March 25, 2014

PRESCHOOL LIFE: VOLUME TWO.

preschool life, volume two
To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with breaks. A part of me loves the time to choose how I spend my days, getting to blog and read and just catch up on life (not to mention sleeping in as late as I want and getting to watch some Gilmore Girls, too!). It's refreshing, and as a teacher, I cannot tell you just how important it is to recharge and rest up, too; it's something that I've learned the hard way, let me tell ya. But the other part of me kind of misses the kids. I don't miss their yelling and tantrums, but I miss their hugs, their smiles, and the way they all want to sit on your lap when you read a story.

So in honor of Spring Break and the time I've spent away from my kiddos, I'm sharing a few more of my day-to-day life with three to five year olds. These are a few of my favorite things about the little ones I get the privilege of teaching every day:

+When kids ask or invite you over to play with their toys. I love that preschoolers love their teachers so much that they'd invite you over to your house. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want this happening three years from now, kiddo, but I'll smile and tell you "sure" anyway even though I know it won't happen.

+When kids tell you 'I love you.' And that, my friends, is why I teach. 

+Listening to kids ride tricycles on the playground. "I'm going to win (aka beat) him! I'm going to win him!"

+I was talking with one of the kids and I asked her if she did or could do something. She told me, "No, I'm not an adult anymore! I'm a kid!"

+When people ask you why you teach and all you can say is because you love it. You love kids. You love teaching. You love it. Actually loving your job is such a blessing and something I'm learning not to take for granted.

+One of the kiddos wanted me to read his t-shirt and when I said "Just do it," he corrected me and said, "No, that says Justin Bieber!" That's pretty close kiddo, pretty close.

+When kids tell you they want to grow up and be bumblebees. Kids have the best career aspirations, I tell ya.

+A teacher brought in their Frozen soundtrack and was playing it during free choice time and it was beyond cute to see all the little girls listen the music, freeze, and then exclaim that they know that song. You'd better believe there was some belting of Let it Go. And plenty of music recommendations from little girls to watch that movie as well (still haven't gotten a chance to yet!), too.

+When a child asks if a dub-step freestyle dancer is Michael Jackson and then proceeds to dance like him, too. Preschoolers are the definition of carefree and creative, I tell ya.

+When another child dances in front of a teacher and asks if his dancing makes her laugh. He continues to dance when she answers "yes" because he like to make her laugh. Kids are also people-pleasers, and pretty good ones at that.

Got any funny kid stories to share? And if you need another laugh or two, read the first volume  of this series here.

16 comments

  1. ohhh four year olds. haha. I work with preschoolers at the Y, and they are so funny. last night the other woman I was teaching a gymnastics class with had me be crowd control over at the bars. there are nine kids in our class, and during circle time, one of them had been braiding his sister's hair. when we were over at bars, he decided to braid my hair, and next thing I know, I'm surrounded by five kids playing with my hair. you never know what those kids are going to do or say! thanks for sharing these funny things; I love reading these posts of yours! (:

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    1. Haha, that's hilarious! Kids really do say the funniest things and they also do the funniest things, too. I do have to say that kids love to play with hair! I've had kids braid mine and pretend to cut mine, too. It's kind of crazy how fascinated they can be and how something like hair can be so fascinating for them, too. :)

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  2. how fun!!! :) what an awesome job to have!!

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    1. There are definitely NO dull moments at work, that's for sure. :) And while it can be crazy at times, it really is an awesome job. Thanks for that reminder!

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  3. I love all of these - especially the dubstepping Michael Jackson thing, where DO they come up with this stuff?!??! :)

    Keep writing these stories down! I know it's strange to think, but so many of these memories will be completely forgotten someday unless you have something to help you remember.

    I have so many kid stories....I started my student teaching in a kindergarten classroom at a very small Christian school. The teacher in all seriousness took me aside before the first day and warned me that, "It's going to happen, at some point, one of the kids will slip right out of their chair. They won't have been wiggling around, tipping their chair, or being goofy. They'll be in their chair and then in an instant, they will be on the floor. They will be embarrassed. You will want to laugh because it IS funny, but don't. Let them get back in their chair and keep going as if nothing happened." Sure enough, within a few weeks, it happened. A little girl "disappeared", hopped back up, smoothed her dress, and made sure no one was looking. The teacher ignored it, the kids ignored it, and later we had a good laugh! :) The thing that was funniest to me was that little nugget of wisdom came from that teacher as if it was "the most important thing I've learned in teaching for over 30 years!"

    Enjoy your break!

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    1. Exactly! I honestly have so many other forgotten memories just because I never get a chance to write them down as they happen. I'm definitely going to have to create a journal for all the funny things kids tell me!

      And the Michael Jackson thing was hi-larious. That kiddo in particular loves to dance and is a definitely performer but it was such a surprise to hear that!

      I love that nugget of wisdom! Working with preschoolers, that's definitely happened more than once and it's always so tempting for me to chuckle. Most of the time, I'll just make eye contact with another teacher and then we'll exchange a smile or something. :) But that's some amazing wisdom that teacher has, that's for sure!

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  4. i love that frozen makes the girls stop! :)
    i just watched that movie last weekend and LOVED it! :)
    seriousl - justin beiber...hahahah...and michael jackson! ;) hilarious.

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    1. Oh, Frozen (in particular, Let it Go) really does make girls stop in their tracks and sing. It's actually quite the sight. And I haven't actually seen the movie yet (I want to, though!) but I've definitely had a chance to hear about the storyline and hear the songs, too. I've probably just jinxed myself into singing out the song when I watch it now, haha. :)

      And who knew little four and five year olds know about Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson? They're pretty smart, I tell ya. :)

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  5. Awww.... This is too precious! :-)

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    1. I know, right? It's really hard to not like kids when they say stuff like that!

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  6. Little kids are just the best. I have been seeing countless videos of little kids singing Frozen songs and I. Am. Obsessed. I truly believe there is nothing cuter. :)

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    1. Yes, they really are! I honestly haven't even seen the movie yet and I've got Let it Go stuck in my head pretty much all the time. It's pretty cute to see them belt it out (although it's also nice to have a break from hearing the soundtrack play all day, too, haha). :)

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  7. this is too cute!
    I haven't seen frozen yet either, I need to see it!

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    1. Me, too! I really feel like I need to see it, especially now that I know the songs and I also have had dozens of people (mainly little girls) tell me to watch it, too. :)

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  8. So darn sweet! You're right, loving your job is suuuch a blessing. I enjoy mine, but I'm definitely hoping one day I can have the priveledge and blessing of working in the thick of where I'm most passionate.

    We shall seeee. :)

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    1. It really is a blessing and something that I've definitely taken for granted a time or two. :) I'm glad you at least enjoy yours! I know a lot of people who have their job just to have a job and I know how hard that can be, too. And I really do hope you get to work somewhere where you're most passionate! If you don't mind me asking, do you have any dreams right now in terms of jobs? :)

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