Kindergarten quote - Tooth Fairy

At my school we are still allowed to dress up for Halloween. A few years ago, I dressed up as the Tooth Fairy. The children in the classroom next door had a difficult time understanding that the it was just a costume.

A few weeks after Halloween a little girl from the other class came up to me in the hallway and asked, "How do you do it?"

I answered, "How do I do what?"

She asked, "How do you get in everybody's house? Santa has a sleigh. Do you fly?"

I finally got it.  I asked, "Oh, you mean, as the Tooth Fairy?"

She started to look frustrated and said, "I know you're the Tooth Fairy, but how do you get to everybody's house in one night? How do you know who lost their teeth?"

I couldn't help but laugh because she was so serious.  I leaned down and told her confidentially, "I am not actually the Tooth Fairy. I just wore that costume for Halloween."

A second girl joined the first and they moved a foot away from me as if I could not hear them there.

The second girl asked her friend, "How does she do it?"

My disappointed inquisitor stated, "She wouldn't tell me."

The Tooth Fairy is a tough nut to crack; unlike Santa Claus who will tell you everything if you ask him.  

Kindergarten quote -- keeping me humble

I had just finished reading a story to the class when one little girl raised her hand and said, "Mrs. Cardello, you looked so pretty yesterday."

I said, "Yesterday? Not today?"

She studied me intently, then answered with the honesty of a five year old, "Not so much today." 

Kindergarten quote - Just when you think they get it

My class had been working on graphing all sorts of information for weeks. We voted on our favorite cereals, tv shows, games. Each time we took a poll, we would convert the information into a graph. I felt confident that they all understood the idea that information could be shown in this form.

I asked my students, "How could you show me the following information? Fifteen students like hamburgers.  Ten students like hot dogs."

One little girl raised her hand with confidence and asked,  "You want us to giraffe it?"

Kindergarten quote - compliments

My class was writing lists of all the things they like.  

One boy wrote:

I like dogs.
I like Mrs. Cardello.


When he gave me the list, I laughed - I couldn't help it.

He considered my response for a moment and explained, "I almost put you first, but I really like dogs."

Kindergarten quote - Don't fix it

I saw one of my male students squirming in his seat one morning.  Sometimes Kindergarten students soil their pants and are afraid to tell you.  Sometimes they have underwear situations they are unsure of how to handle in public.

I asked my student if he had to go to the bathroom.

He said, "No," but continued to squirm in his seat.  I went back over and asked him if he was ok.



He pointed to the front of his pants and said, "Something is wrong down there."

I thought his underwear might have shifted or he might be uncomfortably positioned.  I simply said, "Oh, honey, if you're not comfortable just go in the bathroom and fix it."

He shook his head vehemently and said, "My dad said you don't fix it. You just ignore it and it
goes away."

It took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about.  Finally, unable to think of anything I could say to a child that isn't mine, I said, "Your dad is a very wise man."