Oh, Seasons!

So I am currently working on different projects that I want to blog about. However, the most epic race ever has gotten slightly in the way of progress. That's right, the Tour de France! Every July I'm glued to NBC sports network for three weeks as I ride my way through France - ok as I watch others ride their way through France. 198 riders cycling their way through thousand of kilometers, over some of the steepest mountains in the alps and the pyrenees, working together in an amazing example of teamwork and sportmanship - it's amazing! So all that to say, watch the Tour!!!

Ok, no really, all that to say, I'm just going to share one of my funniest/classic moments teaching Pre-K. And I will start by mentioning that if you want to spice up your life and you have access to young children, just ask some questions. You never know what you're going to get! It was the end of September or the beginning of October (not this most recent school year, but the one before) right around when fall had begun. We were doing a unit in the classroom on fall and we were studying how the earth changes, we were "Going on a Leaf Hunt," and all sorts of fun adventures! However, I realized that I needed to make sure my kids knew what the word "season" meant. It would do no good to talk about seasons and fall/autumn if they didn't have that vocabulary.

So during circle time, I posed this question, "Can somebody tell me what a season is?"
First student answers: "Oh yeah, it's like the thing that you pour. Like you pour into soups and stuff."
Me: "Hmm, ok yes, those are seasonings and you're right, you can use seasonings to flavor food. The word season can also mean something else, does anybody know?"

And before I share with you my second answer of the day, let me give you a little background on the next student, we'll call him Joe. Joe is a precious, hilarious, "all-boy" kind of boy. He wore cowboy boots to school EVERY day. He would spontaneously, and by request, sing you songs such as "Big Green Tractor" and "Rain is a Good Thing." And on the way to a field trip he was able to identify two places - his church and the gun store (Gander Mountain). So Joe was a constant source of entertainment and delight. And he was COUNTRY, and I don't mean a little country!

So back to the seasons. Joe now raises his hand.
Joe: "Uh yeah, it's like where you have a gun and you go into a field, and there's different seasons. Like dove season and deer season and turkeys!"

Why yes! That is actually exactly what I meant! Teaching in Texas...there just really isn't anything like it :-)