Fun With Kids
My friend, Maria, teaches grade school near my work. Every year, her grade does a Thanksgiving program where the kids recite poems and sing songs accompanied by some basic choreography. I don't think I've missed one since she started there.
She used to teach third grade and those kids were pretty good. For the most part, they knew their lines and performed well. This year, she moved to first grade. Let's just say the littler kids are not as "polished" as the older ones.
Apparently, there was a leaf problem. The kids were supposed to sit on the lawn. It being fall, (or as close to fall as 89 degrees in Arizona can be) there are leaves on the ground. Leaves that stick to your clothes. Leaves that get in your hair. Leaves that stick to your friends. Leaves that can be put down your friend's shirt. You can get the picture from there.
By the time I got there, however, everyone was pretty well behaved and sitting down. There were some parents and grandparents there to watch with cameras which was cool and nice for the kids. We all eagerly awaited the performance.
The entire grade sang the first song and did well. Then each class did its own song (with choreographed moves). I laughed out loud when one of the classes got to the last verse of their song and suffered a collective memory loss. They just sort of petered out, completely flummoxed, with their teacher valiantly singing and trying to keep them going. The whole grade did the final number. It was a big finish with a boisterous rendition of Albuquerque Turkey.
I love watching the kids and how they act.
There are the kids who know every line, every move and sing at the top of their lungs. It probably comes as no surprise to know that I fell into this group when I was a kid.
There are the kids who may know what they're supposed to be doing but find it all too hilarious. They do some of the moves and sing some of the lines but mostly they just laugh and mug for the audience.
There are the kids who are trying to fake it. They move their mouths and peek at their neighbors out of the corners of their eyes so they can see what they're supposed to be doing.
There are the kids who either don't get it or won't try. They pretty much just stand there and occasionally move their hand or halfheartedly sing a line or two.
Regardless of which group they fall into, all of the kids were beaming when they heard the final round of applause. I wish I could bottle that youthful energy and happiness and give it to some of the grown-ups in my world.
The whole presentation took only 15 minutes and it was a great break in my afternoon.
She used to teach third grade and those kids were pretty good. For the most part, they knew their lines and performed well. This year, she moved to first grade. Let's just say the littler kids are not as "polished" as the older ones.
Apparently, there was a leaf problem. The kids were supposed to sit on the lawn. It being fall, (or as close to fall as 89 degrees in Arizona can be) there are leaves on the ground. Leaves that stick to your clothes. Leaves that get in your hair. Leaves that stick to your friends. Leaves that can be put down your friend's shirt. You can get the picture from there.
By the time I got there, however, everyone was pretty well behaved and sitting down. There were some parents and grandparents there to watch with cameras which was cool and nice for the kids. We all eagerly awaited the performance.
The entire grade sang the first song and did well. Then each class did its own song (with choreographed moves). I laughed out loud when one of the classes got to the last verse of their song and suffered a collective memory loss. They just sort of petered out, completely flummoxed, with their teacher valiantly singing and trying to keep them going. The whole grade did the final number. It was a big finish with a boisterous rendition of Albuquerque Turkey.
I love watching the kids and how they act.
There are the kids who know every line, every move and sing at the top of their lungs. It probably comes as no surprise to know that I fell into this group when I was a kid.
There are the kids who may know what they're supposed to be doing but find it all too hilarious. They do some of the moves and sing some of the lines but mostly they just laugh and mug for the audience.
There are the kids who are trying to fake it. They move their mouths and peek at their neighbors out of the corners of their eyes so they can see what they're supposed to be doing.
There are the kids who either don't get it or won't try. They pretty much just stand there and occasionally move their hand or halfheartedly sing a line or two.
Regardless of which group they fall into, all of the kids were beaming when they heard the final round of applause. I wish I could bottle that youthful energy and happiness and give it to some of the grown-ups in my world.
The whole presentation took only 15 minutes and it was a great break in my afternoon.
