Made Up Game

Last night, I was able to babysit for two of my favorite little men-- ages 8 and 6. Part of the night we watched Charlie Brown movies. That was neat; it has been FOREVER since I watched a Charlie Brown movie. After that, we played games. However, the games we played they made up. There was one game that I was amazed at. The 6 year old took a piece of paper and drew four circles- one in each corner. Then, he drew a bigger circle in the middle. He gave us pennies. We had to flick the penny to the middle circle without getting "bumped" by another penny. If we got "bumped" out, then you were out of the game and lost. Well, I lost! But, I thought it was such a neat and clever idea. I wanted to share what a "babe" did/came up with.

This is a picture of the game board. He called this game Penny Bingo.

"It is Supposed to be 65 Degrees...."

There is a girl in my class that has naturally curly hair, and I do, too. So, one time a couple of months ago we had planned to straighten our hair at the same time to be "twins." Awhile after that, we had a day that our clothes matched (black shirt and jean skirt), but we did not do it on purpose. So, we've decided that we will have a "twin" day again, with straight hair and matching outfits. Now, if you know anything about curly hair, you cannot straighten it if it is going to rain. If the straight hair gets wet, it curls again. So, I really plan my "straightening" on the weather. Well, we were talking about "being twins" today. She said, "Let's do it Monday, if it doesn't rain." Then, we were talking about matching clothes, and she said, "It is supposed to be 65 degrees on Monday." So, I have a little weather girl in my class. I just thought it was funny that she knew what the temperature was going to be. I asked her how she knew and she said, "Because my mom made me watch the news." I thought it was cute and funny on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

"Shot by a Really Mean Person"

In first grade, I teach my students what a sentence is and how to write sentences. Well, we have moved up from writing sentences to writing stories. This week my kids wrote their first story!! Their story had to be about President Abraham Lincoln. This is a several day process. I first teach them what a title is. Then, I read some information to them about President Lincoln. Then, the students have to come up with titles for their story. Then, we take two days for them to write their stories. I gave them some basic information about President Lincoln like: where he was born, he didn't go to school, he was honest, he became a lawyer, and he was our 16th President. I also told them that he was assassinated (shot) by a bad person while President Lincoln was watching a play at a theater. I also told them he was one of two Presidents that have been assassinated. I told them that many years later President John F. Kennedy was also assassinated.
I've told my kids that I am the "editor." So, they write their stories, and I make corrections before they write it on a special piece of paper made for their Lincoln stories. Well, as I was "editing" the stories, one of them was just TOO funny!! The beginning of this girl's story was good and truthful. Towards the end she said that President Lincoln was shot while watching a play at a theater. He was shot by a really mean person. His name was John F. Kennedy. Oh, I busted out laughing and said, "No!" I didn't teach my kids that.... I promise! But, I thought it was SO funny. Don't worry, I fixed it on her paper and told her that he was shot by John Wilkes Booth.
I got a laugh from it and so did a few of my teacher friends. I thought you might get a laugh from what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

Telling a Friend About Jesus

Today, one of my girls told me that she went to Barnes & Nobles this weekend. She said that at Barnes & Nobles she made a new friend. I love that about this age; they make friends so quickly. She told me that while she was talking to her new friend that she told her new friend about Jesus. How exciting is that! I was excited to hear that she did something (tell someone about Jesus) we talk about in class-- not keeping Jesus a "secret." I was excited about the news, and I wanted to share with you something a "babe" did.

"My Book Would Have to be Re-Copied"

Someday this week at the end of the day, my children (for some reason) were talking about marriage. Now, I think it is hilarious that boys this age say they aren't going to get married, and, of course, the girls "are" and have their weddings "planned"(the ideas of it, anyway). I have always thought that was a neat difference on how God made girls and boys.
Well, like I said, somehow marriage started getting talked about. Often, I just listen to see what they come up with. I find it funny! Well, somehow, the word kissing got mentioned-- honestly, I think all that got started because I had given some of my kids CHOCOLATE kisses. So, some of the kids were "running" with that thought- some second graders, too.
Well, one boy said if he gets married that " My book would have to be re-copied." He often says, "That is not in my book." So, I guess all this talking about marriage and kissing isn't in his "book." How cute! A seven year old boy has a "book." I think he meant that his "book" would have to be re-written, instead of re-copied. But, I thought it was so cute about him having a "book", and I wanted to share on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

"....She Works for the Tooth Fairy"

Today, one of my little girls told me that her aunt is going to have a baby. She is really excited about it. I told her that was great! Then she said that this baby is a very special baby. I told her all babies are very special. But she insisted that this baby is VERY special. So I asked, "Why is this baby very special?" She said, "Because she works for the tooth fairy." I said, "What? The baby works for the tooth fairy?" She said, "No, my aunt does." I guess I looked puzzled and shocked, so she said, "Seriously, she works for the tooth fairy." I had to laugh, but I did try to hide it. It was just hilarious to me. I think she was serious, which makes it even funnier. Well, I wanted to share this cute and funny story on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

Big Bear Hug

Today, I was teaching my kids about prefixes. The prefix/special sound I was teaching them was "a-" as in "a- in asleep." If you are familiar with A Bekah phonics, you know what I'm talking about. I was teaching them what a prefix is and specifically the one that I just mentioned. After we went over the prefix "a- in asleep", we were reading the words with that special sound in it. I try to explain what the words mean. One word was "alone". I used the sentence, "I'm alone-- all by myself." I pretended to cry. One of my boys (who really is probably the happiest boy I've EVER met in my life and is really my "sanity" most days because he makes me laugh!), got out of his seat and came to me and gave me a great big bear hug. I mean he squeezed me tight! The children were all laughing. I was laughing, too, because I was surprised. Yes, I was touched, too. It was a blessing. I got to hear one of the best sounds ever, in my opinion--- laughter of a child. I also got a big bear hug from one of my boys. Wow, how cool is that! I just wanted to share what a "babe" did.

"We are Friends Again. ..."

At the age of my first graders (6-7), I often hear, "He(She's) not my friend anymore." They can be mad one minute and then best friends the next. Well, one day this week, I had two boys that were "fighting." Awhile after, one of the boys raised his hand and said, "We are friends again. Everything is all right." He was happy about that! The other boy said, "I forgave him and he forgave me." They "fixed" their friendship. I thought this was so sweet, and it is such a reminder on the simplicity of friendship and how special and important friendships are. I've been reminded of that a lot lately. So, this story just touched me and somewhat encouraged me. It really was a blessing and a rebuke to me. I thought the sweet words that came "Out of the Mouth of Babes" should be shared.

Prayerful Hearts of First Graders

As a Christian, prayer is a major part of my life. In the past several months it has become a more important and sweeter part of my life. I, as a first grade teacher, enjoy trying to teach my children how to pray. I love hearing them pray. I also love knowing that our Lord loves children and hears them.
Each day during Bible time, I have three different children come up to the front and pray. They each give a prayer request. Then, I "exchange" requests, so they pray for each other. Then, I have some pray for other requests, such as for our class to have a sweet spirit of unity and for unspoken requests that another teacher and I both have that are ongoing. I also encourage them before they pray for the requests they have, to thank the Lord for something He has given them. It is always a blessing to hear what they say. I love hearing them thank the Lord for their parents and for the Bible and, of course, their teacher (I'm a little bias!).
It is a blessing to hear them pray for something that I didn't remind them to pray for. For instance, months ago around Thanksgiving, I sprained both of my feet. My kids knew about it and prayed for me. Recently, one of them brought it up and prayed for it. It was a blessing! I also get a blessing when they remember to pray for our class to have a sweet spirit of unity without me reminding them. It is also neat to hear them pray for the unspoken requests that my teacher friend and I have when, again, I forget to ask them to pray for them. It really encourages my heart! God uses my little children to do that for me. What a blessing!
There is this one little girl who is especially a blessing to me. Isn't funny that a first grader can be a blessing and even a rebuke to an adult? Well, she is! When she prays, she prays for the poor people. She prays for the people of Haiti. She prays for this world to be a better place. Of course, she hears these things from home, but it is a blessing to me and a rebuke. I know it is sincere and not just words.
I know this post has been long, but it has been a lot of thoughts I've had lately on prayer. I am truly thankful that we, as Christians, can go before the Lord in prayer. We do not have to go to a priest on our behalf. We go before Him as "babes"-- as children knowing that He hears us. One of our first grade Bible verses are: "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Psalm 34: 15, 17. Those verses include first graders. What a blessing! I wanted to share some on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes." This has been a blessing to me. I hope and pray it perhaps may be a blessing to you.

"...I Want to Keep All of My Blood..."

One day last week one of my little girls raised her hand and told me that she was bleeding. Now, at this age (first grade), they tell me even if it is a drop of blood. So, I asked her if it was a lot, like if it was "gushing onto the floor." She said, "No, but I want to keep all of my blood until I'm a thousand." I then said, "Well, that's not going to happen for two reasons. One, you won't live to a thousand. Two, you will have to give blood sometime for some reason." Now, during this conversation with my little girl, she was smiling. So, I know she was somewhat playing. However, I thought it was so cute on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

"Laugh, Miss Pregony!"

The other day for recess, we were FINALLY able to go outside. We've been inside for a couple of weeks due to the cold weather. My kids were playing on the playground and having so much fun! A few of girls were chasing one of my boys. One of my girls came up to me and held my hand and said, "Laugh, Miss Pregony!" I thought that was cute! I was having a good time watching them. I love seeing my kids have fun and laugh. If you know me, I love to laugh, too. So, Miss Pregony does laugh.... a lot!! I wanted to share with you on what came "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

"I Love You, Baby"

Usually when I post I tell stories that I have personally experienced. Well, this story is one that I was told about and saw evidence of. My friend, the second grade teacher at my school, told me this story. It happened in her class. She caught a boy passing a note. She took the note. The note said, "I love you, baby." This note was from an 8 year old boy to a girl in his class. How funny is that!! Got to love the "baby"? Well, I had to laugh and wanted to share what came from "Out of the Mouth of Babes."