Laugh Lines October 2004

Young at Heart
While we were walking down the hall one day, I overheard one of my first grade boys tell a joke to his friend. At the end of the joke, his friend quickly responded, "Oh, I've heard that one before. When you get to be my age, you've heard just about everything!"
Marla Smithson
Spring City, TN

Over the Age Limit
A kindergarten teacher at the school where I am the librarian is very good at making learning situations out of ordinary events and remarks in her classroom. One day, however, she got more than she bargained for.

During show and tell time, one of her students announced that his family had a birthday party for his great grandma and that she was 99 years old. "My goodness," said the teacher. "Can you tell us what she'll be after she's 99?"

"Dead?" guessed the student.
Kay Rouillard
La Mesa, CA

Living Statue
My kindergarten class and I recently went on a field trip to the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, PA, which has many tributes to heroes throughout the world. One such hero on display in the museum was Nelson Mandela. There was a statue of him sitting on a cot in a jail cell and our guide told the students about how he fought for freedom in Africa and was put in jail for many years. At this, one student raised his hand and asked, "He was in jail for many years. Is that how he turned to stone?" Stifling a laugh, the guide explained that this was just a statue of Nelson Mandela, not a real person.
Christine Forcade
Jenkintown, PA

Table Manners
Our school librarian hosted a tea party with Peter Rabbit to celebrate author Beatrix Potter and for the kids to practice their manners. First graders were served chamomile tea and cucumber sandwiches along with a special cake that Peter had made for them. The kids all loved the cake while the sandwiches were hit or miss. In the middle of the tea party, one of the students practiced his manners with the following comment, "These sandwiches taste even better without the cucumbers."
Kristie Konsoer
Madison, WI

It Happens
It's school policy that the children are not allowed to kiss each other and may share hugs only after asking permission. As the kindergarten teacher, this is a difficult rule for me to get the children to understand and follow. One afternoon, one of my students complained that Mackenzie had kissed her. I reminded Mackenzie of our rule and asked, "Did you kiss her?" "No," Mackenzie innocently replied. "I bumped into her with my lips."
Theresa Raines
Redford, MI

You'll Be Missed
I was going to be gone from the classroom for the first time this year. The day before I left, I asked my fifth grade class, "How should we treat a substitute teacher?" The first person I called on replied, "Better than our regular teacher."
Aaron Krantz
Endicott, WA