Reality: daily life

Today, one of the First Grade kids gave me a mug with music notes on it. 

I said, "Let's see what this music sounds like", and went over to the piano to play.

She looked at the piano as I was playing, and then at me, and then said, "Are you playing those notes that are written on the mug??"

"Yes."

"Wow!!! That's sooo cool!"

Well, uh, yeah. It kinda is, isn't it.

Reality: daily life

Second Grade, this afternoon...


Me    Oh, would someone close the door?  Matt  forgot.

Arthur  (another student)   He always forgets.  He'll never learn.

Me (and other children)   Arthur!  That's not fair.  Just because someone made a mistake doesn't mean they'll never learn.

Arthur    Well,  he won't.

Me     Hey, wait a minute.  Everyone makes mistakes.

Arthur    Not me.

Me  (laughing)  All right then! In that case, that was your first one---because EVERYONE makes mistakes.  Even grownups.  It's just part of being human.

Arthur    Nope.  Not me.  I'm nearly perfect.

Me (smiling incredulously, because he was clearly utterly serious)   Well, good for you. But no one is perfect.  That's why we have to give each other some space to learn.

Arthur   Well, not me.




*Arthur and Matt are, of course, not these 7 year old students' real names.

Reality: daily life

From a First Grader, as she walked out of the Music Room door at the end of the line, back to her classroom:

Leslie*    I want a little sister.

Me          Really?  Little sisters rock, you know. 

Leslie*   Well.....I want Mommy to have another baby, but she said that I'd have to ask Daddy, 'cause he makes all the rules.



*Leslie is, of course, not this hopeful big sister's real name.

Reality: daily life

From classroom teachers' stories about talking about Martin Luther King, what racism means, and how kids can help to change things:

from the First Grade Classroom....

Teacher    Does anyone have anything they'd like to add?

Francine*    Yes! My Mom shows racism, 'specially during the winter time.

Teacher   What do you mean, Franny?  Can you explain that a little more?

Francine*   Oh yes!  She's mean to mice, she catches them in a trap, so she shows racism.

and from Fifth Grade:

Teacher   Would anyone like to add anything about the movie and discussion we had today?  Did anything confuse or surprise you?

Danny*    Well, I would.  I was surprised to hear  that Martin Luther King worked to end puberty.

Teacher    Hmmm....he worked to end puberty?

Danny*   Oh.  That's not the right word, is it?  It starts with 'p'.   Let me think about this for a minute.
 Oh!  I meant, 'poverty'...



*Danny and Francine are, of course, not these students' real names.

Reality: daily life

There are often times when listening, and caring about our students as people first, changes everything.

Here's just such an example, drawn not from the classroom but from real life....a brief vignette which surprised and delighted me, when I read it.  Reaffirmed the real need to establish connection first, whether in the classroom or out on the city streets.

Read the rest---or hear the story--here.

Reality: daily life

It's been a ride, this week has--- fatigue,  not enough outdoor time, and general crankiness (hmm....for children and adults!).

In Kindergarten and First Grade....

Me   "Um, you guys? Would you please tell the aliens who kidnapped you in the middle of the night and sent me these (sleepy-tops, silly beans, grumpy-heads...) instead, to send me back my kids?"

Kids  giggle giggle giggle....

or, just recently:  "Oh Ms N, you know, we just got up on the wrong side of the bed."

Me   "Uh, yeah, I can see that."

Kids  "What does that mean, exactly, anyway?"

:-)