KIND HEARTS

Here’s a
story that will help children understand why it’s important to be kind to their
classmates.  Cut a large heart out
of red construction paper and hold it in your lap as you begin to tell the
story below:

This is a story
about a special friend named (imaginary name).  He always came to school with a smile on his face and a big
heart full of love for his classmates. 
(Hold up the big heart.) 
(Name) listened to his teacher, did his best work, and helped his
friends.  However, some of his
friends weren’t always so kind. 
Joe made fun of his shoes and broke a little of his heart.  (Tear off a piece of the heart and let
it drop to the floor.)  Ann said,
“I’m saving this seat and you can’t sit here” at story time and broke a little
more of his heart.  Sammy wouldn’t
share his crayons (tear off a little of the heart) and Sara called him a mean
name.  What are some other things
that might break his heart?  (Let
the children name other things that cause hurt feelings as you let the pieces
fall to the floor.)  By the end of
the day his heart was all in pieces and it was so sad. 

Who can tell me
how to put his heart back together? 
What are some kind things you can do for your friends?  As children name different acts of
kindness pick the pieces of the heart off the floor.  Glue the pieces together on a poster as a reminder to have a
kind heart.  Encourage children to
write friends’ names on the poster when they are kind and helpful to them!

JUKE BOX

Glue copies of
rhymes, songs, or finger plays to old CDs or 4 ½” circles.  Place in a gift bag or box and write
“Juke Box” on the front.  When
you’ve got a few extra minutes pull out the “Juke Box.”  Give a child a pretend quarter to put
in the “Juke Box” and choose a song or rhyme.

According to
research, most classrooms waste 20% of the day having children wait, line up,
wash their hands, clean up, yada yada. 
What a super simple way to take advantage of those teachable moments!

New Shoes

We just bought our grandson a new pair of shoes for school.  He's so proud!  Here’s a song we
used to sing at circle time when a someone got a new pair of shoes:

New Shoes

(Tune:  This Old Man)

Here’s one foot.               (Stick
out one foot.)

Here are two.                  (Stick
out the other foot.)

Each is wearing
a brand new shoe.  (Tap feet.)

So stand up,
turn around, (Child turns around

Dance around the
floor.     and
dances.)

That’s what
these two feet are for!  (Hands on
hips and smile.)

Get a spiral
notebook and write “New Shoes” on the front.  When children wear a new pair of shoes invite them to draw a
picture of their new shoes in the book.

P.S.  One of my 16 month old granddaughter’s
first words was “shoes.”  Do you
think loving shoes is part of her gene pool?

HOPES AND DREAMS!

You won’t find
this in any curriculum guide or state standards, but I believe one of our most
important jobs as early childhood educators is to give children hopes and
dreams.  Someone has to believe in
them! 

My friend’s
granddaughter has been going through a difficult time.  Children reflect what goes on in the
home, and her parents are going through a nasty divorce.  Anyway, when my friend picked the
little girl up from school the child looked so sad.  My friend said, “One day when you are sixteen we are going
to go to Paris and buy us some pretty shoes and pretty dresses!”  She said the little girl smiled and her
eyes danced.  I don’t know why that
touched me so, but it did.  A
little word of encouragement can change the world of a child!

It's Sunday and we are grateful that Irene passed by Charleston.  Our grandson K.J. was lucky to get on a plane Friday before the storm hit and we are LOVING having him spend the week before school starts with us.  And his mother is happy not to be cooped up in the house with him as they weather the storm in DC!

You know, I try not to be too political in my blogs, but since it's Sunday I want to share this idea.  You could only use this parting if you were in a Christian school, but it's so sweet!

Parting Words before Children Walk out the Door

Teacher:  May the Lord watch between me and thee.

Children:  While we are absent one from another.

Blessings of JOY to all of you and prayers for those in Irene's path!

IRENE, DON'T BE MEAN!

It’s hurricane
season and those of us who live on the coast hold our breath!  I will certainly lift all of you in
Irene’s path up in my prayers.

This is such an
uncertain world, and it must be terrifying for young children who don’t
understand everything they see and hear. 
Teachers get frightened as well, but you have to put on a happy face and
be brave.  Children need someone to
reassure them that they will be safe and you must remind them that you won’t
let anything happen to them.  They
are precious and they are brave!

Encourage children
to talk about their concerns and accept their feelings.  Let them draw pictures and write
stories about storms and things that they are afraid of.  Brainstorm what they can do when they
are scared. 

Hold hands and
sing a song like “May There Always Be Sunshine.”

Make storm
cookies.  These are special cookies
that can only be made when there is a storm in the forecast.  And, they can only be consumed when the
first raindrop begins to fall!

Storm Cookies

1 cup butter
softened

1 ½ cups packed
brown sugar

2 eggs

1 2/3 cups all
purpose flour

2 cups quick
cooking oats

1 tsp.  baking soda

pinch of salt

2 cups raisins

Beat butter and
sugar until light and fluffy.  Add
eggs.  Then add the dry
ingredients.

Bake 325 degrees
for 10-12 minutes.

Hint!  Substitute chocolate chips or
cranberries for the raisins.

Substitute coconut
for quick oats.

BELLY BUTTONS AND BOTTOMS

Here's a great line up song to the tune of "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to Work We Go."

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to (lunch, PE, library, etc.)

We go.

With our heads held high

And our arms by our sides

And our belly buttons all in a row.

“Froggie Went a
Courting” has always been one of my favorite tunes.  Sing the song below to the tune when you want the children to settle
down.

Put your bottom on
the rug, uh-huh.  Uh-huh.

Put your bottom on
the rug, uh-huh.  Uh-huh.

Put your bottom on
the rug

And give yourself
a great big hug.  Uh-huh!  Uh-huh!

I received the kindest email from a teacher this morning.  This is why I do what I do and LOVE what I do!

My kindergarten team LOVES
the Parent Power Pak! Thank you, thank you! We have been using the Nightly
Reading Record Sheet for years and creating our own monthly homework calendar.
You have saved us so much work and your ideas are so "family
friendly." Dr. Jean, you are the lady who keeps kindergarten from turning
into first grade.

FREE, SIMPLE, AND FUN!

I’m all about
free, simple, and FUN!  Here are
some fantastic websites where you can find some great ideas.

nellieedge.com

WOW!  This is an amazing site with incredible
books that you can download to go with finger plays and rhymes.  I’ve never met Nellie Edge, but we are
of the same school – BACK TO OUR ROOTS! 
Talk to them, read to them, sing to them!

teachersandfamilies.com

I love the nursery
rhyme books that you can download from this site.  There’s a special link so you can run them in black. 

prekinders.com

I’d love to meet
this teacher and give her a hug for all of her great games and ideas.  You’ll find perfect activities for
pre-K and K ready to download and use.




theschoolbell.com

If you’re looking
for a way to improve fluency and meet the needs of individual learners in your
classroom, then this site is a MUST. 
Check out their “Dolch Kit.” 
You’ll find ideas for word study booklets, organization, involving
parents, and more.

pre-kpages.com

Here's one more website from a wonderful teacher.  You'll have a ball checking out all of  Vanessa Levin's great ideas and printables.  

TUBS OF FUN

A friend who is a
pre-K teacher always asks her children these questions at the beginning of the
year:

1.  How many of you have a television in
your home?  How many of you have
your own television in your bedroom?

2.  How many of you have a computer in your
home?

3.  How many of you have your own pair of
scissors? 

Yep!  You’re right!  Most every child has a television or computer, but only a
few have a pair of scissors.  Many
parents think scissors are dangerous, but they let their children watch violent
television programs.  I don’t get
it?  Anyway, here’s a great idea to
share with parents.

Cutting Tub

Get a plastic tub
from the dollar store and fill it with junk mail, catalogs, old greeting cards,
scrap paper, etc.  Put a pair of
children’s safety scissors in the tub and they can cut, tear, and be
creative.  This way you can
supervise scissors and encourage cutting at the same time.

More!  Add a hole punch or decorative scissors
to the tub.

Table Tubbies

What do you do
with those students who always finish their work early?  I loved this idea a teacher
shared.  Get five plastic tubs and
put different materials in each one. 
For example:  puzzles, play
dough, stringing beads, stamp pad and letter stamps, books, file folder games,
shape blocks and pattern cards, etc. 
When children finish early, they can get a tub and complete the
activity. 

If your children
are grouped at tables, you could do a tub for each table with several items for
the children to choose from. 
Create 4 or 5 tubs and then rotate them each week.  That way you’ll only have to prepare
the tubs once a month.

Paparazzi!

Here’s a special
request.  I know many of you took
photographs at conferences I presented at this summer.  If you would send one to me drjean@drjean.org or my webmaster alex@alexmay.com I would like to use them on
my home page for September. 
Thanks!

PULL AND PEEK

You will need a
letter size envelope and sentence strips cut in 10” sections to make this
game.  Seal the envelope and then
snip off the left hand side.  Write
children’s names on the sentence strips and glue their picture to the end.  Insert sentence strips in the envelope
and challenge children to blend the sounds and predict who it could be as you
slowly pull out one letter at a time.

*Print color
words, number words, or other words and glue a picture clue on the right hand
side so children can confirm their predictions.

*Write simple
sentences for children to read. 
(Google images is a great help for graphics.)

*Write math facts
and answers on the sentence strips so children can self correct as they pull
and peek.

*Use for
alphabetical order, numerical order, etc.

THE STAR POLISHER

I was looking
for something in an old file and I luckily came across this inspirational
thought that Leah Becks shared with me several years ago.  It seemed like a perfect blog for the
beginning of the school year.

I have a great
job in the universe of occupations.

What do I
do?  I’m a “star polisher.”

It’s a very
important job.  If you want to know
how important, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and
sparkling.  You see, I’m a teacher,
an educator, a mentor.  The stars
are the children in my class.  My
job is to take them – in whatever shape they come – and shine and buff them and
then send them out to take their places as bright twinkling beacons in the sky.  They come into my room in all shapes
and sizes.  Sometimes they’re bent,
tarnished, dirty, crinkly or broken. 
Some stars are cuddly and soft. 
Some are prickly and thorny. 
As I buff and polish, I train and teach my little stars.  I tell them that the world cannot do
without them.  I tell them they can
be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better
place because of them.  Each night
as I look at the sky, I’m reminded of my very important job and awesome
responsibility.  Then I get my soft
buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow…for my class
of little stars.

May all of your
little stars twinkle this year because of YOU!

Oh, happy day!

Good morning!
 It's Saturday!  Yeah!  I'm home drinking my coffee and it's
going to be a great day!  I have LOVED meeting so many new teachers this
summer, but I'm ready to be home for a few weeks.  

This week I had
the opportunity to visit Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The drive from Minneapolis
over rolling hills and past cornfields reminded me of "Oh, beautiful for
spacious skies..."  Is this a great country or what?  Every once
in a while we need to stop and remind ourselves of all the wonderful things in
America instead of focusing on the negative!

Anyway, an email
from a teacher this morning asked about a song to get children to sit on the
carpet.  Here are a few ideas:

Have a Seat 
(“Shortnin’ Bread”)

Everybody have a
seat, have a seat, have a seat.

Everybody have a
seat on the floor.

Not on the
ceiling, not on the door.

Everybody have a
seat on the floor!

Note:  If
you want children to sit in a chair, then sing:

Everybody have a
seat, have a seat, have a seat.

Everybody have a
seat on your chair.

Not on the
ceiling, not in the air.

Everybody have a
seat on your chair.

Sit Down Chant

 Clap your hands.  (Clap 3 times slowly.)

Stomp your feet.         (Stomp slowly 3
times.)

Put your bottom         (Children sit down
quietly.)

in your seat!

Criss Cross

Criss cross     (Children sit on the floor and cross their
legs.)

Be your own boss.  (Children cross their arms like a boss.  Remind them to be the “boss” of
themselves.)

Secret Signals

Explain to your students that you are going
to have some “secret signals” that only your class will know.  Here they are:

1 – Whenever the teacher says “one”
everyone should sit down quietly.

2 – When the teacher says “two” everyone
should put their hands in their laps.

3 – When the teacher says “three” everyone
should smile.

You can add other signals, such as “four”
line up at the door, or “five” hands by sides.

Spotlight

Keep a flashlight handy and use it to “shine”
on behaviors you
want the children to model.  “Spotlight on a quiet listener sitting
quietly on the floor.”  “Spotlight
on a good helper pushing in the chairs.”

Super Star Class

Super Star
Cadence

(Insert the name
of your school, grade level, teacher, etc. in this chant.)

(School),
(School) is the best!        (Children repeat each
line.)

(School)  is better than all the rest!

We can read and we can write

And our letters
are out of sight.

We can count and
we can add

And that makes our teacher glad!

We make new
friends and follow rules.

Getting along is
really cool.

We can learn and
we can play

And we prove it everyday!

(School), (School)
is the best!

(School)  is better than all the rest!

We are super, yes we are.

Look out world,
here comes a star.

You can also go to
my website (drjean.org), click on videos, and then click on “Back to School
Songs” to see me demonstrate lots of activities to start your year with a song.

Zipadee Doo Dah Bags

You
are going to LOVE this idea!  It’s
a quick and easy way to engage all the children in your classroom as you review
information.

Every
child will need a zipper bag (Hefty One Zip Click Gallon Size) and an answer
sheet.  Cut paper 10” x 8 ½” and
write letters, numerals, words, colors, shapes, etc. along the left side.  Adapt the answer sheet to specific skills
and needs of your class.  For
example, if your children are struggling with the numerals 11-20, then write
the numerals 11-20.  Hint!  You will have to roll the paper a
little to fit it in the bag.

When
you have a few extra minutes ask the children get out their “zipadee doo dah”
bags.  As the teacher calls out a
word, letter, math fact, etc. the children slide the zipper to the correct
answer and hold up their bags.  The
teacher can quickly glance around the room and check their responses.   (It would actually be OK with me
if they looked at someone else’s if they didn’t know the answer.  It might help them learn!)

Last
week a teacher suggested making a number line on the answer sheet so children
could zip to the “answer” as the teacher called out math facts or number
stories.

Good
Morning Chant -Cheryl
L. Hines, Kansas City, MO, Schools

(Clap
your hands as you say this chant.)

We
are a family. 

We
are a family.  (Children repeat.)

A
classroom family.

A
classroom family. (Children repeat.)

You
are my family.  (Point to all your friends.)

You
are my family.  (Point to all your
friends.)

I’m
glad you’re here.  (Hug self.)

I’m
glad you’re here.  (Hug self.)

Dancing in the Rain!

In life, it’s not about waiting

for the storm to pass over.

It’s about dancing in the rain!

I feel like doing
a little “preaching” today!  You
don’t have to read this if you don’t want to.

The quote above
is one to carry in your hearts this coming school year.  There will be things that happen that
will make you sad and set you back – parent complaints, disagreements with
colleagues, administrator’s expectations. 
You’ve got to shut your door and sing away your troubles!  Remember, it’s the children!  Put them and their happiness first and
other things will fall in place.

One of my models
is Dr. Fran Welch who is the Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human
Performance at the College of Charleston. 
I call her the “Queen of Deans” because she’s one of the finest
administrators I’ve ever known. 
Fran once told me, “I never hold a grudge.  I just move on.” 

So, when it
storms this year, dance in the rain and just move on!

Clipboards

Kids love
clipboards.  I guess they feel
important when they carry one around. 
You can make clipboards from corrugated cardboard and a butterfly clip.  Cut the cardboard any size you want (9”
x 12” works well) and let the kids decorate with markers or crayons.  Attach paper to the clipboard with a
butterfly clip.  You can use these
on field trips, on a nature walk, or for classroom activities such as writing
the room, taking notes, surveys, interviews, drawings, etc.  If you laminate a piece of white cardstock
then the kids can use it like a wipe off board with dry erase markers.

Erin McCullough came to the workshop I did in Orlando yesterday and shared a great idea to use with "I've Got the Whole Alphabet in My Mouth."  She bought stove top covers at the dollar store and drew a face on them.  The children put the magnetic letters in the mouth as they sing.

Dea Dea Johnson had attended a Sea Lab workshop where she learned this chant to help children with the writing process.

Chorus:

Who knows the writing process?  (Open and close arms and clap as you step from side to side.

Who knows the writing process?  (Children repeat.)

I know the writing process.

I know the writing process.  (Children repeat.)

First step.  (Hold up 1 finger.)

First step.  (Children repeat.)

Brain storm.  (Touch your head and wiggle to the ground.)

Brain storm.  (Children repeat.)

Chorus

Second step...(Hold up 2 fingers.) 

Write it down...(Write in your hand with finger and wiggle bottom.)

Chorus

Third step...(Hold up 3 fingers.)

Edit your work...(Shake index finger authoritatively.)

Chorus

Fourth step...(Hold up 4 fingers.)

Publishing...(Brush hands out in front of you.)

Chorus

OH, YEAH!  (Hands on hips and wiggle with an attitude.)

Cori Goldstein and Andrea Howell TRIED to teach me how to do this hand clap game.  I definitely need to practice!

Big Mac

Filet o' fish

Quarter pounder

French fries

Icy Coke

Thick shake

Sundae

and apple pie

and the dish ran away with the spoon

and the cow jumped over the moon

and now you know the tune...

YEAH!

Sky Writing (a.k.a. Invisible Writing)

Having children
write in the air is a great way to practice strokes (lines, circles, slants, pushes),
shapes, letters, and numerals.  You
can have them extend one arm and stick out their index finger and middle
finger.  The teacher demonstrates
as the children follow along. 

Note!  If you are facing the children you will
need to reverse your movements.

Children will also
enjoy using a writing wand.  Tape
several strips of colored tissue paper (1 ½ “ x 18”) to a paint stick or jumbo
craft stick.  Children model the movements
that the teacher makes in the air.

Shape Crackers and Applesauce!

Shape Crackers

Here’s a terrificidea from my friend Pamela Pounds. Pamela sends a note to parents the first week of school asking them tosend crackers to help the children learn their shapes.   (Ritz - circles, Club crackers -rectangles, Doritos - triangles, Wheat Thins - squares, and Town House crackers- ovals.)  The parents are happy to send the crackers and they usuallylast for a month.  Pamela says it’snot only a fun way to talk about shapes, but it’s nice for children who don’thave a snack.

I thought ofseveral other additional math concepts you could reinforce:

*Give children twocrackers and ask them to describe how they are different.

*Have children eatone half of a cracker. 

*Give children asquare cracker and challenge them to nibble it into a circle.

*Give children twolike crackers.  Ask, “Are they thesame amount?”  Next, have thembreak one of the crackers into little pieces.  Ask, “Are they the same amount now?”  You’ll be surprised at theirresponse.  This is calledconservation of quantity and is an experiment Piaget used to demonstratedevelopmental stages.

*Give children asheet of paper.  Pass out a squarecracker to each child and tell the children to draw what it looks like on theirpaper.  Next, give them a circle shapedcracker and ask them to draw it. Continue with other shapes. It’s a fun way to practice pre-writing skills.

Pamela Pounds alsoshared this transition activity. She went to the school cafeteria and got the label off a can ofapplesauce.  She glued it to paperand added a stick.  When she wantsthe children to sit “criss cross applesauce” she holds up the sign.  It’s a great way to get children quietand they are doing “logographic” reading and making print connections.

Llucky Me!

Lucky me to get to share with so many teachers across the United States this summer!  Yesterday's conference for the Osage Nation Child Care Council was AMAZING!  One of the organizers commented, "We value you and appreciate you.  That's why we worked so hard to give you this special day."  And they did work hard - and it was a special day!  Can you imagine wrapping up a gift for each participant so they all won a door prize?  They pulled out all the bells and whistles to give the teachers who came a great day to start the new year.  And, they awarded me with a ceremonial blanket which I will treasure!

Tori Bennett shared this cheer to the tune of "We Will Rock You."
(Stomp, stomp, clap.)
You just (stomp, stomp, clap)
You just (stomp, stomp, clap)
Rocked it!  (Strum your guitar.)

Angel Evers said she wrote letters, numbers, shapes, words, etc. on her carpet for the children to trace, walk on, hop, etc.  Angel said to use light colored chalk and it will just disappear by the end of the day.

Shannon Hamilton suggested chanting the letters of the alphabet to "Brown Bear, Brown Bear."  For example, "Letter A, letter A, what do you see?  I see letter B looking at me...."

Kim Ward uses the "Hickety Pickety Bumblebee" chant for spelling.
Hickety pickety bumblebee.
Who can spell want for me?  (w-a-n-t)
Hickety pickety bumblebee,
Who can stomp want for me? (Stomp each letter as you spell.)
Continue spelling want with other motions...clap, hop, snap, etc.

Some of you may have heard me comment that I am an "antique" teacher.  In my 40 year journey as an educator I have been priviledged to learn many songs, stories, games, and ideas that I can share with you.  Yesterday someone mentioned that I was not an antique - I am "mid century modern."  Whatever!  I still love what I do!  Thanks for listening to me!

OKLAHOMA!

It's a beautiful morning here in Tulsa and I think I'm going to stand in the parking lot and sing, "Ooookkkaaalllahhhoommmaaaa!!!" at the top of my lungs!  Just kidding!  Anyway, I'm excited about sharing at the Osage Tribe tomorrow, but today I have a smile because I don't have to get on a plane!  :)

Here are some ideas that I collected in my backpack this week.  Enjoy!

A Fuzzy Little Caterpillar  (Leanne Hutchison, Jackson, TN)
(Tune:  "I Had a Little Turtle")

A fuzzy little caterpillar wiggled right by me.   (Wiggle index finger.)
He wiggled long.  (Wiggle finger away.)
He wiggled short.  (Wiggle finger close.)
He wiggled right at me.  (Wiggle finger at your face.)
I put him in a box.  (Cup hands.)
"Don't go away I said!"  (Point finger.)
But when I opened up the box
There was a butterfly instead!  (Clasp thumbs and wiggle fingers like a butterfly.)

*You can adapt this song for "I had a little tadpole...I put him in a jar...  Don't go away I said. . But when I opened up the jar a frog hopped out instead!"

Chant Sight Words  (Becky Ashton, Indianapolis, IN)

HE  - muscles up and say "h"
         muscles up and say "e"
         flex muscles and say "HE"

SHE - flick hair on "s"
         flick hair on "h"
         flick hair on "e"
         hands on hips and say "SHE"

See You Around  (Sorry, I didn't get this teacher's name!)

See you around.  (Take index finger and draw an invisble circle in the air.)
If you don't turn square.  (Index fingers touch and then go in opposite directions to form a square.)

Yummy Words  (Sarah Kilfoil Indianpolis, IN)

Let each child select a favorite word - yummy word!  It can be a favorite food, something they like to do, etc.  Place the words in a pocket chart or word wall and use for attendance.

Sarah teaches at a Christian school and helps her children learn their right hand by calling it their "praying hand" because it's the hand they use to make the sign of a cross.

Surprise Can  (Julie Wiegman & Anne Greer, St. Jude Catholic School)

Each week place a different letter on top of a paint can.  (You can purchase an empty paint can at Lowe's or Home Depot.)  Select one child each night to take home the surprise can.  Ask parents to assist their child in finding four items at home that begin with the letter.  Put the four itmes in the can along with clues about each object.  At school the next day, the child (with help from the teacher) gives clues as classmates try to guess what the objects are.   Example:  This is something that is a fruit. This is round and red.  It grows on a tree.  A-Apple!

Onsets and Rimes  (Jennifer Evans, Muncie, IN)

Use plastic blinds and cut 2 slits horzontally on the left side of one blind about 1" apart.  The cuts should be about 1" from the left side of the blind.  Take another blind and use it as the slide.  Write the rime on the blind with the slits and the onsets on the blind that you slide through.

Back to Back  (I couldn't find the teacher's name who gave this to me?)

This is a great brain break that a teacher in Indiapolis demonstrated with us.  Every child needs a partner and touches body parts as the teacher calls out:
back to back  (touch backs)
shoulder to shoulder (touch shoulders)
elbow to elbow
knee to knee
head to head
wrist to wrist
feet to feet
hip to hip
Continue calling out vaious body parts...
End with "bottom to chair" as children sit down!

Positive Attention Grabber (Erin Hensley)

When Erin wants to focus her children's attention she says:
Be as loving as you can
As often as you can
For as many peopl as you can
As long as you live!

Can You Dig It?  (Rachel Lawrence, Marion City Schools)

Hide magnetic numerals in a sand table.  Each student is given a sheet with math facts appropriate to their level.  During math centers they have to do their facts and then dig out the answers (magnetic letters) in the sand.
*You can also hide letters and have children spell words.

Spelling Trays (Rachel Lawrence)

Prepare "spelling trays" in plastic drawers.  Children choose a tray and then take it to their desk and spell words using one of the materials below:
*Wikki sticks
*magnetic letters
*puzzle letters
*black light pens (security pen with black light key chain)
*alphabet stickers
*alphabet blocks
*dry erase board 

Back to School Songs

Augst lst!  Say it isn't so!  Summer is chugging along and it's time for a back to school song!

Check out my August activities on my website (drjean.org) for some tunes to get you going.  You'll also be able to see a video of me demonstrating the songs.

"People sing because they are happy, and they are happy because they sing!"