We’ve had an inordinate amount of celebrations in school this month, planning parties for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our 100th day of school (which frankly felt like the 1,000th), Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day. We wrap these celebrations with history lessons, craft projects, tons of glitter, math and writing activities. But what do the children remember? The parties.
On this particular morning, the day after Valentine’s Day, one of my little girls came running into school with a worried look on her face.
“Mrs. Patrick, what DAY is it?” she asked, huffing and puffing.
“It’s Wednesday,” I replied. “But what special day is it?” she clarified. And I reminded her that on Wednesday our special class was art.
“No! Are we having a party today?” she continued. “No. There’s no party today.” I answered with a smile.
“A snow party?” She asked, wide-eyed.
“No ... there’s no party today.” I insisted a bit louder.
“A snow party! A snow party! I love snow parties!” she shouted as she began to dance around the hall. It was then I realized we were having an Abbott and Costello “Who’s on first” conversation, and I laughed out loud.
“No, no, no ... no party. NO. PARTY. TODAY.” I insisted, and she pouted dramatically as she turned to hang up her coat.
To follow the invisible bouncing ball while holding discussions with kindergarteners is a skill that sometimes gets lost amid all the glitter, cupcakes, construction paper and glue. These February celebrations have left this teacher a bit disausted, and so while I shake out the glitter and clean my classroom I offer these pearls of wisdom for your enjoyment. Just quietly throw a blanket over me and close the door on your way out.
•“Mrs. Patrick, I’m trying to make bunny ears on my shoelaces but my thumbs hate that idea.”
•“My leg is pretty much broken. But it’s OK. I can still run.”
•“I am not a fancy man. I like to be dirty.”
•“John, are you copying from Emma’s paper?” “Yeah, but only ’cause she makes it so easy for me.”
•“Mrs. Patrick, I did not have a very good weekend. I drowned. I’m OK now.”
•When working on math equations to 15, Sam said, “I know that 105 take away a WHOLE LOT is 15.”
•“That animal is a manivore. He sneaks at night.”
•“I think that singing ‘Ghostbusters’ is better than Christmas carols.”
•“Please tell me what to write quick cause in four seconds I forget everything.”
•“I don’t ever get ’stracted by girls.”
•“I almost popped my eyeballs out last night.”
•“Jack wrote on the table! Yeah, but it’s gone. He licked it off.”
•“Mrs. Patrick, please tell everyone to be quiet. My arms are sleeping.”
•“I have been writing 6’s my whole life! I am sick of writing 6’s.”
As we wrapped up our day and the children packed their stuff to go, I felt a tug on my sleeve. It was the girl who was insistent that today was a special day. I had spent most of the day redirecting her, reminding her, correcting her and helping her.
“It was a beautiful day today, Mrs. Patrick! But not as beautiful as you.”
And that was the loveliest valentine of all.
Debbie Patrick teaches kindergarten for the State College Area School District. Keep up with her classroom on her CDT blog “Notes from the Teacher” at www.centredaily.com.
