A few of my favorite things kids have said recently...
1. Running club started this past week. They're training the kids to run a 5K in February and partly because I need to get in shape and partly because I thought it would be a good way to spend time with my kiddos, I decided to join. We practice for an hour after school twice a week.
While running with a delightful little third grader, we were talking about Halloween:
Kid- "Ya we went over to TCU to go trick-or-treating because that's where they have the better candy."
Me- "Really, why is that?"
Kid- "Well that's where the rich people live. Ya, there were a lot of people your color there."
Hahahahaha
2. Also during running club:
Me- "Do you live in a house?"
3rd grade girl- "Ya, I don't live on the street!"
Me- "Well you know some people live in apartments. I live in an apartment."
3rd grade girl- "Well, I guess that's better than nothing."
3. I finally pitched my big goal to my kids on Friday during lunch. (80% mastery of all reading and math objectives as well as 1.6 years in reading growth). During the presentation I did a side-by-side comparison of our elementary school and one in a better neighborhood that is much more high-achieving. Then I followed that by saying that we have something they don't have though, and showed them the test results of bilingual vs. non-bilingual kids. This was followed by:
"Hey, Ms. you know what else they don't have?"
Me- "What?"
Kid- "Ghetto spirit!!"
Me- "Ya, exactly, that's self-advocacy!"
Kid- "No, I said GHETTO SPIRIT!" (all the kids cheer)
4. It's very common at my school for students to bring their teachers food and little gifts. I have gotten quite a few notes, a burrito, little toys, etc. One day one boy told me that he had noticed that I wasn't getting very many presents lately, so he brought me manzapan which is a very traditional Mexican candy.
Kid- "Have you ever had this before?" (They really get a kick out of the fact that I haven't eaten many traditional Mexican things)
Me- "No, but I've heard about it. I'm really excited to try it."
Other student- "What do you mean you haven't tried it? It's Mexican!"
Me- "Well you know I'm not Mexican right?"
Same student- "What!? I thought you were at least a little bit!"
5. At dismissal there was a cop car parked on the street.
"Ms., why is there a cop car?"
Me- "Oh, I guess they heard about you."
All my boys- "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh"
One boy- "Oh Ms., we're a bad influence on you. You're becoming like us."
6. A couple weeks ago we had Red Ribbon Week. While drawing a poster for the parade, I was asked:
Kid- Ms., I can't remember what crystal meth looks like. Can you draw it?
Me- No. We do not need crystal meth on our poster. We have plenty of drugs already.
Kid- "Hey, that's not what weed looks like. Here, let me fix it."
Other kid- "Hey, what is that?"
Student- "It's beer."
Other kid- "No, it's not, that looks like a milk carton!"
Student- "Ok fine, I'll write Corona extra on it."
