miss Mimi, I have boobs!" he announced to one and all. " From somewhere nearby, I heard another child quip, "Hey Dolly!"  Hearty giggling ensued, and I just shook my head, thinking that there's rarely a dull minute in primary school hallways first thing in the morning!

A Day Without Work

"Work first, play later!" is one of the mantras we've learned as part of a kindergarten study skills unit.  "Do the most important things first, bop bop bop!"

At the beginning of each classroom guidance lesson, I have to unpack my bags, which are filled to overflowing with teaching supplies.  (Alas, such are the trials of a traveling teacher!)  Well, I have to carry strong magnets as well as pushpins in order to be able to hang my posters and charts on either magnetic or bulletin boards, depending on which is available in the particular classroom I'm visiting. I always have trouble separating the pushpins from the magnets, as they clump together in the bottom of my bags.  Sometimes I comment that, since they're all grouped together, they're having a PARTY in those bags and that they didn't invite me!

The other day I was trying to untangle the thumbtacks from the magnets as Ms. Smith's kindergarten class waited patiently for me to get ready to teach.  One grinning boy on the front row said, "Are they having a party today, Miss Mimi?"  "I reckon they are," I replied.  As quick as a wink, the clever child quipped, "Work now, party later!"  I cracked up, and so did the other children.  However, I was thrilled that this little tyke had taken to heart the study skills lessons I'd been teaching!

The very next day, I passed Ms. Smith's class on their way back from lunch.  They were in high gear because they'd had field day that morning and were getting ready for their end-of-the-year party that afternoon.  When the teacher spoke to me in the hallway and mentioned their doubly exciting day, I was happy to be able to say to the kids, "Party first, party later!"  And a good time was had by all!

Lesson in a Nutshell

Respect is correct!  As part of a unit on being champion students, our kindergarten lesson this week has been on showing respect for learning and for the feelings of others.  After finishing a discussion about the reasons for being respectful and singing and dancing to a peppy song, the children voted on the storybook they wanted me to hear.  As usual, I went down the class list and gave out puppets to hold during the story.  Since this was our last guidance class of the school year, it was the final chance for students to have a turn, and only 6 puppets were available.  After all of them had been handed out, a little girl with long golden hair said disappointedly, "Miss Mimi, it's been a really long time since I had a turn to hold a puppet."  "Yes," I replied, "your name was called last week, but you were absent."  Nodding her head, the child accepted the fact that she had missed her turn the previous week.  In a split second and with no prompting whatsoever, a little blond "Dennis the Menace" jumped up and headed across the carpet with his alligator puppet in hand, saying, "Here, she can have mine."  Instant tears flooded my eyes and I exclaimed, "Oh, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen.  Now THAT is showing respect for feelings. I've got tears in my eyes!"  An auburn-haired girl touched her eyes and said, "I've got tears, too!"  Still another sitting behind the hero boy blurted, "Me too!"  And then a fair-haired child in the back row said to the boy who'd given up his puppet, "Here, you can have mine."  Another girl in the back corner said, "You can have mine, too!"  I squealed with genuine delight and said, "Well, I don't need to say another word about respect because YOU have got it got it got it!"  We all enjoyed some laughter and camaraderie before settling down for the story, but I can guarantee that the sun was shining BRIGHTLY in Ms. Ratner's class yesterday!

Tears Tell the Tale!

"Don't Laugh at Me" is a beautiful song that has been recorded by different artists in various styles. The first version I became familiar with was sung by Mark Wills, a country artist, a decade or so ago. Later, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame) created a picture book and recorded the song with a few lyrics changed in order to be more understandable to young children. It's this version that I've played in guidance classes recently as an accompaniment to lessons on empathy and respect. I introduce the song by reading the book and showing the large colorful pictures, and then I play Peter Yarrow's recorded version. After the children are familiar with the words and message, I play it on my guitar and encourage them to sing along. Many students fall in love with "Don't Laugh at Me", and some children have told me that they've had their parents buy it on iTunes so they can listen at home. Mrs. Ford's first graders even learned every single word and recorded themselves singing it, then sent me the video! At the end of several classes, children request that I play this song. In one particular second grade class, there are two boys who have been high-maintenance in the discipline department. In the past, they've been disruptive and have had trouble getting along with peers and solving these problems peacefully on their own. So it's with real warmth and appreciation that I've seen both these boys on two different occasions wipe away their tears as they've listened intently and sung along with "Don't Laugh at Me". Both times, these two boys have come up to me at the end of class and said, "Miss Mimi, that song makes me cry." I've given them a hug and said, "Well you know what that teaches me? You have a good kind heart and you care about people." Incidents such as these help me understand two things. First, these fellows may have a crusty exterior, but deep down inside, they have soft gooey centers. Second, they are probably touched by the message of this song because they themselves have experienced the feeling of being left out of the mainstream group due to the behaviors they've chosen. There's hope for all of us, you know, and music can be a wonderful way of getting our attention and tugging on our heartstrings!

Caring Classmates

You know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to haYou know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to have a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!ve a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!