ben and i teach 4/5 year-olds in primary. it is a little bit fun and funny, but mostly inspires comments out of me like, "can we move soon?" but my comments are (sometimes, sort of, supposed to be?) facetious.
the hard part is mostly that it is from 2:00 to 4:00 pm -- two hours of sunday during which nora nearly falls, then eventually does fall, apart. and adding other attention/energy-requiring activities to that can be trying.
but i was just thinking about church today and even laughing to myself a little. i usually sit by a little boy during sharing time who is generally all over the place and needs to be focused on something or saying or doing something. so every few seconds/minutes he whispers "teacher!" then tells me a secret, like:
"teacher, i fell out of my bed this morning."
"teacher, my name is bob now."
"teacher, a wedgie is when you pull up your pants reeeally high in the back."
"teacher, i want a pretzel."
"teacher, look--" (unbuttons two chest-buttons of his church shirt and pulls each side apart to reveal a buzz lightyear costume)
he also likes to put the end of his shoelace into his mouth, pull it tightly, and pluck it like a bass.
and yet another aspect of teaching four and five-year-olds:
"teacher, i need to go to the bathroom."
"do you think you can wait until we're finished with our game?"
"no."
"okay, everybody line up and we'll take a bathroom break."
(at this point about 15 seconds have elapsed since she asked to go to the bathroom)
"teacher, i just peed in my underwear."
3 comments:
I taught primary for two years and was almost relieved to give birth so they would release me! However those 6 year olds sure are funny! (In hindsight at least)
One of my favorite moments was when talking about telling the truth and a little boy said, "yea, like when your mom asks 'does this make me look fat?'" and a little girl in the class answered "well, my mom IS fat so..."
Afternoon church is so hard though...good luck!
Hahaha! Bryan and I were just called to be primary teachers (I think for this same age), but we're pretty excited about it. After being in a student married ward with some more adult (read: boring) callings, we were both pretty stoked about funny kids and sharing time.
P.S. I think all of those things the little boy said to you are things I can imagine you saying to me.
My favorite was teaching the Sunbeams and coming back to the room from the potty and drink break. Two little boys ran under the table and I ask them to please come out and sit down for the lesson. They were ignoring me and the one little girl put her hands on her hips and imfatically said, you come out of there right now or I won't marry you.
They both came bolting out. Your mom on Grandma's computer.
Oh singing time and sharing time are most inspirational in primary if you can keep their attention in class. You have to have a stern look on your face for some of those classes. Don't let them know you are too nice. Remember the youngest ones are most impressionable as you teach them about Jesus and his commandments. They like clay that is soft & pliable at first. Hang in there.
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