Today was, in a word, HILARIOUS! First off, let me say that I love Read Across America Week - it's done in conjunction with Dr. Seuss' birthday and it is truly one of my favorite times of the year as a teacher. Students love to read and they get absolutely immersed in reading. As a first grade teacher, I get to watch their love of reading blossom and grow as by this time every year, first graders are beginning to read more fluently and voraciously. Picking up a Dr. Seuss book is pure heaven to them, due to his wildly vivid imagination and use of rhyming techniques. Anyway - each year we end up having the firefighters from the local station, Fire Engine 12, come to be "celebrity" readers. It's always so much fun and this year was no different. Today Captain Phillips came - imagine a 5'9-10", stocky, muscle-bound, slightly grey-haired man walking through the door. The kids turn around and see him in his uniform, carrying his radio and they're thrilled. Let the squealing begin!
I introduce him and he begins to talk about what he does for a living - that firefighters do more than just put out fires, they are paramedics (big first grade word there - had to describe that one) too and etc. He ended up reading a book he admitted he'd never read before, Dr. Seuss' "And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street". The kids were transfixed and although Captain Phillips didn't realize he was doing it, he was using his "tracking finger" to keep track of his place in the book as he read. If you're a primary grade teacher - you know exactly what I'm talking about...using your index finger to follow along under the words as you read them. Anyway - he read the book - did a fabulous job - and did his obligatory "stay in school, work hard, learn to read, listen to your teacher and your parents" talk and then the "fun" happened. The students started to ask him about his job. One of the first questions was, "Sir, do you have any emergencies to solve??" His response? A quizzical look to me and a quick, "Police solve crimes, we help people get out of their houses when it's on fire, or when someone needs medical help." Then he asked students about their plan to escape their house in the event of a fire, one girl replies, "Yea - GET OUT!!" To which my student teacher and I looked quickly away from each other so we wouldn't burst into fits of laughter. Each comment was perfectly timed and the adult reaction to their sweet, innocent comments was priceless. It was truly a wonderful, wonderful day in first grade.
After the firefighter's visit...we went to take a look at their fire truck. It was a true treat when they opened up the doors and let us peer into their equipment and ask more and more questions. Another huge hit? When they got out the heat seeking scope and let my students look through it at each other. "Ms. Eklund - you're GLOWING!" It was awesome and my firsties were truly captivated. I knew I had a class of budding firefighters after this visit. A huge thanks to Fire Engine 12 for coming and thrilling my students.
Now - you're probably wondering about the "chickens"...and if you're a friend of mine on Facebook, then you'll have already read this story...but let me tell you...it's a gem.
From March 1st...Keep in mind while reading this the idea is not to totally traumatize the kidod as he makes the connection about where our food comes from. ;)
The school served baked chicken today for lunch which spurred the following conversation. "So, Ms. Eklund...you mean that chickens come from, well...chickens?? Like real chickens?" (Yes, "A", chickens come from real chickens.) "No, I mean really - Ms. Eklund, they come from actual live chickens?" (Yes, honey, actual live chickens.) "They kill them first, right?" (Yes, they kill them first.) "How do they kill them? (Honey, it depends.) "Does it hurt them?" (No, I don't think so, but maybe.) "Do they step on their necks? Is that what they do?" [he makes a squishing sound as he grinds his foot into the ground] " Oh yea - they wouldn't step on their necks - that would get the chickens all dirty." lol You HAVE to love my firsties!! The thought process that went into this line of questioning was amazing. I don't think he'll be eating chicken any time soon.
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