2/5/10

The newest entry in the "kindergartenese" language manual


Each morning in kindergarten we do a mystery word. I write a word on the board that often relates to what we’re studying (right now we are doing animals) and I cover each letter with a brightly colored strip of construction paper. I unveil a letter at a time, and the kids shout out their guesses very loud and repeatedly, until finally I reveal the LAST LETTER!

It’s loud, chaotic and so much FUN. At one point I had uncovered the first two letters of our mystery word (WALRUS) and stopped the children to talk about what the possibilities could be. (There were six strips of paper, four more left, blah, blah, blah.)


My friend Jack raised his hand (THAT was a miracle in itself) and said, “Mrs. Smith, I think this mystery calls for PLASTIC MESHERS!”


Yep. I agree, Jack. (And for those of you out there who need an interpreter – I believe he meant DRASTIC MEASURES. J )


52 comments:

Vodka Logic said...

You must laugh all day at work. Do they often guess the word?

Anne said...

Cute cute cute...and how often have they guessed totally inappropriate words?

Liss said...

bless! My daughters (kindergarten) teacher declared this afternoon she was glad it was friday - her first full week with her new class - we started school for the year last Friday.

I said 'I bet'.
she said 'yes, I had two criers - one-and-a-half-hours solid, I got a support teacher because it was so full on'.

I said 'welcome to twin-motherhood!' standing next to my 4 year old twins :)

Seriously though, no wonder you need a vodka at the end of the week!

♥ Braja said...

I use plastic meshers daily; mostly in the kitchen but they're good elsewhere.

What?

LyN said...

oh my, i can't stop laughing! thanks for sharing..definitely made my day! :P

Anonymous said...

How could you ever give up the simple pleasure of teaching the youngest children!

LadyFi said...

I'm with Braja about using plastic meshers in the kitchen!

Kids are so funny!

Theresa Milstein said...

My question is if he says, "plastic meshers" instead of "dramatic measures", what does he think he's saying? Is he picturing that something dramatic must be done or that a handful of plastic disc with mesh in the middle are the only way to deal with that situation? If it's the latter, what would be done with said meshers?

WeaselMomma said...

I needed the translation on that one, thanks.

Brian Miller said...

plastic meshers! i may take some of those today....do they come in poaper though, enviromental concerns and all...

mo.stoneskin said...

Presumably at that point you unleashed a walrus penis video? Or dug up the whale penis video?

Suzy said...

That's what's been missing from all my relationships with men, plastic meshers. They would have SAVED MY LIFE!

x said...

Very funny. Plastic meshers, maybe you should trademark that.

Carole Poirot said...

How cute, years ago my son (now 11 and wayyyyy too cool for that) would come with little arms stretched out and ask for "tiss and tuddle" - meaning kiss and cudle...it was lovely. Great blog, very funny and entertaining :-)

Joanie said...

I've been known to use Plastic Meshers from time to time.

Real Live Lesbian said...

I LOVE JACK!

Dee said...

What a cute idea!

Unknown said...

Thank you for making me laugh once again, it's a great way to start my morning.
Have a beautiful day!

pixielation said...

Plastic meshers? That's adorable!

Unknown said...

What a fun idea to help kids learn new words. I could have used a plastic mesher in my life's journey, actually, maybe I still need one.

middle-aged-woman said...

And here's me thinking, oooh, math lesson, phonics lesson, vocabulary lesson, all in one!

Blogger hates Jasper.

Betty said...

That is great. I will be laughing all day. Kindergarten is such a delightful time. Last night as I was calling out my third grade grandson's spelling words, my kindergarten grandson was actually spelling some of the words. He was sounding them out and spelled some words phonetically. It reminded me of texting.:)

The Good Cook said...

Can I be in your kindergarten class? Please? My class (45 years ago) just was not this much fun!!

Anonymous said...

Love it!

Anonymous said...

lmao............you have the best stories ever, always a great laugh

Grand Pooba said...

Hahaha! Phew! I thought I was stupid because I had never heard of plastic meshers!

I love Jack!

Anonymous said...

What's scary is that I actually DID understand 'Plastic Meshers'. I talk like that too (after a couple talktails (cocktails).

unmitigated me said...

I am blatantly using your comment section to test my internet browser. How crass.

The Fickle Nickle said...

Kids are so dang cute sometimes!! My daughter (who is 5) recently told me that she wants 'diarrhea'. I was so confused...and disgusted! I questioned her, "You want DIARRHEA?!"

"Yes, Mommy! You know...a book to write all my secrets in."

Oh bless her heart, she meant DIARY:)

BLOGitse said...

Jack is cuuuute!

Sara said...

That's such a good game. I would love that even now! It's like Kindergarten Wheel of Fortune!

Plastic meshers, indeed...

Anonymous said...

I would LOVE to sit in on one of your classes for a day. Ive never been too much of a "kid person" but lately it's been nice to read your posts like these and see other kids and the way they think :-)

Cora said...

I'm nanny to a five year old and a two yesr old. I totally speak Kindergartenese. And I love it!

SkylersDad said...

This was one of the best!

Mellodee said...

When you don't have any little kids of your own, you miss out on some of the best laughs you'll ever have!

Beth P. said...

Oh my gosh. Funniest quote! How adorable!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I sure love to see what kiddos' brains churn out. SO cute!

Live.Love.Eat said...

OMG, I didn't realize you taught kindergarten. I like you even more. My son is in kindergarten.

This is adorable!

Unknown said...

plastic meshers indeed!
and why has your bloggy babble vote
thing become my own personal competition?
8! What? She was just 6 yesterday!
This won't do!
People get out there and vote!
if you haven't already
Pretty please~

Peace ~ Rene

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

I resort to plastic meshures all the time!

~ Noelle said...

Aww... What a fun job! (at times?!)

staskym said...

love it my 12 yo could not say his s (poor kid had 3 in his name) anyway i have a scrap room and he called it the crap room and when we painted my husband painted you got it crap room on the top of the door.when people would ask where is mom oh shes in the crap room lol now it really is called that by everyone dear and near.

The Girl Next Door said...

How awesome a teacher must you be to do all this AND remember to tell us what plastic meshers really means? Gifted, hilarious. Thanks for making my day. Again.

Sharon Rose said...

I had a day at work today that called for PLASTIC MESHERS! I needed to be cloned!

Anonymous said...

Everytime I read one of your posts about your teaching and your students I can't help but smile and often laugh out loud! I too spend a LOT of time with those under 9 years of age as a sub and aide in the art department at the school my kids attend. Some of the stuff that comes out of those little ones mouths is hilarious!

Garsy

Michelle said...

So cute! I did need the interpretation.

Dreamer said...

haha! I know the feeling, I teach english to foreigners (young and old) and i'm consistently surprised at how many "non-existent" words and phrases they are able to make up! the possibilities are endless. It's just like your kindergarten kids! ^_^ aren't they just cute?

MommyToTwoBoys said...

That story makes me miss teaching Kindergarten so much!

Laura said...

Oh man, that is super cute.
Makes all the hard parts worthwhile for those moments though, doesn't it?

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

Why didn't *I* think of that?! I definitely need plastic meshers at the moment because my life sucks.

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