Can you relate to phrases like “I have to go to the potty” or “use your walking feet” in a public setting with your peers? Then you might be a teacher! We reached out to our Education to the Core trailblazers and our new Fearless Kindergarten Teachers: Education to the Core Facebook Group and asked “You know you teach Kindergarten when ______.” The results are priceless! ?
Personally speaking, I have never strictly taught Kindergarten. I had kindergarten-aged students within my Special Education classroom. However, I can still relate to so many of these answers! Unfortunately, when I am out with my same-aged peers, I am constantly doing a headcount and excusing myself to go “potty” usually while signing it as well. Do you have these moments outside of the classroom or can you relate to any of these answers?
You know you teach Kindergarten when…
“They “pledge allegiance to the flag and to Publix for which it stands”!” ~ Bonnie B.
“You tell your husband to use his words.” ~ Amy H.
“When you find yourself looking up names of children’s shows or characters that your students were talking about so that tomorrow you’ll be privy to their conversations.” ~ Audrey B.
“You rock out with Jack Hartman.” ~ Brittany F.
“You want to model every step when explaining something .” ~ Jacqueline C.
“When your students raise their hand after you ask a question but nobody actually wants to answer the question. They just need to tell you something!” ~ Lori R.
“My personal favorite is when they raise their hand all excited like they know what to say and then go “can I go to the bathroom?” ~ Marissa W.
“When you say “please don’t lick the walls” and then teach a germ lesson that is not in the “lesson plans”.” ~ Joellen L.
“You tell other adults to make good choices.” ~ Tracy R.
“You sing Jack Hartman in your sleep!” ~ Marissa W.
You know you teach Kindergarten when…
“You ask family and non-family members if “they’ve washed their hands” after they come out of the bathroom.” ~ Teresa J.
“I organized the disorganized line at the post office during the Christmas season. Actually said, “calm body, calm voice please” to a man.” ~ Lisa G.
“You catch yourself singing the quirky calendar time songs at home.” ~ Monica E.
“Found myself using Visual Phonics when someone didn’t hear me the 1st time.” ~ Deb P.
“You find a random pair of underwear on the floor and no one knows whose they are.” ~ Tracy A.
“You use phrases like “easy peasy, lemon squeezy” and “out the door, dinosaur” in the general population” ~ Kathy B.
“When you start sounding out words during general conversations with people other than your students.” ~ Jill O.
“When you know all the words to the song on GoNoodle.” ~ Shara M.
“You catch yourself humming Jack Hartman songs.” ~ Melissa K.
“Wet shoelaces no longer freak me out.” ~ Mellisa H.
You know you teach Kindergarten when…
“When you call your family members “My friend” and says “listening ears” ~ Gurjit K.
“You don’t think twice about blowing someone’s nose for them!” ~ Rachel H.
“You tell random kids in the grocery store to use their walking feet!!” ~ Sue K.
“When you call your peers and strangers “friends”.” ~ Melissa W.
“While teaching remote you watch a student picking his nose on camera.” ~ Monica H.
“You can make a song about how to do everything” ~ Erika K.
“When you know what hanitizer is…” ~ Calderon V.
“You say weird things like “don’t lick the concrete” regularly.” ~ Kirstie M.
“When you bust out with Jack Hartmann songs at any given moment!” ~ Heidi A.
“When you ask, number one or number two?” ~ Martha S.
You know you teach Kindergarten when…
“You can make a puppet out of anything! Like the MacGyver of puppetry!” ~ Cortnie G.
“Blow out not in. Get those boogies out!” ~ Sara A.
“When children (not your own) call you mum…” ~ Conny F.
“When you address everyone by “ok honey” and “alright friends”.” ~ Lisa A.
“All your glue sticks are dried up after the first week and still have 90% of the glue.” ~ Valarie B.
“You use hanitizer!” ~ Kelly J.
“You tie shoelaces as often as you brush your teeth.” ~ Lara R.
“You have marker spots on the back of your pants from a kid who tried to get your attention by patting you while holding a marker.” ~ Ricki F.
“Your student accidentally tied his pants to the table” ~ Cassandra S.
“A sweet student brings me a gift from home to show her love and it’s a used bar of soap!” ~ Kass P.
You know you teach Kindergarten when…
“You never ever again smell, when you hear “hey, teacher, smell here” ~ Carol P.
“While out with friends you excuse yourself to go potty.” ~ Denyse R.
“You send a scholar to the bathroom and they still have an accident.” ~ Yolanda Z.
“One of your students tells you about how his dad once went to jail but he’s not supposed to tell anyone.” ~ Kristina W.
“You say statements like are the puppets fighting again? Remember what we said about puppet fights.” ~ Jessica T.
“I am infamous when out with friends to excuse myself to go “potty”. ~ Jared G.
“You have had to say that glue sticks are not lipstick or a snack.” ~ Lori C.
“You ask your husband if he needs to use the potty before we leave to go anywhere!” ~ Jenn S.
“You come home and empty your pockets to find broken crayons and legos, and an occasional small plastic dinosaur!” ~ Sarah A.
Calling out Kindergarten Teachers out there, what are some more phrases to end this sentence starter: “You know you teach Kindergarten when…”? What would you add to this awesome list? Let us know in the comments down below!
Written By – Christopher Olson
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