Trust

With the first grade, I was doing a trust activity where one student leads another around the classroom and the one being led has to keep their eyes closed. Right in the middle of the activity, Aaron comes up to me shouting, "Mr. Bowers, Mr. Bowers!"

I notice Aaron is by himself so I ring the bell to stop the activity and I notice his partner across the room, just about to run into the wall! I say, "Aaron! Where is your partner? You are NOT showing responsibility! You have lost the TRUST of your partner! Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Aaron said, "I think my partner is peeking."

But Why?

Because every other child you see has NEVER BEEN an adult. However, EVERY adult you see has once been a child. They all made it through childhood--they all survived.

If I am traveling to the jungle, I want to talk to someone who has been through the jungle. I want to know which snakes are poisonous, what to bring, how to climb...the adults in your life are helping you get ready for your trip to being an adult.

That's why you must respect adults.

First Grade Rhyme

H is for hippo, who is so big and FAT if one should ever sit on you, he would squish you____?

VICTOR: Like a tortilla?

Kinder Jokester

I learned the name of the kindergarten girl who told the pirate joke the other day. Here's how I found out:

"Most people with my name spell it S-o-p-h-i-e, but my parents figured out a better way to spell it; S-o-f-i-e."

Then, later, I was telling the kids that they could impress their parents by saying "perspire" instead of "sweat." To this, Sofie replied:

"That won't impress my parents, my dad screams like a college girl when he sees a spider!"

Magic Box

Each year with the kindergarteners I do a Drama game called "Magic Box." I take an ordinary box and pretend to pull something from it and act if it is real, by using pantomime. The kids each get to take a turn and they love it.

Today, we had just finished the game and the kids were lining up to leave. It was raining outside and I was telling the kids to stay on the sidewalk and listen to the raindrops as they walked. Angel was the last one to walk out, and as he passed the magic box, he reached in and pulled out an imaginary umbrella and opened it up. I about lost it, it was the cutest thing EVER!

Kinder Pirate Joke

You know, I haven't learned all the kindergartners' names yet, but one of the girls told us a joke today:

Q: Where does a pirate like to eat?
A: Aaarrrrby's

The New Walk

We were doing our warm-ups in Drama class today. The particular stretch has you touching your left hand to your right toe, out in front of your body, then your right hand to your left toe, out in front of your body. I decided to make it look like i was walking in place. Here's what spilled out of my mouth:

If you feel like a stranger is watching you walk home, then walk like this and the stranger will leave you alone because you'll be stranger than a stranger!

I Vow...

...to stop complaining about all of the changes that have occurred at my school. Although I haven't complained publicly--with my co-workers, I feel I have been kinda vocal. Not the loud complaints, but the subtle, comedic type. Sure, they crack people up, but I've realized that they could be kinda like a cancer to my school.

Since I teach all of the kids, I know all of the teachers. By pointing out the problems that I have with the changes, I think many of the other teachers are getting lower spirits as well.

I think that if I accept the changes and keep a positive attitude like I usually do, I can save the school!

I vow no be 100% positive at school and work hard!

(either that, or I vow to accept that it's not all about me.) ;)

((although I will secretly know that it is.))