Things Kids Said To Me Today

I went on a field trip today with my summer students to Como Zoo, and we spent a long time on the bus. After work, I visited with some of my school-year students. I heard some very interesting things today.

"Teacher! Look at all those people laying down!" (He was pointing out the bus at a cemetery.)

"You're a teacher, but even when you aren't at school you are being good!"

"I saw you first, right? I saw you first so I win, right?"

"How long did it take you to walk here?" (As they greeted me at my car door)

"I didn't recognize you at first because you looked old and blonde. Why did you look old and blonde?"

I have no idea why I looked old and blonde as I am neither old, nor anywhere close to blonde, but that's alright.

The Perils of Being a Grasshopper

Yesterday, while sitting on the edge of the pool, I saw a grasshopper struggling to stay afloat in the water. First, since Mr. Sturm was closer, I asked him to remove it. When it became clear that Mr. Sturm would have no part of playing lifeguard to the insects I spotted in the pool, I went in to get it myself.

I easily scooped out the little grasshopper, letting the excess pool water drip out from between my fingers. Then, I set the little guy on the edge of the pool, and verbally instructed him to hop away. Mr. Sturm said that I needed to give him a moment to dry off before he could hop, but I was determined this grasshopper would not hop right back into the pool the moment I turned my back. Thinking I was acting in the best interest of the grasshopper, I started tapping the ground behind the grasshopper, causing him to hop, hop, hop towards the woods. Once out of my arm's reach, I decided my work was done, and smiled at this grasshopper, certain it was grateful I had helped save its life.

Then, a bird swooped through the air, and, without even stopping to touch the ground, grabbed the little grasshopper and flew away, probably to devour him headfirst. Needless to say, my self-satisfied grin from saving the grasshopper turned to a jaw-dropped, "Wha-at? Whoa! Did you see that?"

Later, I rescued a beetle. My nervous eyes scoured the sky as the beetle scuttled off, but, smaller and perhaps a bit smarter, the beetle hid in the cracks between the bricks.

Seven Picture Books You'll Love, Too

Parents, guardians, older brothers and sisters, babysitters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors should all read to the children in their lives.

Do you have children you need to read to, but can't find a book to interest them and yourself? While I don't have children, I am a teacher in an elementary school. There are definitely books or stories I enjoy more than my students, and the other way around. I am going to try to compile a list here, however, that both adults and children, in my, albeit somewhat short, experience have enjoyed.

7 Picture Books:

1. Two Bad Ants, by Chris Van Allsburg          This adorable and story about two naughty ants who go on an adventure is not only funny, but makes you think. Told from the perspective of the "bad ants" inside a human home, it is fun to use the pictures and descriptions to determine what household item the ants are encountering. Those ants had one crazy advernture!
2. Come Along, Daisy! by Jane Simmons            Daisy is a duckling who likes to play with the dragonflies, watch the fish, and hop around with frogs. Unfortunately, Daisy does not stay with her mother, which creates fantastic opportunities for children to make predictions ("I predict...") or personal connections.
3. The Frog Prince Continued, by Jon Scieszca     Adults may get more of a kick out of this "sequel" to "The Frog Prince" than the children, but it is more than worth the read. Basic background knowledge of fairy tale witches and reading with character voices is a necessity.
4. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszca   Another book by the same author sure to get some giggles is the story of "The Three Little Pigs" told from the perspective of a very sympathetic wolf. There are always at least two sides to any story.
5. Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China, by Ed Young The illustrations are beautiful, and it is wonderful to work on compare and contrast with the typical, Western version of "Little Red Riding Hood".
6. Rain, by Manja Stojic This simple story takes place in Africa during the rainy season, and my 8 year old students loved it. It is a fantastic book to focus on patterns as well as the five senses. We used it for expressive reading. If it says the porcupine whispers, then the reader better whisper! The illustrations are amazing as well.
7. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale, by Verna Aardema   This was one of my favorites as a child. Beautifully told and illustrated, this children's book is fascinating even to adults.

Can you think of any particular children's picture books you and the children in your life have enjoyed? If so, please share with the rest of us.

Watch for a future post concerning chapter books children and grown-ups alike will enjoy to read together.

Dance-Around-Your Apartment Playlist

Sometimes - oftentimes - usually - I like to listen to loud music and dance around like a fool when I am feeling stressed, happy, excited, tired, hungry, have to do homework, have to clean the house, should be doing work-work, and pretty much all other conditions you can imagine. Below is a good playlist to blast while procrastinating and actually doing a little bit of homework and house work. It is necessary to shake your hips, jump up and down, shimmy, and probably wave your arms around while singing along. 


Sweet Pea - Amos Lee
This is a good warm-up song. It isn't too fast, and there isn't a wide vocal range. In addition, it is pretty mellow, so your neighbors don't really know what is in store for them.

That's Not My Name  - The Ting Tongs
 I enjoyed this song when it was on the radio a while back, and now it is on my Wii Just Dance game. Go ahead and judge, but it gets me moving on nights I would rather sit on the couch and stare at the wall. This is a good song to do some awesome finger shaking. That's not my name!

I Write Sins Not Tragedies  - Panic! At the Disco
 My poor neighbor has heard me sing this song quite often lately, as I like to blast it while doing anything laundry related - folding, sorting, putting away, looking at, etc. There is a lot of jumping, moving from side to side, dramatically reciting the verses with gesticulations, and shouting the chorus. Of course, you can do what you please in your apartment.

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive
 Here I recommend singing at the top of your lungs while swiveling your hips. This one works well for doing dishes, since you can continue using your hands to NOT break your mugs and plates.

Man or Muppet - Jason Segel and Walter
 Another good one for a dramatic interpretation, "Man or Muppet" requires a loud, broadway singer voice coupled with wide, sweeping motions of the arms, and occasional spinning.

Kangaroo - Kyle Andrews
 I know he is probably saying "picture" in the first line, because contextually that makes sense, but it really, honestly sounds like he is saying "fiction". This is just a good head-bobbing, bouncing around song, which fits the title, really. Also, he is spelling the word 'kangaroo', so don't waste any time trying to figure it out and singing random letters. Not that I did that the second time I heard this song while reading a text book on pragmatics.

Tequila -The Champs
Because sometimes we just need a drink, but can't have one. Plus, who doesn't like yelling "TEQUILA!"?

End of the Line - The Traveling Wilburys
 It's alright ridin' around in the please, livin' the life you please. And you know what? I am doing the best I can, and I am lending a hand. And it IS alright even if they say I am wrong. I don't know who they are, but it is alright. This is just a good song. I highly recommend, especially if your spirits are feeling a bit low.

All The Same to Me - Anya Marina
I like anything that gives me an adult excuses to sing "e-i-e-i-e-i-o". For some reason, I enjoy listening to this while cooking.

9 Reasons I am an Honest-to-Goodness Adult

The fact that I need to write this to prove to myself and others that I am, in fact, a real, true, honest-to-goodness adult, should indicate to you that it has recently been implied or insinuated that I am not.

1. I pay my bills, and I pay them on time.
2.  I take care of myself, the cat, and the fish just fine. We all eat, live in mostly clean and orderly habitats (mine, partially shared with the cat, is the messiest), and are healthy.
3. Despite the fact that I hate doctors, I schedule, attend, and pay for the various doctor appointments necessary.
4. I have a real job with benefits, etc.
5.  When I go grocery shopping, I don't just buy cookies, ice cream, and pizza. No, I cannot claim I do not have ice cream for breakfast occasionally, but for the most part, I try to eat real meals.
6.  I have a savings account. This is not intended to one day pay for my undergraduate degree. What now?
7.  I am comfortable doing things on my own, such as seeing a movie, going to an art show, attending a concert, etc. if that is what would make me happy at that particular time. Sometimes it is because no one else can or wants to go with me, and sometimes I go solo because I just want some time to do what I want to do at the speed I want to do it.
8. Sometimes, other adults come to me for advice. Granted, it is almost exclusively regarding work, but that means I am at least viewed by some other adults as a professional, and professionals must be adults, right?
9. Because I said so, and I am an adult!

I Love Cookies

I really didn't want to do my reading for class tomorrow.

Because I'm Awesome (#10)

After working out to Just Dance 2 with my Wii (because working full time, being a grad student, and trying to maintain a social life and romantic relationship have made it difficult for me to make it to the community education wellness and fitness classes I like), I decided I needed a snack. Originally, I had a craving for ice cream, but the rain all day today, which persists even now, has made my apartment rather chilly. Since I refuse to raise the heat, and I actually have milk in my refrigerator that is not two weeks past expiration, I decided to make hot chocolate on the stove.

Now, for a single 20-something, I will admit that my kitchen is fairly well stocked, as far as cooking utensils go. However, I am also an elementary ESOL teacher, and I have brought a number of my personal cooking supplies to school to use as props in teaching certain units this month. This means that I have my spaghetti pot and my le creuset available. Please keep in mind that I have a le creuset because I lusted after them insatiably at William-Sonoma for a long time, and finally snagged a black one on super clearance a couple of summers ago. I feel pretty highfalutin right now.

So I am making this hot chocolate in the le creuset using organic sugar and organic cocoa. This is not because I go to the store and only buy organic things, but because I try to avoid shopping at Hy-Vee and only shop at Trader Joe's now. When I go to Hy-Vee, I buy convenience food, most of which goes in the freezer. When I go to Trader Joe's, I plan meals, spend less money, and generally eat healthier. It seems, however, that another bonus is that there are a lot of times when organic is the only option.

And so I plan on enjoying this organic hot chocolate made in my le creuset on this rainy evening, curled up on the couch with my Cookie Monster skin blanket. I almost feel like it is necessary for me to get out the step-ladder to get down one of the fancy porcelain tea cups given to me as a gift to complete the entire activity.

Who says I can't be fancy-schmancy?