March SOLC–Day 24
This is our third Junior Achievement class. The volunteer, mother of one of my students, comes into our classroom once a week for five weeks. She teaches about communities, families, wants and needs, etc. It’s interactive and informative for the kids, and I get to sit back and listen, or even work quietly at my desk. Yesterday during her third visit, she focused on jobs. She guided the students in a game that involved giving clues about jobs and guessing different jobs. She then told the kids that some people start their own business and make their own jobs.
“J,” she said, “How did your mom make her own job? What does she sell?”
“Pizza?” asked L., always the comic.
“No, she doesn’t sell pizza!” giggled J. “She sells honey and she makes soap, too. From goat’s milk.”
The volunteer continued, “There’s a special name for people who start their own businesses, like J’s mom. They’re called entreprenuers.” She wrote the word on the board and asked the children to repeat it with her.
“Entreprenuers.”
Another child piped up, “Is that kind of like ice cream?”
“Um, no,” the volunteer said slowly.
“Well, does it taste like it?” The volunteer looked simultaneously confused and amused.
“No, ” she said finally and firmly, ” It has nothing to do with ice cream.”
“Oh. Ok.”
Well, don’t tell Ben and Jerry that! I thought as I grinned from my safe spot at my desk. Sometimes I wonder what in the world my students are thinking when they make seemingly random comments like this and sometimes I think I may be better off not knowing. For now I was content to listen and observe while someone else was in charge.
Nix the comfort zone 
I love our Slices where we can listen in to conversations like this …. thanks for sharing.
Kevin
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I love to read about moments like this. They are the ones we share at the end of the day and don’t want to forget. Thanks for letting me ease drop too!
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It is fun to be able to observe and listen in when you’re not leading a lesson, isn’t it? I wonder what that child was thinking to connect an entrepreneur to ice cream. 🙂
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I kept trying to think of an ice cream flavor that sounded like entrepreneur! Honestly, I am not sure there was a connection this time with this particular student. But, hey, maybe she was thinking about Ben and Jerry too!
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Watching while your kids interact with another teacher can be enlightening. Yes, don’t tell Ben and Jerry! Enjoyed this slice today.
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I taught first grade in my beginning years, & still remember taking the class to a dairy, & instead of the ice cream that we had later, they talked only about the cows, as in “I love the black & white one” & “I wish I could name one of the cows.” So fun to hear these remarks, never funnier than in first grade.
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very funny! I love kids thinking and how people who don’t teach often are so puzzled. Thanks for sharing.
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This one puzzled me, too! 🙂
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hahaha this makes me laugh outloud! Kids say the darnest things! Always the best response: “ummm no?”
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You just never know what will come out of their mouths.
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First graders do say the most random things, don’t they?
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Love that I got to read this! I, too, wish o could get into those little minds and see the rapid fire connections that come up with some of the most out there but sincere questions! Great slice!
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That is an interesting leap… pizza, honey, soap from goat’s milk … to …ice cream, triggered by entrepreneur. But it is evidence that they’ve learned to ask questions, especially sensory questions. 🙂
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