Last Thursday, one of my third graders asked me what the top of the conga drum was made from.
Me: Um, you won't like it when I tell you what it really is.
Kids: Tell us!
Me: It's leather. You know, it's made from cow's skin.
Kids: Eeewww....
Jenita*: What? We're playing on dead cows?
Me: Well, yes. What do you think you're eating, Jenita, when you have hamburgers at lunch?
Jenita* (slowly, with a shocked expression) What? Hamburgers.....hamburgers.....hamburgers are NOT dead cows.
Me: What'd you think they were?
Jenita*: Oh......
Kids: Eeeewww! Don't tell us that! How are we gonna eat lunch now?
PostScript: Passing by the lunchroom a bit later, I noticed hamburgers being eaten at the usual rate....rest easy, lunchroom ladies, they're not vegetarians....yet.
*Jenita is, naturally, not this child's real name.
1/30/10
1/29/10
Daily life, 15
So today I was working after school, sorting each grade level's Music Journals, with two fourth grade volunteers helping out. We were discussing whose birthdays were in February.
Kathleen*: Mine's in February, but it's usually not so good.
Me: Really? How so?
Kathleen*: Well, my Dad's usually pretty mad around my birthday.
Me: Hmm...
Kathleen*: Yeah, his sister died the year I was born, but no one expected her to die.
She died the day before my birthday.
Me: Wow, that must've been hard for your Dad.
Kathleen*: Yeah....actually, I don't think he's really mad. I think he's just really
sad, but doesn't want to show it, so he acts mad instead. It's OK, you know?
He does always wish me happy birthday. It's OK.
*Kathleen is, of course, not this kind-hearted child's real name.
Kathleen*: Mine's in February, but it's usually not so good.
Me: Really? How so?
Kathleen*: Well, my Dad's usually pretty mad around my birthday.
Me: Hmm...
Kathleen*: Yeah, his sister died the year I was born, but no one expected her to die.
She died the day before my birthday.
Me: Wow, that must've been hard for your Dad.
Kathleen*: Yeah....actually, I don't think he's really mad. I think he's just really
sad, but doesn't want to show it, so he acts mad instead. It's OK, you know?
He does always wish me happy birthday. It's OK.
*Kathleen is, of course, not this kind-hearted child's real name.
1/27/10
Daily life, 14
Today, in Grade 4 Music, I was playing "Paper Moon" from the swing music chart, rather than a simpler melody + accompaniment form, just to see how the kids did, singing in an arrangement that fit the style.
They did GREAT. Held their own, like the strong musicians they are. I, of course, just about leapt off the piano bench and started talking a mile a minute.
Me: Wow, you all are the cat's pajamas! You sound GREAT!
Kids (beaming and laughing): You sure are getting excited.
Me: Oh, you wanted a calm reaction? Well now, boys and girls, didn't
that sound just swell. Good job.
Kids: Yuck! That's creepy! Don't make yourself sound like a regular
grownup--we like it better the real way!
They did GREAT. Held their own, like the strong musicians they are. I, of course, just about leapt off the piano bench and started talking a mile a minute.
Me: Wow, you all are the cat's pajamas! You sound GREAT!
Kids (beaming and laughing): You sure are getting excited.
Me: Oh, you wanted a calm reaction? Well now, boys and girls, didn't
that sound just swell. Good job.
Kids: Yuck! That's creepy! Don't make yourself sound like a regular
grownup--we like it better the real way!
1/26/10
Daily life, 12
In Kindergarten Music class today, we were moving like big heavy creatures, to demonstrate the dynamics and tempo of some music (a Chopin Rhapshody). Most of the children chose to be dinosaurs, and were stomping up close around me....except for Lesley*, who was waaayyy over in a corner, calmly standing still and delicately stretching her head towards the ceiling.
Me: Hey there, Lesley*-o-saur, how come you're way over there?
Lesley*: I don't belong with those other kids.
Me: Really? How come?
Lesley*: I'm a plant-eater.
*Lesley, of course, is not this dinosaur's, I mean child's, real name.
Me: Hey there, Lesley*-o-saur, how come you're way over there?
Lesley*: I don't belong with those other kids.
Me: Really? How come?
Lesley*: I'm a plant-eater.
*Lesley, of course, is not this dinosaur's, I mean child's, real name.
1/23/10
Daily life, 11
So, today's little slice of life is not from my classroom. It's from my cousin. She was talking with her 7 year old daughter about wearing glasses for the first time.
Kristen*: So, what're you gonna say if you get to school and kids make fun of how you look
in your new glasses?
Jakeira*: I'll just tell them I'm sorry that they're intimidated by my coolness.
Oh yeah. I want some of that.
*Kristen and Jakeira are, of course, not their real names.
Kristen*: So, what're you gonna say if you get to school and kids make fun of how you look
in your new glasses?
Jakeira*: I'll just tell them I'm sorry that they're intimidated by my coolness.
Oh yeah. I want some of that.
*Kristen and Jakeira are, of course, not their real names.
1/21/10
Daily Life, 10
So I was wondering, when I started these 'slice of classroom life' posts, whether kids were actually as funny and interesting as I think they are.
That answer would be: yes.
Today, after school, I was working in my 'classroom'. (My classroom Music space is part of the cafeteria, a space which also houses our great Afterschool program.) Stella* (2nd grade) stood near me and watched as I was preparing materials for class tomorrow.
Stella*: What are you doing?
Me: My homework---getting ready for class tomorrow.
Stella*: You know, you should really go home and get some rest.
Me: Why's that?
Stella*: Well, you gotta teach kids tomorrow!
*Of course, you know that Stella is not this child's real name.
That answer would be: yes.
Today, after school, I was working in my 'classroom'. (My classroom Music space is part of the cafeteria, a space which also houses our great Afterschool program.) Stella* (2nd grade) stood near me and watched as I was preparing materials for class tomorrow.
Stella*: What are you doing?
Me: My homework---getting ready for class tomorrow.
Stella*: You know, you should really go home and get some rest.
Me: Why's that?
Stella*: Well, you gotta teach kids tomorrow!
*Of course, you know that Stella is not this child's real name.
1/19/10
Daily Life, 9
Today, in First Grade, we played "Musical Zoo"---an expressive movement 'game' which involves students listening to music and showing, through movement, what animal "moves the way that the music sounds".
Me: Krista*, how come your animal is frozen? Are you a polar bear trapped in an iceberg?
Krista*: No, 'course not. I think the music sounds like snakes.
Me: Hmmm. Sounds good to me. But what's going on then? Why isn't your snake slithering about?
Krista* (looking at me with earnest eyes) Well, see, I'm a dead snake!
*Krista is, of course, not this young musician/dancer's real name.
Me: Krista*, how come your animal is frozen? Are you a polar bear trapped in an iceberg?
Krista*: No, 'course not. I think the music sounds like snakes.
Me: Hmmm. Sounds good to me. But what's going on then? Why isn't your snake slithering about?
Krista* (looking at me with earnest eyes) Well, see, I'm a dead snake!
*Krista is, of course, not this young musician/dancer's real name.
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