ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 22, 1996 TAG: 9608230020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BACK TO SCHOOL
SOURCE: JOHN GRIESSMAYER STAFF WRITER
Looking for advice? Ask a 6-year-old.
With school starting in two weeks, we asked some first-graders to share the lessons they learned in kindergarten to help this year's crop of new students get off on the right foot.
Here's the wisdom they shared:
"Stay away from mean, big kids."
"Don't get on the bus if you get hurt really bad at the bus stop, because you might have broken your collar bone."
"Don't push people, especially down the hill."
"Be as good with your teacher as you are with your mom."
"Don't tell on the other kids too much or the teacher will tell you not to tattle."
"When you're taking a test, don't just put down the first thing you think. Think a while, then write down your answer."
- Meredith Jones, 6, Grandin Court Elementary
* * *
"Some boys like to hit people, so be careful."
"If you swallow a dime, tell the teacher right away."
"Don't fight with other kids, especially bigger kids."
"You shouldn't play with the music teacher's stuff when she tells you not to."
"Be quiet at rest time. Lay down and don't get up."
"If someone forgets their scissors, share your scissors with them."
"If you're in the bathroom and someone knocks, go ahead and say, 'Somebody's in here.' Don't just sit there and be quiet or they'll come right in."
"If somebody says they know karate, just walk away, because maybe they do and maybe they don't."
- Kayla Jennelle, 6, Grandin Court Elementary
* * *
"Lots of people will make fun of you, but that's OK."
"If it's raining, don't go outside for gym."
"The teacher likes it when everybody's being quiet."
"Say 'Happy Holiday' to the bus driver."
"Act nice and use good manners."
"Don't break other people's crayons or pencils, and don't throw pencils."
"Keep your clothes on in class."
"Do your sheet the right way or you'll have to start over and over and over again."
"If you do something bad, you'll get a time-out."
- David Kaplan, 6, Penn Forest Elementary
* * *
"The tables might break if you jump on them."
"Try not to spill your food - you'll make a mess."
"Do good coloring and you'll get a sticker."
"People will be nice if you're good."
"Don't push people down or you'll be put in time-out for the rest of project time."
"Don't eat your lunch until lunchtime."
"Don't kick. The person might tell on you."
- Taylor Thurston, 6, W.E. Cundiff Elementary
* * *
"When somebody's building something, don't say it's ugly."
"If somebody knocks their thing down, help them put it back up."
"If you want someone to let you use something, don't say 'Gimme that!'"
"Do your own work."
"If somebody falls, help them up."
"If it's your birthday, be the line leader."
"If you want to be friends with somebody, just ask if they want to be friends. If they say 'no,' just find another friend."
"Clean up your own mess."
"If you do a good job, you'll get a treat."
"Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, but that's OK."
- Salena Sullivan, 6, Grandin Court Elementary
* * *
"Don't put your feet on the table."
"Do good work."
"Spitting in class will get you in trouble. Always."
"Don't cry in class."
"The teacher will be sick sometimes, but she'll be back."
"Don't scribble - you'll make a big mess."
"It'll be OK, so don't be scared."
"Help people."
- Samuel Newcomb, 6, W.E. Cundiff Elementary
* * *
"Don't say bad things at all."
"Don't be afraid. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Sure, there's mean kids, but that's just the way they are, I guess."
"Don't go to the bathroom until you ask."
"Don't play when you're not allowed to play."
"You should always listen when people are talking."
"If you talk too much, you'll get sent to another table."
"Don't open your eyes when the teacher tells you to close your eyes."
- Travis Howell, 7, W.E. Cundiff Elementary
* * *
"Don't pull the fire alarm unless you see a fire."
"Play nicely with your friends."
"Don't go down the slide if somebody's already on it."
"If you play in the mud, you're gonna get dirty."
"Give hugs."
"No smoking in school."
"If you play rough, you'll get in trouble."
"It's OK to bring live animals to show and tell as long as they're quiet."
"No fighting - you might get a butt-whooping."
"If you have a snake, don't bring it to class."
"Share your toys."
"Don't punch anyone in the eye."
- Omar Osby, 5, Grandin Court Elementary
* * *
"Making friends is a little bit hard. Just remember: When you see a new person, say, 'My name's Kate. Do you want to play?'"
"Stay away from people who squirt milk on the piano."
"Share with others."
"Clean up your mess."
"If someone spills their shoebox with their crayons and markers, help them clean it up."
"Don't be scared about knowing every answer. Nobody expects you to."
- Kate Garden, 6, Grandin Court Elementary
* * *
"Walk quietly."
"Clean up."
"Be good so you won't be bad."
"When you're mean, you get a mark by your name."
- Hannah Hartzog, 6, Raleigh Court Elementary
LENGTH: Long : 131 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Garden, Howell, Jennelle, Jones, Kaplan,by CNBOsby, Newcomb, Sullivan, Thurston, Hartzog.