The Mouths of Babes

Working with kindergartners would be exciting, I think.  Of COURSE exasperating too, because even though they think they know it all, they really don't...   Kind of like a short teenager.

Maddy has been sharing the many adventures of teaching kindergarten.  She could wrote a book!  Well, if she still had any energy left at the end of the day, that is...

a few things she has shared... from her point of view.

In August

In class we were working on labeling family members (such as mom, dad,...). I showed this picture and pointed to Ryan. When asked who this was, someone said, "Is he your grandpa?" Then, when pointing to Leon, a student said, "I think that's me!"

LOL!

In September

Kindergarten Student: "I KNOW how you and Mr. McT met. You were at the grocery store and Mr. McT said, 'Hi! I'm Mr. McT' and you said 'I'm Mrs. McT! We have the same name! Let's get married and have kids!'"

also in September.

During our Christ Light lesson today....

Me: Which book should we read everyday that tells us about someone who loves us very much?

Student: SKIPPY JON JONES!

just after Christmas break

Me: When you are on a plane, someone will talk to you over an intercom and tell you about the flight. Who is this person?

Kindergartener: GOD!!!!!!

Review after break has been rough. #christianschoolprobs

Yesterday during math class...

A student raised her hand. I called on her (we were learning a new concept and I thought her question could benefit the whole class..)

Student: When are you going to have kids????? I just know they are going to be so cute!!!!!

All other students: Bring us pictures when you have them!!!!

Today...

Student: Mrs. McT, will you zip up my coat and do you have kids yet?

Wow!  Those kids!!  I would find it VERY hard to keep a straight face as a kindergarten teacher...

Everyone's Grandma

I went to the elementary school yesterday and had lunch with Leon.  He didn't know that I was doing that and was so shocked when he saw me coming down the hall.  

Since they were serving chili, I had packed Leon a lunch in his Spiderman bag and he found seats for us.  He practically laid on the bench beside him to guard it for me while I got my food in line.  But a little girl sat next to him, pushing him over.  He got off the bench looking like he was going to cry.  I called over, Just find another spot!  OH!!!  he did.

I think I paid 3 times what the kids pay for lunch and got the same quantity.  I am probably 3 times (maybe more) as big as any of those kids...  In the past when I attended lunches with my kids, they'd heap on more since I was an adult.  But nope.  Half cup chili...  darn.  

No one got more hugs yesterday than me when I sat down next to Leon.  He was so happy to have me there and show off his "grandma" to all the kids sitting around us.  "She's NOT my MOM...  She's my GRANDMA!"

And I became "grandma" to them too.  

I can't tell you how many milks I opened, or packages of crackers, or bags of chips, etc for these kids around me.  Oh and a straw or two.  The kid next to Leon started calling me Grandma.  "Grandma, can you open this for me?"

Who are you?!...  But ok.

Maddy's 2nd grade teacher, Mrs R. came over and said, "Mrs H and I were wondering, is this YOUR child or what?"  "It's Ryan's son!"  "REALLY!?  He can't be old enough!  How old are each of your kids?"  

I told her and also mentioned that we're getting old.  She was stunned that we're of grandparent age already and she's getting kids of past students already.  I'm sure we're not the first to come through...

Leon was very helpful in making sure I put the spoon in the right place and dump my tray in the right place.  Some details, he's REALLY good at.  Like shutting me up as soon as we stepped into the line in the hall.  SSSHHH!!!  

But he'd already lost all his cubes for the morning and couldn't afford to lose any more.  A program the teacher uses to keep kids on the right track.    Five strikes and they can't do any of the free time at the end of the day.

I decided to start that same idea this morning in our house with salt/pepper shakers from the wedding.  I've got lots of those!  But only needed 5.  Each time he over dawdles or misbehaves, I take one down.  He lost two before he left the house this morning...

The teacher is in for a treat today! :)

 And the gel beads are still going strong at day 2!

Have an awesome weekend. 

Saturday Stuffings

I don't remember what we did Friday night.  I think yell YIPPEE as I logged out of work stuff and went into the house.  

We packed up things and the next morning watched Meri sing Taylor the Latte Boy for the State competition.  She got all 1's, which is good, but didn't get chosen for All State.  She was a little disappointed, but is ok with it.  We're just proud of her.

We picked up Leon from his mom's and headed north and then east to the city where Maddy is student teaching.  Meri stayed home.  SOMEONE has to take care of the dogs!  Plus she had to work.

Arriving in time to relax and visit with Maddy for a while, we made sure for Leon's sake that we included some swimming time before meeting up with a nephew and company for supper.  

Thomas and his wife live in town at least until April, but his wife had to work so her twin sister came along..  We had them suggest where to meet and Thomas chose the Pizza Doctors.  I had never heard of that... but I guess Robb had from watching the food channel.  

It was the most crowded restaurant we've EVER been in.  I wondered how things worked with the tables so close together and that small of a buffet with the super weird pizzas on it (one was fruit loop pizza...), but my question was soon answered.  As soon as you sat down with your food, the waiting staff would swing by with a pizza of various types MUCH more reliably than even Fazoli's and their bread sticks!  Our table was on one of the more open areas and they hit our table every minute or two plying us with more more more!  Hawaiian?  Yes please! (That was a more normal one)  Blueberry cheese cake dessert pizza?  Okey dokey!  My plate filled up faster than I could empty it.  FORGET the salad that I'd gotten from the buffet...  I've got a gyro pizza to snarf down!

So it was a hit!  

No wonder they had a hospital theme...

It was a bonus that we got to visit with Thomas and we reminisced and swapped stories of his mom, my sister, from when I knew her when she was younger.  He hadn't heard some of them and I'm sure will use them as ammunition for the next time he sees her. HA!  He works 3 blocks away from Maddy's school...  Small world!

Then Maddy gave us a tour of her school and classrooms.  It truly made ME want to go back to elementary school...  She is loving it and from what I hear and see, she's good at it too.

Where else but a parochial school, can you hang up a sign like this? :)

It reminded me SO much of the church school that I'd attended.

Leon had a blast and now wants to attend here too.  Too bad she's only here temporarily.

Then back to the hotel and a good lounge.  and bed early because Daylight Savings time.

And that was Saturday.

Back to school and hugs

First day of school for THIS chick!!!  She's spending two of her spring break days observing teachers at her old high school AND at her old elementary and middle schools.  

It'll be just like old times!  Except she gets to visit the teachers lounge...

 

 Had to get the traditional first day of school picture!

And the puppies were being pretty cute this morning while their mommy was outside.  

HUGS all around for them!!