It's all relative

Overheard this conversation during lunch today:

B- I have a dog. She's a good dog.
T- Oh, that's cool dude.
B- My dog is a girl, her name is Rawly.
T- Oh.
B- My dog is a girl, so she is my sister because she's a girl.
T- * Blankly stares off into space clearly tired of this conversation*
E- Your dog is what?
B- My dog's a girl so she's my sister!
T- *snapping back to reality* What? Wait a second dude, how can a dog be your sister?
B- Cuz she's a girl.
T- Ah man. That's weird.

Name that tune!

I like to help the clean up process move along in my classroom by playing up beat and fun music. In the past the favored song was "Who let the dogs out" but due to teacher Jaime being down right sick of it, the songs have changed. The kids like to keep it up tempo but they also favor things that are mainstream. For example we often listen to things from the Hannah Montana soundtrack or from (gag) Justin Bieber. . . I try to get them to exeperience different music but once they get a fave it gets played over and over and over.. . .and over.
This months favorite is appropriately entitled "Replay". It's a popular hip-hop song that the children just adore. The lyrics go something like this:

"Shawty's like a melody in my head that I can't keep out, got me singin' like, na na na na everyday. It's like my ipod's stuck on replay. Replay."

This, however, is not what the children like to sing. Every child has their own personal version of these lyrics. . . here are some of my favorites;

"Chinese like a memaneez in my head"
"Shawny's like a Melody"
"Shiney's in the melodies"
"Mac and Cheese in my head"
"Johnnny is like a melody"
"Shinny is like a Melanie"
"Scotty is like a melody"

And when asked what song they'd like to hear for clean up the shouts are unanimous for "Melanie in my head" or "Macaroni in my head"

Sounds like a hit to me!

Metamorphosis

This week in preschool we have been learning about insects! Teaching the kids that insects have four wings, six legs, two antennae, and three body parts has proven challenging but not impossible! After two weeks of repetition we finally nailed "Head, thorax, abdomen"! Hooray for us!
Our focus the last two days has been caterpillars and butterflies which naturally involves the way a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. We try and teach the concept of metamorphosis as simply as possible. Getting them to say metamorphosis is hard enough on its own and we usually get some great variations on the word i.e mess-ah-mort-ee-foos, mental-morph-phoo-sa-sis, meat-n-morphis, metal-mor-fah-sus, or my personal favorite meta-mork-ah-foos.
This is how we present it: Egg-caterpillar-cacoon-butterfly. That's it. Nothing too hard to understand. We even challenge the children to act out the sequence. For the most part they get it. Caterpillar=butterfly. It's that pesky middle step that gives them trouble.
For example a parent shared with me her child's response when asked at home what metamorphosis is:

"First it's an egg, then it's a caterpillar, then it turns into a raccoon then the raccoon becomes a butterfly!"

I'm glad to hear were getting the point across :)

Vocabulary Lesson

Children's brains are like sponges, they soak up EVERYTHING. During the preschool years children are building a foundation for learning. They are learning basic math skills, reading readiness, primary scientific principals and they are learning new vocabulary!
Todays vocabulary lesson was on a very new term. I, in my own adult life, have heard this term several times in different situations but never once have I heard it used in preschool! We go through various stages of swear words and body parts, the occassional nonsense word but never this.
At snack a child announced that his dad has. . . are you ready??? You think you're ready but you're not. Okay, situate yourself. Breath deep. Okay.
His dad has "man boobs". Okaaaaayyyy.
I really tried to stay out of this one. For one I had no idea what to say and second of all I was too busy shooting water out my nose and laughing.
I was however surprised at the number of children who corrected him by telling him either that "men don't have boobs" or that "boys boobs are called pecks". The boy was assured that his dad, did indeed, have man boobs.
This became the insult of the day as well which resulted in several children approaching me and saying, "Teacher, (insurt random childs name here) called me a man boob"!
Once again I refer to the post entitled "Fair Warning". . . if you don't want it repeated, don't tell your kid!

Awesome hiding spot

These boys wondered how in the world I found them. . . afterall their hiding spot was so perfectly perfect!
They thought I had super powers! Right on teacher Jaime!

A matter of Life and Death

Last weekend was Easter Sunday and if I had no Christian religious affiliation I would still know this by the amount of death/resurrection talk that has been happening among my preschoolers this week.
I will mainly focus on Lauren and her understanding of what will happen in the future.
MONDAY
Lauren: Teacher, did you know in a lot of days I will die?
Teacher: Um, I guess but not for a lot and LOT of days Lauren.
Lauren: Yes but in a lot of days I will die. Teacher did you know that in a lot of
days you will die too?
Teacher: Yes I know but it won't be for a long LONG time.
Lauren: In a lotta days when I die, when I am done being dead I will be resurrected!
Teacher: Okay.
Lauren: When I am done being dead, yes I will be done.

WEDNESDAY
Lauren:(to another child in the class)Clara, did you know in a lotta days I will die and be resurrected?
Clara: (blank stare with no comment)
Lauren: . . . and in a lotta days teacher will die and be resurrected!
Clara:(eyes widen in fear and mouth begins to hang open)
Lauren: Oh yes in a lotta days you will die too and be resurrected.
Clara:(gulp!) Teacher!?!?!
Teacher: What's the matter Clara?
Clara: Lauren says you are gonna die!Then she said that I am gonna die!
Lauren: It its! We all die and then be resurrected.
Teacher: Lauren please don't tell people they are going to die, It's kinda scary and they don't like it.
Lauren: Okay but it is true. I will die in a lotta days and be resurrected. . . .(singing in a loud, very dramatic, opera voice) FOREVER!!!!!

FRIDAY
Lauren: Teacher where are your fish?
Teacher: They died awhile ago, I've gotta go to the pet store and get more.
Lauren: They died?
Teacher: Yes they did.
Jayden: How did they die?
Teacher: One just died buddy and the other one jumped outta the bowl and into the sink.
Jayden: Oh, You need to get more.
Lauren: The fish are dead.
Teacher: Uh-huh
Lauren: Did you flush them down the toilet?
Teacher: (chuckling) Why yes I did.
Lauren: Did they go to Heaven?
Teacher: Yes they did. All fish go to heaven!
Lauren: Will they be resurrected?
Teacher: I really don't know. . . I don't know about that and fish. . . um, okay. . . let's go outside!!!!

I wasn't lying. I really don't know what the protocol is for fish in the millenium. Any thoughts???

For your information

Hello all!
I have been getting some great personal feedback about this little blog of ours! Everyone seems to be loving it! However, I have heard from some parents and a few fellow teachers that they would enjoy the stories more if I used real names. . . we like to imagine just how the scenario played out with pictures of the kiddos faces in mind. . . so I'm letting everyone know that on occassion, when the story is not too embarassing I will be using real names. Those who don't know the kids and are just reading for fun won't know the difference anyway.
I hope to keep you updated on our crazy little world called preschool!
Hugs!

Fair Warning

Dear parents,
This post is just a little heads up for you! Your children share EVERYTHING at school! Yes I'm speaking of toys, snacks, books, and other things like that but mostly I'm speaking of "secrets" or family information! If your kid hears(or overhears) something at home, you better believe that the next day we all hear about it.
We know when you swear, we know when you're sick, we know when grandma is visiting.
We also know if you hate peas, have funny underwear, or are trying to grow a mustache. We know if your dog, grandpa, uncle, or fish dies. We hear about songs you listen to on the radio. . . we know when you let your kids watch "Twilight"! We know if you hate to exercise, love gummy bears, have aliens living in your attic(not all we hear is true), or if you're going on vacation!
We hear it all from the mouths of babes! So if you don't want anyone else to know that "Dad's going on a five day iceskating date with uncle Joey". . . don't tell your kids.
Sincerly,
your child's teacher

Happy Easter

On Thursday the Easter Bunny visited our center! The kids were super excited to see him and were especially thrilled when he showed up accompanied by a giant carrot!
The Bunny hopped into the room and the children were all smiles! They couldn't wait to meet him and get a treat! As the children were forming a line to meet the large bunny one child began to ask the teachers around him a question, "What is that"? The teachers chuckled and responded "it's the Easter bunny"! The child pulled a quizical face and stared at the bunny. "No," he said "I mean who is that"? A couple of the teachers looked at one another before answering him again, "It's the Easter bunny Fred". Once again Fred stared at the bunny and made a face, he turned once again to the teachers and pulled his eyebrows down in all seriousness, " I think it's a costume" he stated. The teachers tried again to tell him it truly was the Easter bunny. Fred rolled his eyes and said, " I want to know who's inside there". The children around him joined the teachers in one last chorus of "It's the Easter bunny!" before Fred at last shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well. . . I think it's a human".
Too smart for us.