Asking the Right Questions

I was able to have a delightful chat with one of the girls, Amanda, who I usually don't have the opportunity to have one-on-one time. During recess, she needed to stand by me for whatever reason (not because she was in trouble), so I took advantage of that, scooped her up and we had a nice long talk. Some of the highlights that are appropriate:

She is the only child in this class who admits to being small. Everyone else is insistent they are big, not Ashley. A:"I'm not really big, I'm just little."
Me: How do you know you're little?
A: Because I wear small undies. (Side note: she and her sister will never use the word panties, no matter how many times it is said around them, they are always quick to correct that blunder. "Silly, girls wear undies!") And my mom has undies, but my dad doesn't.
Me: (hiding my laughter) Oh.
A: And, you gotta change your undies to clean after they're dirty.
Me: How do you know when they're dirty?
A: You have them on and then they're dirty.
Me: Huh, good thinking.

Then the subject got switched to who is the boss... :)
Me: Does Amanda act bossy to you at home sometimes?
A: No.
Me: Well, that's good. Who is the boss, then?
A: My dad.
Me: How do you know he's the boss?
A: Because he gets the ice cream--balella (vanilla)
Me: Oh, is your mom the boss, too?
A: No, but she finishes the ice cream.

A conversation well worth my time. Ha 

More Recent Hilarity

Ivan collected all the boys, all being 5, in a huddle where they all put in their hands and began to huff like athletes do to pump themselves up, then after about 20 huffs the broke the huddle, while yelling, "Wildcats!". He is something else. Ivan also rallies the boys to to a call and answer bit from High School Musical, "What team is this?!" and then the boys are supposed to say, "Wildcats!". It's starting to catch on, thankfully.

Breathing has also become a serious notification in the last week or two. One of my little friends, Tara, excitedly tells me at various points during the day that she is in fact, breathing. After the prayer, definitely after PE, after rest, during lunch or story. It's a big deal to continue to breath during these many activities we do. :)

Today's hilarity:
 "Redcoats, Redcoats!" Two of the girls yelled as the ran around the playground. First, how did they know that those words should be yelled with a tone of alarm? Second, supposing they aren't history buffs, how did they come up with redcoats and pair it with fear?

The daily serenades of Justin "Beaver" continues, and while no one has learned another song aside from "Baby", singing the same line over and over and over still entertains me. I've asked our main "Beaver" fan, Ivan, if he could sing me a new tune, but he refused, as he was brushing his sweaty hair to the side, like his favorite pop icon.

This morning's snack time was dominated by knock-knock jokes--the made up kind. Not the classic "orange you glad I didn't say banana"... After about 10 "histerical" jokes (oh, yes, I played the part of the cracked up teacher for all 10. Knee slapping included.), I decided to throw them for a loop. When asked, "Knock, knock?", I happily replied, "Come in!", or "Hi, Ivan!". It unfortunately only won me a blank stare for a split second before they continued on with their joking. I thought I was being clever...they'll catch up someday.

Recent hilarity:
Our Spring Music program was last week. The kids sang 3 songs, which all included some kinds of motions. Let me be the first to say, these kids are gamers. Most of them would slump around and stand perfectly still, no motions, no singing during our many music classes and rehearsals.  However, 7pm last Thursday, hips were swirling (although that face was stony), hand were put into pants, noses were picked, and dust particles caught. They sang their songs, mostly, and did a great job! If only I could post pictures... ha

It has come to my attention, and I shouldn't be too surprised, that these students do not know my last name. But asking them what my last name is turned a dreary morning, sunny. Basically, they just inserted their own last name. I now belong to about 12 different families, not including my own.

Today's sincerity:
I was told by one of the boys today, that I was his sister in Christ. Now if that isn't just the most precious thing to be told, I don't know what else is!

Brothers

Friday, our prayer warrior, Ivan, thanked God for his two new best friends. "And thank you God that Kevin and Kameron and me are best friends, now. In Jesus name, Amen". Precious! And, because his new best friends are twins, he told me this morning that he would also like a twin brother... bahaha Good luck, little friend!

Speaking of the twins, they have this sweet little habit of referring to each other as "your brother" when they talk about each other. So, if Kevin falls and Kameron comes to tell me, he would say, "Your 'brudah' fell.". Usually I ask, if my "brudah" did whatever they're telling me, and they go right along with it. It's like I've been made an honorary family member. :) Similarly, they tell each other, "Kevin, your daddy is here.". So, it extends to their parents, too. I chuckle every time they do that.

Ivan

Ivan has been quite the funny man lately. He's always got something worth posting, so why not dedicate a whole post to this kid?

I have been given permission by Ivan's mom to post this story.
Monday, all the way down the hall to chapel, Ivan was singing "Ima Be" by the Black Eyed Peas. Hilarious. One of the kids walking behind him asked why he was singing that song, which I'm sure this kid had no clue what song it was to begin with. Ivan explains he's singing the song because it's like his mom's name. It kind of does, because Ivan's last name begins with a 'B', too. So, when I tell Ivan's mom, she tells me the background. Ivan has heard a version of "Ima Be" made up by a few college students who call Ivan's mom Momma B. Hence, the song sounding like his mom's name. If you ask him to sing "Ima Be" to you, he'll gladly oblige you.

It has also come to my attention that Ivan is the secret boyfriend of several of the little girls in my class. He has no idea. The mom's of the little girls are starting to come clean about this Ivan love-fest. I mean, he is a really fun kid. He's funny, nice to everyone, can break-dance, and has been caught singing Justin Bieber tunes... What more could a girl ask for?! :)

He also knows how to wink, which I discovered yesterday, when I caught him winking at me. And he wasn't trying to joke anyone... You might say he was flirting a little. Ivan, you rascal.

Snarky Comments

You know those times when you ask a rhetorical question, and someone answers anyway. Yeah, 3 year olds always answer, too. And I know their intent isn't to be smart alecks. I mean, you can't blame them, they love to show off their smarts.

Example 1: It was one of those days when the kids must have had straight sugar for breakfast, and we're feeling more rambunctious then usual. They were not listening for anything, so Mrs. Penny posed the question, "When Mrs. Penny is talking, are you supposed to be talking?"; the kids chorus, "No". So, then she asks them, just to be clear, "Who else should be talking while I'm talking?". The answer: "God". (I turned around and excused myself to the bathroom to laugh.)

Example 2: Every month the kids are taught a new memory verse or two, so November 1, we began to learn Psalms 118:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Mrs. Penny asked the kids when God's love will end, hoping for an answer about His love lasting forever. Nope. A little girl pipes up and says that God's love will end today . A rewording was in order, I think.

Pocahontas

 Since it's now November, and we have a new theme in the classroom-- Thanksgiving, it seems somewhat appropriate to watch Pocahontas. That may have been a wrong assumption based off the reaction I witnessed this afternoon. During the part where Kocuom sneaks up on Pocahontas and John Smith and the scuffle ensues, then Kocuom gets shot...whew...I heard this little whimper directly behind me, basically in my ear, of one of the little girls. (in a whisper) "Oh no, he is dead. He is killed!". As she is whimpering about the dead Indian warrior, another little girl, Tess*, began to exclaim, "Oh dear! Pocahontas's necklace is......broken!" What extreme reactions! :)

Also during the movie, while watching Gov. Rattcliff was ranting about savages, another little girls says to me, "I think he should get a yellow card. He is not being kind." Of course there was a chorus of "He needs a yellow card!" from all the other kids. I think they're learning.

*Name changed

Football

In honor of the MIGHTY victory for the Missouri Tigers last night, I thought a little football story would be appropriate. After the kids wake up from rest, they do an activity at the tables, then play in a center until snack. My set of boy twins often gravitate to the plush football and play a game. One will be the snapper, the other will be the quarterback; the snapper says, "Putt, putt!", instead of "Hut, hut.". Then, they'll run around and try to fake each other out, then pass it, and "score" a touchdown. To which they cheer, "Touchdown Arkansas!" Their athletic abilities far surpass any other 3 year old I've ever encountered, so professional sports may very well be in their future...

These two sweet boys also say my name differently, as I discovered last week. I am Mrs. Khessica, with an emphasis on the 'i' sounding like 'eeeeeeeeeeee'. They also speak in a very high pitch when they need my immediate attention. Once at Wal-mart, I heard their little voices calling my name from across the check-out isles-- that's the best!

Name Variations

Most pre-school age kids have sweet little speech "quirks"...special ways of pronouncing things, especially names. We've got the normal swapping 'L', and, 'R' for 'W'; and lisps; trading 'L' for 'Y', and some that I just can't describe in technical speech jargon.

My name, Ms. Jessica: Ms. Checkika, Ms. Jedika, Ms. Jesseeka
The student teacher's name, Miss Bethany: Miss Betany, Miss Befany
One of the afternoon girls, Alyssa: Miss Alyzba
A little girl named Anna-Kate: Anna-Cake (She calls herself that, too)

These come from the same kid:
Fish: Bishy (you have to listen very closely to really hear it or else it sounds a little rude)
Ms Jessica: Miss Jedika
Football: Bootball(not boot, like the thing you wear on your foot, with long 'O' sounds, but say it as a rhyme to foot, with short 'O' sounds)
Octopus: there is no phonetic spelling to do this word justice