Proud to be a Preschooler

Today, our preschool class (the PM group) got to meet and play with the AM group on the playground.

Avery, proud, hyper, excited, and animated, shouted, "We're PRESCHOOLERS!!!"
[He talks like that ALL the time.]
He continued talking about how he's a preschooler and superhero, wildly flailing his arms and acting out superhero moves. The other kids just looked at him with "What the heck are you smoking?" faces. It was hilarious. Usually our class doesn't really react to Avery's hyperactivity, but these kids were like..."Whoa."

Speaking of being proud of being a preschooler, last week, one of the "big kids" at the elementary school passed by and asked one of the boys if they were preschoolers. The boy nodded, and then his face lit up with a huge smile. We had already talked in class about how cool it is to be a preschooler, so I could tell right away that he was pretty happy about his ... social/educational status.

Grape--With a "P"

Today at the preschool one of the teachers was trying to get the kids to guess what was in one of the "P" bags (it had to be something that starts with the letter "P"). This time it was a plum, but after a few hints, one kid (I think it was Alex) tried guessing:

Alex: "Grape!"
Mrs. B.: "But it has to start with a 'P'."
Alex: "Puh-grape!"

Silly boy.

They Call Me "Mommy"

This happened a couple of weeks ago:

L. (preschooler): "Mommy!"
[I look down at her]
L.: "Oops. I called you 'Mommy.' heeheehee"

Soo cute.

Napkins & Buttons

Last week, I told Michael, a preschooler, that he should open his napkin so that he has more of it to use.

Today, he held up his open napkin and said, "Mrs. F---, I opened my napkin!"

A few other kids held up theirs and said, "Me too!"

Cute! My dad actually started this when he told my cousins, brother, and me to open up our napkins when we were little. Funny how much kids listen sometimes.

That reminded me of when I told V. (another preschooler) that putting two soft blocks together made something that looked "like a button" for a rocket launcher or something (if you push the middle part down, it goes through the other part like a button). A few days later, he came up to me and said, "Look. It's like a button." That was the first indication that these kids will actually listen and understand me. I have to be careful. haha

Hot Cats

Luke: "Let's talk about hot things. Fire...hot chocolate..."
Me: "Good idea! That's right. What else is hot?"
Ethan: "Cats."
Me: "Cats??"
Ethan: "Yeah...when they're on fire."

LOL WHAT??!

Don't Be a Bad Boy!

Today Alex looked at Mrs. B. and J., trying to figure out what they were talking about. Finally, he said to Mrs. B., "Is she a bad boy?"

Gotta Love Preschoolers' Enthusiasm

Mrs. L. (giving Avery a sticker): "Avery, I'm giving you the world."
Avery (running to his guardian): "[Guardian], look! I GOT THE WORLD!!!!!"

First Graders!!

I've wanted to volunteer with first graders for forever (I only interacted a little with them in Oakland since I was mostly with third through fifth graders), and I finally got the chance to today (I called about volunteering at this elementary school, but only fifth and sixth grade teachers responded to the email asking teachers if they wanted a volunteer in their classroom).

Anyway, today was the elementary school's (I work at a preschool but volunteer at an elementary school) Read-a-Thon, so since the fifth graders didn't need me for about half an hour (all they did was read on their own), the teacher had me go read to first graders instead (some high schoolers did too). First, I saw my adorable little neighbor, and then I had a fun time with the two girls to whom I read. Here's one of the funny things S. said about Winnie the Pooh:

"He's fat! We should call him 'Fatty the Pooh.'"

More of Alex's Sweetness

Today at lunch Alex wanted to tell me something that I thought was adorable:

Alex: "Miss F----."
Me: "Yes?"
Alex (pointing to Michael, who was sitting next to him): "He's my buddy."
Me: "That's right!"
Alex (smiling and putting his right arm around him gently): "We're friends!"

Oh my gosh. So cute. This is the same Alex who said that D. is "beautiful."

Siblings For Sale!

.Today.

Me: "Alex, do you have any sisters?"
Alex: "No, but I have aunts."
Me: "Ohh. Do you have any brothers?"
Alex: "No. I have to go buy one."

He then continued to talk about having aunts ("ants"?).

I hadn't really thought about how kids might think babies are created/brought into a home.

Kids and Their Potty Words

.Yesterday.

The main preschool teacher was reading a book about animals that didn't want to go into a pig sty because it smelled really bad.

Teacher: "Ugh... It smells...so...bad!"
Avery (excitedly): "There's poop in there!"

Avery II

My mom didn't think this was that funny, but I thought it was--especially since I was able to hear his voice.

Avery: [Says something about going to a football game for "John" this past weekend]
Me: "Ohh. How fun! Who's John? Is that your brother?"
Avery: "No. Um...He...He's Kathy's son."

LOL Since I know who Kathy is. I love this kid.

D.

Alex (whispering as he points at D.): "That's D.*"
Me: "That's right."
Alex (sincerely, still whispering): "She's beautiful."

Isn't that sweet? Just a few minutes before, a third-ish grader passed by D., telling the main preschool teacher, "She is sooo cute." Hope she stays as modest as she is now--despite the amount of attention she will probably receive from now on.


* "D." isn't her real name.