classroom visitors

my classroom had a couple visitors this week. my kids are always anxious to meet any of my friends or family. first, peter came to observe and the kids became smitten with him almost immediately. one of my students wrote me a note a couple months ago as well as a note for peter. peter's note said:

dear misr watt,

i didt see you a lot. but tell mis watt to tayck you to school.

love from jane

and to jane's delight, i brought peter to school or as my first graders would say, i "taked" him to school with me. my kids were anxious to talk to him and show-off for him. i've never seen them act so hammy before. they're funny. i wasn't sure how they would react to him since they still make crinkled cringing "ew" faces when i tell them i'm married and love my husband. at the end of the day one of my kids lost a marker but had the cap in her hand. we searched all over the classroom for it, turning over rugs, looking under tables, but no luck. peter then pushed one of my bookshelves out with his impressive strength and found the runaway marker. he held the marker up in his hand and upon notice of his clutch find i exclaimed, "mr. watt, you're my hero!" my kids all turned to me and responded in unison, "eeeeeewww!!!"

a couple days later my dear friend, karin, also came to school to do an art activity with my kids. she brought in copies of paintings by matisse and demonstrated how to use pattern, collage, and shapes in art. my kids looved it. they could have done it for hours and a few were quite disappointed school ended at 2:30. i think some would have stayed til 5:00 to finish their project if i let them. : ) they also loved karin. several of my students came to me quietly to tell me very approvingly, "your friend is very nice."

it's so great how my little guys learn to cling and love someone---strangers so quickly. both peter and karin were strangers when they entered our classroom, but within only 20 minutes they were receiving hugs and cuddles from these little people. too bad we lose that as we get older.

one of my dear little boys in class speaks english as a second language. he's this adorably stout little boy with chubbiness in all the right places to give him a look of being a baby and a 75 year old man at the same time. he's quite notorious in the elementary wing for his chris farley-ish appearance (& behavior) and super cute outfits---sweater vests galore and dockers. he looks like a little korean yuppy. he just needs a country club membership. anyway, he's my most frequent little cuddler--always coming up to me for some hugs (sometimes he tries to slip in a kiss here and there). he wraps his little chubby arms around me and nuzzles his face into my stomach and then looks up at me with his cute little round, rosy face. his latest phrase he likes to proclaim is, "awww. i love mrs. watt! mrs. watt so handsome! mrs. watt so handsome!"