Kindergarten Role Call

MR. BOWERS:  Ethan?
ETHAN:  Here!
MR. BOWERS:  Marcus?
MARCUS:  Here!
MR. BOWERS:  Kennedi?
KENNEDI:  Nice and brown!
MR. BOWERS:  Yes, you are! 

Not Raining Yet

Today, it was a little bit wet outside, kinda sprinkling, as the PreK entered the room:

AMAYA:  Mr. Bowers, it's DRIPPY ourside.

Not so Smart

I have told the kids many times about how MLK believed that truly intelegent people fought with their words, not their fists. Smart people hit with their words! Maybe the PreK'ers haven't got the message yet:

MR. BOWERS:  Class, remember?  What do smart people hit with?
DEMARION:   A BELT!!!

Adventure in a Box

In this year's edition of Magic Box a couple of the Kinder kids were awesome!  First, Eugene pulled out something and started putting it on his face.  I wasn't sure what it was, then it became apparent when he started crawling around and shooting webs like spiderman!  It really was a good impression; he even did some acrobatic moves!  Then, Manuel pulled out something that made him drop to the ground and start rolling and screaming, "GET IT OFF!!! GET IT OFF OF MEEEEE!!!"  No one could guess what it was, so finally he told us, "A snake!"

It Was Probably a Stork

Christine's mom came to visit her PreK class (4 year olds) and had a little baby with her:

CHRISTINE:  That's my baby sister!  The bird brung her.

Insensitive?

I have discovered a way to get a crying 4 year old to stop!  It may not always work, but it has worked twice for me so far!  Both times, it has happened in the morning, at breakfast while the pre'k kids are saying goodbye to their parents.  Some of them cry on and on--and sometimes the kids are even crying, too. hahahaha!  Anyway, if a kid is really wailing super loud and really hurting people's ears, i'll go up to them and quietly say:

Hey, listen...Do you know how to sob?  I mean, because, right now, you are REALLY moaning...could ya change it to more of a sob?  You know, cry really quietly, like this.  ( I try to do a soft, sweet sob as an example.)  Thanks! 

Both times, they sat there confused as I walked away--confused and NOT crying.

At Least She Got Last Right

The music teacher was asking the 5th graders what they knew about Leonardo da Vinci in preparation for our upcoming musical, "Yo! Leonardo."

OLIVIA:  Um, yeah, he painted, "The Last Dinner."

Ray Rice

Of course, the subject of Ray Rice came up with my 5th graders.  It's all over the news, the NFL player who got in trouble for punching out his fiance.

MR. BOWERS:  Come on, kids, you know he was wrong, boys can't hit girls; boys are bigger and stronger.  (at this point, there is some dissension  in the class because some of the 5th grade boys are kinda small.)  You see the adults around you, boys get the brawn and girls get the brains!
FINN:  Mitchel gets both! (Mitchel is super smart--and all the kids know it!)
MR. BOWERS:  Mitchel, when you get married, you'll be sure to tell your wife that SHE is smarter---that's the "smart" thing to do, right?
MITCHEL:  Yup!
MR. BOWERS:  Well, I think it's not okay to hit ANYBODY--boy or girl.

Then we got busy doing some REAL Drama.

Look-a-Like

KINDERGARTENER:  Mr. Bowers, you look like JJ Watt!
MR. BOWERS:  Go to the nurse!

You Know, They're Only FOUR

MR. BOWERS:  Okay, PreK, what's it called when you go to the park for lunch and you sit on a blanket to eat?
JAYLA:  Nasty.

Books are for More Than Reading

I made up a new/old fashioned way to teach self control:

Books on the heads at their seats.  If you are under control, you may remove your book.  If you feel yourself getting out of control, replace the book.  If I have to remind you to be in control, you have to look at the clock and keep the book on for one minute.  Each loss of control adds a minute (up to 5).

All I've done so far is let the kids practice with books, they seem to like it...we'll seeeee.

Turn Down for Bowers

KINDERGARTENER:  Mr. Bowers, you look like JJ Watt!
MR. BOWERS:  Go to the nurse.

Aladdin

I directed Aladdin this year and one of my parents videoed the show!  Hope you enjoy!

Has it Even Grown Yet?

Chloe, a second grader, wanted to borrow one of the books, "Where the Red Fern Grows," from my classroom.  I told her that she could borrow it, but I couldn't tell her if it was any good because I hadn't read it. I had only seen the movie, and it was when I was a little kid, and all I remembered about it was that it was sad.  I ran into her two days later:

MR. BOWERS:  Howdy!  How's that Red Fern book?

CHLOE:  Wow...the first few pages...and I'm already cryin'.

Totally Joking, of Course

At our annual Field Day, I was running the sack races.  The first grade children kept falling in the grass.  Finallly, I said to one of the parents,  "You know, I really love it when they fall.  Since I can't hurt them, I feel that when they hurt themselves...it just brings joy to my heart."

Luckily, the parent, having a similar sense of humor, totally agreed. 

Purple Milk

KYLER:  Mr. Bowers, you like the purple milk?
MR. BOWERS:  Well, Kyler, the milk in the Purple container is the Fat Free--that means it doesn't have any fat in it.  The ones in the pink continer are 1% fat.  I want the fat free because I don't need any more fat in me than I already have.
KYLER:  (teases another student) HA HA! YOUR MILK IS FAT!

U

What are the grades in Drama?

E--Excellent
S--Satisfactory
N--Needs improvement
U--Unacceptable

Unacceptable--you know, like if you get a Happy Meal with no toy.

Sticky Swinging

Out in the Trailer Park where my classroom is, we have an awning over the sidewalk that is held up with poles.  All day, I get to yell at kids for swinging on the poles.   I have started a false rumor that may help the situation.  Now, every time I see a kid swinging on the poles, I casually tell them, "You know, those poles are where the PreK'ers wipe their boogers."

Are You Sure?

MR. BOWERS:  Nicholas, you are being DEFIANT!
NICHOLAS:  No, I'm NOT!
MR. BOWERS:  (sigh.)

I'm the Lucky One

ZAHIRA:  Mr. Bowers, today is my lucky day!
MR. BOWERS:  Why?
ZAHIRA:  Because it's my lucky day!
MR. BOWERS:  But, WHY is it lucky?
ZAHIRA:  Because it's TODAY!
MR. BOWERS:  (sigh.)

Wild West

RAGHAV:  Mr. Bowers, cowboys make people dance by shooting their legs?

Sometimes a Five Year Old Forgets Which Word to Use

Every year, I ask the kindergartners' to act out what they want to be when they grow up:

KAIDEN:  Yeah!  I'm gonna be SPIDERMAN!  Let me just get out my WIG!
CLASS:  WEB!!!!

I Like That Name Better

KIRSTEN (2nd Grader):  Mr. Bowers, if my brother is absent twice for Drumbo Sumbo, will he get kicked out?
MR. BOWERS:  Absent from WHAT?
KIRSTEN:  Drumbo Sumbo.  They meet in Mister Nowski's room.
MR. BOWERS:  Oh, you're talking about the Drum Ensemble that meets in Miss Danowski's room.
KIRSTEN:  YEAH!  Drumbo Sumbo!  That's it!
MR. BOWERS:  No, it's called Drum Ensemble.
KIRSTEN:  DRUMBO SUMBO.
MR. BOWERS:  Ok.  Drumbo Sumbo.

Roll Call

MR. BOWERS:  Kendarius...Kendarius?  Is Kendarius here today?
GENESSA:  No, he's absent.
MILTON:  Yeah, he got a FAYVOR...that's what his mom say.