Out of the mouths of babes...

I'm a Kindergarten teacher.
Yesterday my class and I were blending easy C-V-C words such as Sam, mat, and so on. One of the words was fat. I wrote the letter f and pointed and the kids said /f/ then wrote a and they said /a/ then blended it fa, then we added the /t/. I asked what the word was. They said, "FAT!"

A boy called out, "Like Ms. XYZ is fat!"

Ms. XYZ is my partner teacher! I don't think she heard it as she was back at her desk working with students at the time. But all the kids giggled and looked back at her.

This is a first.
In years past, whenever we come across the word fat the kids get this uncomfortable, awkward look about them and sometimes one might say, "Like you're fat teacher." LOL.

So... just a little moment in time that made me realize how far I have come.
Still a long road ahead, but I'm not giving up. :D

Replies

  • erinxo13
    erinxo13 Posts: 892 Member
    I really hope the other teacher didn't hear but I'm glad it wasn't about you! haha, you're doing wonderful.
  • luvs2teachincali
    luvs2teachincali Posts: 207 Member
    Thanks Erin!! :D
    I am having a really hard time getting back on track, fully. I know this is slowing my progress down so I am trying. Baby steps.
  • not sure what program you are doing but I have a free support group on FB for ppl doing Insanity, P90X, turbofire or any other beachbody program. Not sure if you are interested or not but we post success tips and motivate each other! it's really great and keeps us all accountable
  • Lobster_Lover
    Lobster_Lover Posts: 45 Member
    Nothing more honest than a child. They don't waste time on being tactful.

    I am a substitute teacher (such a fun job to have in the off season) and I am SO motivated to get in better shape by the students. I haven't heard any mean comments yet (we have great kids in a small community, less than 80 in Pre-K to 8th grade) but I think if I don't get my butt in gear, it's only a matter of time before a comment slips out.
  • luvs2teachincali
    luvs2teachincali Posts: 207 Member
    To RobpBeachbod >> Thanks, but I have a treadmill and a bowflex. I try to get on the treadmill for a half hour a day. I know I should be using the bowflex, but have only used it once so far. I was in pain afterwards and on into the next day. It was so bad that night that I couldn't even get comfy in my bed to go to sleep. LOL. I know the pain means it was obviously working some muscles and that's a good sign! I know I should do it more often. I do have P90X, but my husband and I have tried disc one... just twice... and it's too hard! I just saw a super motivational video on YouTube posted here on MFP and the girl said that she couldn't do much of the Insanity video when she began but kept trying and got better at it and faster too. So I'm guessing I should keep trying with the P90X, huh? Thanks. :D

    Lobster_Lover >> Wow, that is a small community. My district has 22 elementary schools, last I checked, but they add new ones every other year or so. We also have four high schools. My school has over 800 students in grades K to 6th. It is true that kids say the truth! LOL. Teachers have to have an ID badge at all times, I keep mine on my key lanyard. Even though I had lost 20 pounds when picture time came around, I didn't like this year's picture AT ALL. So, I am still using last year's picture. In that picture I am 30 pounds heavier. I have one girl in my class who will stare at it and stare it and say, "You don't look the same. This doesn't look like you." To me, it clearly does. But they don't know me like that so I guess it doesn't. Weird, huh?
  • maddogg82
    maddogg82 Posts: 159 Member
    Awe.. so proud of you.. so happy for you.. :)
  • RambyPandy
    RambyPandy Posts: 118 Member
    My son has a few books that use the word "fat" in reference to animals (in a social kind of way).... he's 3. I refuse to read the word out loud! I don't want to start conditioning him now to think that way. I remember in Kindergarten other kids teasing me and others too. They start young. :(

    You seem to be doing great though!
  • Lobster_Lover
    Lobster_Lover Posts: 45 Member
    Lobster_Lover >> Wow, that is a small community. My district has 22 elementary schools, last I checked, but they add new ones every other year or so. We also have four high schools. My school has over 800 students in grades K to 6th. It is true that kids say the truth! LOL. Teachers have to have an ID badge at all times, I keep mine on my key lanyard. Even though I had lost 20 pounds when picture time came around, I didn't like this year's picture AT ALL. So, I am still using last year's picture. In that picture I am 30 pounds heavier. I have one girl in my class who will stare at it and stare it and say, "You don't look the same. This doesn't look like you." To me, it clearly does. But they don't know me like that so I guess it doesn't. Weird, huh?

    WOW! That definitely shows how small my community is in comparison. You have more students in your K to 6th grade school than we have people on the island I live on. The school I usually sub at is the next town over, my actual town only has about 55 students PreK-8th grade. When I subbed in my town's school yesterday it was about 10 students (1st and 2nd grade classroom). We are a small island community, but I love it. I hope in a few months they will start noticing how fit their favorite sub is getting :)
  • I"m a teacher as well .. and my favourite "out of the mouths of babes" comment was this:

    Kid: Miss L ... you're rich

    Me: Why do you say that?

    Kid: Fat people are always rich



    I am going to a new school in 2 weeks ... I know the first judgements are going to be about my weight ... so I'm going to just grow some skin for a while ;)

  • This is a first.
    In years past, whenever we come across the word fat the kids get this uncomfortable, awkward look about them and sometimes one might say, "Like you're fat teacher." LOL.

    So... just a little moment in time that made me realize how far I have come.
    Still a long road ahead, but I'm not giving up. :D

    Congratulations on your success ... keep on keeping on!
  • luvs2teachincali
    luvs2teachincali Posts: 207 Member
    Thank you everyone!!!

    Marla, you're doing FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC, too.

    Sadly, I know I could be doing so much better. I keep telling myself a little mantra... in hopes I'll one day believe it...
    "You are strong, you are capable, you are smart, you are beautiful, you are determined,...." I'm trying to keep ALL NEGATIVE TALK at bay. Time will tell.

    Planning a trip back to Missouri to see my inlaws and my auntie (mom's sister) in either June or July (we haven't settled on the dates yet) and I want to be at goal by then. I just keep telling myself... you've got 40 pounds to go... you CAN do this...