Readers' Stories

Readers' Stories
Do you have a great kid quote or story? Email me at sarah@sarahgarb.com
Janet, an elementary music teacher, writes:

  So I'm teaching This Pretty Planet and have been telling various classes that we started singing it because of a Kindergarten expedition on space, astronauts and the moon (the current 4th graders). I tell them about John Glen, walking on the moon, how he made the same trip several years later and NASA played This Pretty Planet when he was out in space.
  During Ann's kindergarten class, I said that I remembered when man first walked on the moon. I got nostalgic and told them about how I was with my boyfriend and we were watching on TV and everyone from that day remembers where they were when they watched. We went on to talk about lots of other things, sang the song, etc. Finally, Micah raises his hand and says... "You had a boyfriend?"

Jane writes about the future marriages of her kindergarteners: Some of my kids are eating lunch and they're talking about being married. A few of them were explaining who they would be marrying. Joseph, for instance is marrying TWO people from our class (he just can't make up his mind!) This seems to be common knowledge among the kids. One student was particularly silent throughout the discussion, clearly taking in all she is learning about marriage from her peers. Finally she speaks up with enthusiasm, "I'm going to marry my sister!!" And grins.



Second graders in Alexis' classroom were working away on an art project. One girl suddenly blurted out, "I have ADHD!" The boy sitting next to her replied, "I have HDTV too!"



Alexis in northern California writes: Last week, in our 2nd grade classroom, we were discussing the class rules and agreements. The teacher asked the students if they remembered them. One student said, "Raise your hand if you want to say something." Another student responded, "Don't talk when the teacher is talking." Finally, one girl raised her hand and said, "Treat others nice like you want to be treated. You know, the Golden Gate rule."

Kari in Minnesota sends a conversation between herself on the phone and her 9-year-old: Mom: "I'm talking to someone." Daughter: "But Mom..." Mom: "Honey, shhh." Daughter: "Can I go see the puppies?" Mom: "OK, go see the puppies, I'll pick you up." Daughter (after leaving, coming back, and pointing at me): "Thank you for this partnership, mother!"



Jeff's two-year-old has been starting to have strong opinions about which parent comes in to meet her middle-of-the-night needs. When she'd really rather have Mom fix her blanket but it's Dad who shows up, she says, "Not THAT guy!"


Speaking of the "Circle yes or no" notes that are oh so popular in the third grade, Julia shared another great one: "Do you fort in the bed. Yes or No."


Alexis in California writes: I was playing a word game with my first graders. They each had to blindly pick 2 tiles. One tile had a beginning consonant or consonants (such as: st, ch, tw). The second tile had the word ending. Things were going smoothly when it was Lauren's turn. Lauren picked her two tiles and put them on the table. As I looked at the word she had, I started to panic. And then I silently thanked God we were in the midst of a farm unit. As the students all shouted the word "cock" out loud, the pride in their faces at getting the word right quickly changed to puzzled looks. I suddenly realized they didn't even know a cock was a male rooster, nonetheless a part of the male body. Crisis averted!


A fourth grader, singing at home, thinking these are actually the words: "I like big BUTTS and a can of PIE...." Really, who doesn't like pie? And all the better if it comes in a can.


Overheard at the toy table in first grade: "Not on my watch!" Apparently the Lego monitor is quite vigilant against fraud and abuse.


Jane's first grade class had been talking all week about thoughtful things they could do for their buddy class who was taking the standardized test that week--bringing their lunch bin upstairs to them, making cards, creating a "Do your best!" chant. Now they were rehearsing for a presentation at the next morning's all-school meeting. One boy excitedly talked about how impressed the upper grades would be by the first grade presentation. Another boy agreed--"They're going to be so impressed that they're going to let us take that test, too!" Oh, if only everyone got that excited about multiple choice.