tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5325471231544942144..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: A Rat In The GardenTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-86231477479744258012009-11-16T21:39:26.301-08:002009-11-16T21:39:26.301-08:00from everything I'd heard/read, eating dirt wa...from everything I'd heard/read, eating dirt was supposed to be a 'natural consequences' exercise for Jules that taught him that dirt tasted BAD and felt even WORSE in his mouth and that, after only one or two attempts, he'd forget about it. Problem was, he LOVED eating dirt, even though I gave him zero attention for it, wasn't shocked, just wiped him up after. He also, at around 2, went to the 'stream' at Golden Gardens, laid down on his belly and opened his mouth, which elicited gasps of shock from all the other grownups around him. Glad to know that what didn't kill him (or make him sick, which none of his 'filthy' toddler habits ever did) is now making him stronger. :)dv.x.3https://www.blogger.com/profile/17097937663389205624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-36501997732328719672009-11-16T15:09:26.502-08:002009-11-16T15:09:26.502-08:00I love how you teach. And I love how they learn. K...I love how you teach. And I love how they learn. Kaish ate lots of dirt as a baby and look how brilliant he is now : ).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874897254332872367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-8426457696541286962009-11-15T07:52:28.945-08:002009-11-15T07:52:28.945-08:00Please don't remove the pumpkins. Let's co...Please don't remove the pumpkins. Let's come up with another solution!Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15124395394740044770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-74940201753229106172009-11-14T21:14:45.962-08:002009-11-14T21:14:45.962-08:00This year we also put our carved pumpkis in the ga...This year we also put our carved pumpkis in the garden beds "ala Teacher Tom." The other day Ella says, "Look mom! Our pumpkins are decomposing just like the ones at school!"<br /><br />Seriously, what other four year olds use the word and actually understand "decomposition."<br /><br />Cover the garden beds. :-)jaimeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05164531070018243746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-41998309292621412462009-11-14T19:59:31.689-08:002009-11-14T19:59:31.689-08:00loved the video!! I loved your post on your end of...loved the video!! I loved your post on your end of pumpkin season in the classroom ritual so we decided to follow our pumpkins demise this year, and WOW!! What an experience. I wish I had documented it before my husband shoveled it off the front steps. Oh well, the kids enjoyed it while it lasted. Next year we'll take it to the backyard, where the husband can't get at it so easily :) Good luck, and try the cover before you get rid of the pumpkins, as I've now seen, the kids really love it and learn a lot from it, don't let that rat ruin that experience. Thanks Teacher Tom!!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13030119452735812171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-51155630003592601102009-11-14T19:40:32.862-08:002009-11-14T19:40:32.862-08:00One year we had a problems with squirrels in our p...One year we had a problems with squirrels in our preschool classroom garden. One of the projects for the children that year was to explore different ways to keep the squirrels away (one of which included a "scary halloween doormat" brought in by one of the children).<br /><br />It was a great way to get parents involved, but you don't have that problem at your school; but it was a great learning experience. Just an idea that maybe you could bring it to the children and see what they come up with before throwing in the towel.Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315829092172760748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-13181918645779050722009-11-14T15:24:02.373-08:002009-11-14T15:24:02.373-08:00absolutely, kids need to eat dirt. My wife and I a...absolutely, kids need to eat dirt. My wife and I agreed on this from day one. We don't get all bent out of shape when little man plays outside and starts munching on a leaf.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68843931453396218622009-11-14T14:54:35.820-08:002009-11-14T14:54:35.820-08:00and yet another good reason to back up why I don&#...and yet another good reason to back up why I don't clean our home as well as I could/should :) the others being - I'd rather play with Logan or read Teacher Tom.Monkey's Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01437699085199871699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76800347372164038202009-11-14T14:01:57.821-08:002009-11-14T14:01:57.821-08:00Perhaps a cover for the bed to inhibit critter acc...Perhaps a cover for the bed to inhibit critter access would be a way to keep the pumpkin compost bed. I'd be happy to build one, if you can send me the outside dimensions of the bed. I'm thinking a sheet of 1/2 in. ply, with small holes drilled in a grid pattern to allow air and rain, but not critters, to 'reach the rot'. It would be a shame to lose such a valuable learning resource. The cover could be removed just prior to playground time, and replaced during cleanup. Just shoot me an email if you want to go that way. Greg S.blurrryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613191699823901351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-67424417832318456792009-11-14T08:58:02.093-08:002009-11-14T08:58:02.093-08:00I totally agree. And I've always felt this wa...I totally agree. And I've always felt this way.<br /><br />Except during this last month when my daughter became inexplicably ill and it is most likely an infection she picked up from some unclean place.....who knows?<br /><br />But what other preschool teacher would teach through rotting pumpkins? None.Jason, as himselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16630210317307544165noreply@blogger.com