Safety First in First Gradefrom The Diary of a First Grade TeacherSafety First is our mantra. And in the First Grade, this slogan can apply to some mighty unusual situations ...The Treasure BoxFor behaving so well this morning in the auditorium at the Christmas Music Program, I allowed my students to choose something from "The Treasure Box" in our classroom.Martin chose a toy ring, but ten minutes later he was in front of me, spinning in circles and dancing a jig. "HURRY!” he pleaded. "What is it?" I said, reaching for him. Obviously he was in some sort of pain. "What you want me to do?!" “My rang was too big!” he gasped. “So I choked it down to make it fit." He showed me his finger. Swollen and purple. "Ohhh ..." “TAKE THE RANG OFF!" he screamed. "My fanger done quit breathing!”
Watch Out!"Watch out!" Stevie cried and ran out of the boys' bathroom. “Ewwwww, Teacher! Martin wet me! YUCK!”Martin was right behind him. “I’m sorry … I didn’t mean to.” “Yes, you did!” Stevie fussed. “YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE.” Now, Martin became indignant. “Oh, no, you don’t! Don’t you EVEN tell me YOURS ain’t never got away from you before!”
Outside at Recess ...Stevie yelled in my face. “Look at that dog’s tongue!” He was pointing to a dog in the back of a pickup truck.Panting hard, the dog's head rocked to and fro in the rushing wind. Poor thing looked as if he had just run a marathon. His LONG tongue dangled in the wind, dripping with drool. “That man better be safety first!” Stevie hollered. "Huh?" I didn't get it. “He better SLOW DOWN. His dog’s ‘bout to lose him's breath!”
Guess What?!Gena, who comes from a large family, was excited ...“Guess what! My daddy's getting my momma a new car. And guess what else. It’s a v-a-n." Under her chin, she clapped her little hands. “Now, I will be safety first. 'Cause I won’t be SQUASHED liked mashed taters annn-ny-more!”
Safety FirstWhenever Weesie arrived at school this morning, she told me she wasn’t feeling well. Then she dragged herself over to my desk and sat down in my big chair.That was unusual behavior because all of my kiddos usually go straight to their own desks. I went over and placed my hand on her neck to see if she was warm or feverish. “Why are you sitting over here?” I asked, quietly.
She lifted head long enough to answer ... “I can’t help it, Teacher.” MEMBER? Safety first. I don’t want to puke over there - all over MY desk!”
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