GAME ON!

GAME ON!

It’s almostOctober lst and that means there will be lots of new activities up on mywebsite.  One thing I wanted tofocus on was how to use traditional children’s games to reinforce skills.  Here’s a snippet of what you’ll findthis month at drjean.org.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Do you rememberthe old game where you placed chairs in a circle and walked around until themusic stopped?  If you didn’t finda chair you were OUT!  This is asimilar game that can reinforce letters, words, colors, math facts. etc. Writeletters, words, math facts, etc. on paper plates.  Scatter them on the floor.  Play some catchy music for the children to dance to.   When the music stops each childfinds a paper plate and picks it up. The teacher randomly points to various children to identify theinformation on their plates. 

*If the child isunsure about what is on their plate invite them to “ask the audience.”

HEADS UP - SEVEN UP

Seven childrencome to the front of the room and are given a flash card with a word or whateveron it.  The rest of the classplaces their heads down.  The seventiptoe around and place a flash card by a friend before returning to the frontof the room.  The seven join in andsay, “Heads up!  Seven up!”  Children who received a flash cardstand up and read their word.  Theythen guess who gave them the card and switch places.

RED ROVER, RED ROVER

Divide the classinto two teams and have them stand on opposite sides of the room facing eachother.  Give each player a flashcard to hold in front of them.  Theteacher goes to one team and asks, “Who do you want to call over?”  The children select someone from theopposite side and say, “Red rover, red rover, send word rightover.”  The child holding that wordwalks, hops, tiptoes or jumps to the opposite side.  The game continues as sides take turns calling words over.

HOPSCOTCH

Draw a hopscotchframe on a paved surface.  Write letters, words, numerals, or anything you want to reinforce in thesections.  Children take turnshopping as they identify the information in the squares.

Hint!  You can make an indoor hopscotch on ashower curtain liner.  Use anerasable marker so you can change the information in the squares throughout theschool year.

CATCH AND TELL

You will need abean bag or small sponge ball to play this game.  The teacher says a letter and then tosses the ball to achild.  That child must namesomething that begins with that sound before tossing the ball back to the teacher. 

*This game can beadapted for rhyming words, colors, math, social studies, and other skills.

  

TIC TAC TOE

Divide the classinto two teams.  One team is “X”and one team is “O.”  One child ata time from each team comes forward. The teacher asks players to answer a question, identify a word,etc.  If the player gets thecorrect answer they get to make an “X” or an “O” on the board for theirteam. 

UPCOMING DATES

Yesterday I was invited to sing at Frierson Elementary on Johns Island, SC.  Those of you who live in Charleston know I try to do one free concert every week in local schools.  Singing with children is my JOY!  Take a look at these faces!

I'm sure there are times in your day when you want to pull your hair out, but that's the magic of singing a song.  A gift from the heart is always received by the heart.  And that's how children receive the love you give them with a song, story, or poem!  So shut your door and sing LOUD today!

Here are somelocations where I will be this coming school year.  I’ll look forward to singing YOU a new song!

11/14/2011  TNKindergarten                           Nashville,TN

                        Conference                                    sde.com

11/15/2011 “Rock, Rhyme,                          Lexington,KY

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

11/19/2011   LehighCarbon                        Schnecksville,PA

                        CommunityCollege            dwanamaker@lccc.edu

11/28/11       GeorgiaKindergarten            Atlanta,GA

                        Conference                                    sde.com

11/29/2011  “Rock, Rhyme,                        NewYork City

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

12/6/2011    “Rock,Rhyme,                        Wichita,KS

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

12/7/2011    “Rock, Rhyme,                          OklahomaCity, OK

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com


12/13/2011  "Rock, Rhyme,                          Houston, TX
                        Write, and Read"                          sde.com


12/14/2011  "Rock, Rhyme                           San Antonio, TX
                        Write, and Read"                          sde.com

1/13/2012    CaliforniaKindergarten            SantaClara, CA

                        californiakindergartenassociation.org

2/1/2012       “Rock,Rhyme,                          GrandRapids, MI

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

2/2/2012       “Rock,Rhyme,                          Lavonia,MI

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

2/15/2012   “Rock,Rhyme,                        Lafayette,LA

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

2/16/2012   “Rock,Rhyme,                        NewOrleans, LA

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

2/28/2012    “Rock, Rhyme,                          Springfield,MO

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

2/29/2012    “Rock, Rhyme,                          St.Louis, MO

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

4/3/2012     “Rock,Rhyme,                        Roanoke,VA

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

4/4/2012       “Rock,Rhyme,                        Richmond,VA

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

4/17/2012    “Rock, Rhyme,                          Knoxville,TN

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

4/18/2012     “Rock,Rhyme,                          Charlotte,NC

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

5/1/2012      “Rock,Rhyme,                          Omaha,NE

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

5/2/2012     “Rock,Rhyme,                        DesMoines, IA

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

5/3/2012       “Rock,Rhyme,                        ElkGrove, IL

                        Write,and Read”                        sde.com

5/15/2012    “Rock, Rhyme,                          Philadelphia,PA

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

5/16/2012    “Rock, Rhyme,                          Baltimore,MD

                        Write,and Read”                         sde.com

June 21 &22, 2012

COLLEGE OFCHARLESTON EARLY CHILDHOOD SUMMIT

*If you’venever been to the most beautiful city in the United States (my city), thenyou’ll want to mark this on your calendar!  Sharon MacDonald, Dr. C.C. Bates, Dr. Clarissa Wlllis, LyndaWeaver, and the fantastic faculty at the College of Charleston will be joiningme for two exciting days!  Moredetails to come…

MORNING MANTRA

Several years agowhen I was in Ohio a teacher shared this activity for starting his day.   I think the idea originated witha football coach, but regardless of age level or content area, the message isan important reminder of what we’re all about!   Look your children in the eyes and see what happens when you start your day this way.

Teacher:  What is my job today?

Children:  Your job is to teach us and to love us.

Teacher:  What is your job today?

Children:  Our job is to learn and to love eachother.

I can also see howyou could use this question when a child is misbehaving.

“Are you doingyour job?”

How Does MyTeacher Feel about Me?

I was visitingan inner city school in Atlanta and the teacher used this question and responseto focus children’s attention.

Teacher:  How does my teacher feel about me?

Children:  I’m as special as special can bebecause my teacher believes in me!

Isn’t thatbetter than “Shhhh!  Bequiet!”  This would also make a goodposter for your door for children to read before going out in the hall.

IPAD CENTER

IPads are the“hot” thing these days!  I knowmany of you have to “share” Ipads with other classes, so here’s an idea that cankeep all of the children engaged as they become familiar with the key pad.

Place the IPad ona printer and make a color copy. Glue the photo to the inside of a pocket folder.  Write letters, words, phrase cards,vocabulary, or whatever skill you want to reinforce on index cards.  Place the index cards in the leftpocket so the child can pull out one at a time and type it.  When she’s finished typing a card shecan place it in the right pocket.

You could makeone for each child in your classroom or use the idea as a center activity.

Taaa daaa!  That’s the idea for the day!

GOOD TEACHING IS GOOD TEACHING!

One advantage ofbeing in the field of education for over four decades is that I’ve seen manybandwagons roll down School Avenue. By that I mean that every five years there seems to be a new set of standards,a new discipline strategy, a new assessment, or a new approach that is going tofix all of our education system’s short fallings.

The bottom lineis good teaching is good teaching. My father taught in a one room school house over 75 years ago and I bethe implemented some of the “best practices” that worked for me when I startedteaching in 1969. 

I’ve heard somemoans and groans recently about the Common Core Standards.  Have you looked at them?  Look at them and study them beforecondemning them.  They areGOOD.  They are BASIC.  They are meant to improve qualityacross our country.  Let mequote:  “The Standards define whatall students are expected to know and be able to do, not how teachers shouldteach.”  The expectations are veryrelevant and realistic.  They are whatgood teachers have been doing in the different grade levels for decades.

Smart teachersknow the research.  Smart teachersknow their standards and curriculum. And smart teachers know how to articulate what they are doing and howthey are fusing activities children enjoy with goals to success!

teachingchannel.org

I’ve found agreat website called teachingchannel.org. Take a look at some of their videos that demonstrate how teachers areimplementing Common Core Standards.

Rock StarCheer

Now that I’vepreached, I owe you a new cheer!  Benddown the middle finger and ring finger on both hands.  Pinky, index fingers, and thumb stay straight.  Now, bend your elbows and point yourhands down as you say, “Rock star!” 

You can also dothe “You Rock” cheer.  When a childgets an answer correctly clap twice, point at them with both index fingers andsay, “You rock!”

POST FROM PINELLAS COUNTY

Formany years it has been my pleasure to visit Pinellas County, Florida, to sharewith their teachers.  Although thisis a large county, they have the “heart” of a small community and they’vealways been totally dedicated to children.  They embrace change and technology, but balance it withcreative, engaging activities similar to these:

Funwith Phones  (Janice Pires,Tarpon Springs Elementary)

Recycleused/non-working cell phones with this game.  Write high frequency words or fluency phrases on jumbo craftsticks and place them in the box the cell phone came in.  Children hold the phone, reach in thebox, and then say the word as if they are talking on the phone.

*Adaptfor letters, numerals, math facts, etc.

ChalkTalk  (Cari Barnes)

Drawnames, shapes, numbers, or letters on sidewalks with chalk.  Give children cups of water andpaintbrushes so they can paint over the chalk lines.  The water evaporates so children can do it over and over.

Carialso suggested that when you make books from zip bag you can cover the stapledspine with duct tape to add a finished edge and protect little fingers fromstaples.

BottleLid Phonics (Lana Lillie)

Collectwater bottle lids (white ones). Write uppercase letters on one set with a permanent marker and lowercaseletters on another set.  Childrensay the sounds as they put the lids in alphabetical order.  They can match upper and lowercaseletters, make words, etc.

APPLES OF MY EYE

Apple Tree

(Tune:  “This Old Man”)

Way up high in thetree,                      (Pointup.)

One red applesmiled down at me,         (Holdup 1 finger and then smile.)

So I shook thattree as hard as I could.(Pretend to shake a tree.)

Down came anapple,                            (Bringdown one hand.)

Mmm!  Mmm!  Good!                             (Pattummy.)

Two yellow pears…                               (Holdup 2 fingers.)

Three purpleplums…                           (Holdup 3 fingers.)

4 orange peaches…                              (Holdup 4 fingers.)

5 green limes…                                    (Holdup 5 fingers.)

Counting Book– Make a stack and staple book with five pages.  After singing the song several times ask each child to makea book based on the words to the song. 

P.S.  I’ve gotten very interested in CommonCores Standards lately.  This is agreat example of taking something fun and extending it to reinforce skills inan appropriate way.

Apple Tasting– Purchase severalvarieties of apples and cut them into bite size pieces.  Have each child taste the apples andthen color their favorite in on a graph. Which one was the most popular? Least?  How are apples alike?  How are they different?

Fruit Prints– Cut an apple in half diagonally. Do you see the star?  Let itdrain on a paper towel.  Pour alittle paint in a paper plate. Children dip the apple in the paint and then print it on a sheet ofpaper.  Can you still see astar?  (Use lemons, limes, andother firm fruits to make prints.)

The Star Story  Put a red apple and knife in a bagand have it on your lap as   youbegin to   tell the story below.  Insert children’s names in yourclassroom to capture their interest.

         Oneday first child’s name went to visit grandmother.  Grandmother said, “How would you liketo go on a secret mission?”  “Oh, I’dlove that,” replied first child. So grandmother said, “I want you to find a little red house with nodoors and no windows.  There shouldbe a chimney on top and a star in the middle.” 
         Firstchild was so excited as he set off on his mission.  As first child was thinkingabout what it could be, he ran into second child.   “Do you know where I can find alittle red house with no doors and no windows.  There should be a chimney on top and a star in the middle.”  Second child said, “I’ve neverheard of anything like that, but would you like me to help you?”  “Sure,” replied first child andoff they went.

         Theywalked on a little further until they saw third child.  “Have you seen a little red house withno doors and no windows?  There’s achimney on top and a star in the middle.” “Gosh.  I don’t know whatthat could be, but would you like me to help you?” replied third child.  So off they went on their mission.

         Thestory continues as more children join in the search.

         Finally,the children had about given up when they ran into grandpa.  He was on his way home from the storewith something he had bought.  “Grandpa,”the children said.  “Grandma sentus on a mission.  She told us tofind a little red house with no doors and no windows.  There’s a chimney on top and a star in the middle.  What could it be?”  Grandpa laughed, “Well, I have theanswer to your riddle right here in my sack.”  And he pulled out an apple. (Pull the apple from yoursack.)  The children said, “Howdoes that solve our riddle?” Grandpa said, “This apple is like a little red house.  See, it’s round and the stem is like achimney.”  “But where’s the star?”wondered the children.  Grandpatook a knife and sliced the apple in half.  (Take the knife and slice the apple in halfdiagonally.)  “And here’s the star!”  The children were amazed to see thatsure enough, there was a star in the middle.

         Grandpasaid, “You know people are like this star.  We’re different sizes, colors, and shapes on theoutside.  But if you look inside,you’ll find a special star inside each person you meet!”

Hint! Red Delicious apples will usually have the best star inside.

Barbara had a great idea for a bulletin board that relates to apples:

We made an apple tree bulletin board today to welcome and showcase our High School PALs. I'm going to put their picture on an apple . . . and I used the following statements to talk about them:

PALS . . . . are 'TREE'mendous, go out on a limb for us, help us branch out, are the apple of our eye, help us bear good fruit, root for us.

LEAF PEEPERS

LeavesAre Falling  (Tune:  “London Bridge”)

Leavesare falling to the ground, 


Tothe ground, 
to the ground. 


Redand orange, yellow and brown,

Falling, falling down.

LeafHunt - Giveeach child a lunch sack and let them collect 2 or 3 leaves from the ground.Bring these back in the classroom and sort by shape, color, etc.  You could also graph the leaves byshape.  (Whenever you collect items outside emphasize the importance of taking things from the ground.  Return the objects to where you found them after exploring with them in the classroom.)

Research– Check outa leaf identification book from the library.  Can children match up their leaves with those in the book toidentify which tree they came from.

LeafRubbings - Laya sheet of paper on top of a leaf. Remove the paper from an old crayon and rubthe side over the leaf to make a print.

Hint!Userubber cement to glue the leaf to the table. It will be easier for the childrento make a rubbing, and you can just rub off the rubber cement after theactivity.

LeafBook - Leteach child find a "favorite" leaf. To preserve, place the leaf in asheet of newspaper and put a book on top. Place the leaf in a zip baggie.Encourage children to dictate or write a sentence about their leaf. Put thebaggies together to make a class book.

IWonder Why? -Brainstorm why leaves turn colors and fall off trees in the fall. Have childrengo home and do a little research with their parents and report results in classthe following day.

Is anybody fromTroy, New York, reading this?  I’mdoing a workshop in Troy on October 1^st.  I’ll be flying into Albany on Friday the 30^th ofSeptember and I’d be happy to do a free concert at a school that afternoon ifanyone is interested.

SCARECROW SEASON

There’s alwaysbeen something lovable about scarecrows to me.  Don’t be “scared” to try one of these activities!

Scarecrow

(Tune:  “Skip to My Lou” – Children answer eachline.)

Stand up andstretch out your arms like a scarecrow. Listen carefully and see if you can do what the scarecrow says!

Can you turnaround?                     I can turn around.  (Children answer.)

Can you touch theground?           I can touch the ground.

Can you wiggleyour nose?                 

Can you touch yourtoes?

Can you wave uphigh?

Can you let yourarms fly?

Can you give aclap?

Can you give asnap?

Can you jump,jump, jump?

Can you thump,thump, thump?

Can you wiggleyour knees?

Can you sit down,please?           Yes, yes,indeed!  (Children sit down.)

ScarecrowCollage – Give childrenfabric scraps, construction paper, straw, etc. and invite them to create ascarecrow.  What is their scarecrow’sname? 

Class Scarecrow– Newspaper, old clothes,and a paper grocery sack will work just fine for a classroom scarecrow.  Stuff newspaper in the sack and gatherthe bottom with a rubber band to make a head.  Add a face with markers, paints, or construction paperscraps.  Let the children wad upnewspaper and stuff the clothes. Sit it up in a chair and prop up the head with a dowel rod.  Have the children bring in gloves, ahat, boots, etc. from home to complete the scarecrow.  Write stories about the scarecrow.  What would you do if you were a scarecrow?

ScarecrowSandwich – Cut a circleout of a piece of bread.  Tintcream cheese yellow with food coloring and spread it on the circle.  Grate carrots and use for the hair.  Raisins can be added for eyes and amouth.  Add a candy corn for a noseand enjoy!

HAPPY FALL, YA'LL!

Friday, September23, is the first day of fall, so this week I’ll share some ideas to help youcelebrate.

Nature Walk – Take a nature walk and look for signs offall.  Why do squirrels gathernuts?  How do other animals preparefor the winter? 

Gray Squirrel

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,         (Holdhands close to chest like paws.)

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

Wrinkle up yourlittle nose,         (Wrinklenose.)

Hide a nut betweenyour toes.     (Pretendto hold a nut in your paws.)

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,         (Holdhands close to chest like paws.)

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

Climb up in thetallest tree.         (Armsclimb up above head.)

Let your tail blowin the breeze.  (Wigglebottom.)

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,         (Holdhands close to chest like paws.)

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.                  (Wiggleyour bottom.)

If you’ll be afriend of mine,         (Pointto self and then a friend.)

I will be a friendof yours.

Gray squirrel,gray squirrel,

Swish your bushytail.

Note!  Visit drjean.org, click on September,2007, and then click on “Gray Squirrel.” You will be able to download an adorable book that Martha Sheehancreated to go with this song.  Thesong is on disk one of my CD “Happy Everything.”

Gray Squirrel – Have children draw the body of a squirrelon a gray sheet of paper and cut out it out.   Staple the squirrel to a straw to make a puppet.  Staple a piece of felt or fake fur tothe squirrel for a bushy tail.

Nutty Math – Purchase a bag of mixed nuts at thestore.  Children can use these forcounting activities, as well as sorting and patterning.  Children will also enjoy cracking thenuts open and picking out the “meat.”

Note!  Be aware of allergies before using nutsin your classroom.

CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN!

Children arechildren regardless of socio-economic level, sex, ethnic background, orability.  I love to remind peoplethat baby bears are baby bears regardless of IQ.  In spite of all of the labels we try to impose on children,we must never forget that they are children FIRST!

A neighbor said,“I heard your songs are good for children with autism.  Do you work with children withautism?”  I kept my cool as Iresponded, “I sing with ALL children. Music is a universal language that helps us love each other.”  (I borrowed that “music helps us loveeach other” from Pete Seeger, but it’s true.)

Where am I goingwith this?  I have a friend with alittle granddaughter who has some physical issues and has to wear a brace onher leg.  I remind her grandmotherto just love her and pretend like there is nothing wrong.  In my years as an educator I have seenchildren with no arms and legs “Tooty Ta” with me.  I have had children with no arms write and draw with theirtoes.  I have seen children inwheelchairs picked first to be on a kick ball team.  I have had all the boys want to marry my little bald Laurenwho had gone through chemotherapy. Why?  Because if you don’ttell children they are different they won’t act different.  It’s as simple as that!

I’m visiting my grandson’sfirst grade class tomorrow and I’ve been asked to integrate what I do withfriendship and citizenship.  I’mgoing to teach them “Katalina Matalina” and talk about having a heart of gold.  I’m going to buy a bag of tickets atthe dollar store for each class and ask the teachers to pass the tickets out tothe children so they can give “kindness” tickets to their friends.  We’re going to sing “We Love Our Flag”and I’m going to teach them the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language becauseit makes the words so much more meaningful.  And I found this poem in an old file:

I pledge to myselfon this day

To try to be kindin every way.

To every personbig or small

I will help themif they fall.

I will love myselfand others, too.

That’s the bestthat I can do!

And, we’ll do the“Tooty Ta” and the “Banana Dance” and we’ll all smile and love each other!  Children are children!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Those of you whohave attended my workshops might have heard me say, “We’d go to jail now forthings we used to do in the classroom.” I don’t mean that literally because we never did anything mean tochildren, but many of the restrictions were just not an issue in the “olddays.”  We could take our class outfor recess (Yep!  Run around andplay time.) whenever we wanted and we had a lot more flexibility and creativityin terms of the curriculum.

The “Friday Fairy”used to come to my room every week and nobody complained.  The children LOVED the Friday Fairybecause she left a little penny candy in their desk while they were atlunch.  (I invited a 5^thor 6^th grade student to sneak in my room and distribute the goodieswhile we were out of the room.)

See what Imean?  You’d probably get in a lotof trouble for doing that now. However, there are other things you can do to make Friday a special day.  And, after the children have workedhard all week it’s nice to end on a happy note.  Here are some other ideas for Fabulous Friday:

15-30minutes free time at the end of the day.

Jamboree– Get together with your grade level and sing.

GuestReader – Invite a parent, politician, or school helper to read.

GameTime – Children bring board games or card games from home.  (NOvideo games)

Recess– Now, wouldn’t that be fun?  30minutes of unstructured play outside.  (One teacher said she did this and herkids asked her, “What shouldI do?”  Sad!)

Dancingwith the Stars – Play music and let the children dance.

Takeoff your shoes – I know this sounds stupid, but my kids thought thiswas the great fun.

KinderCafé – Invite a different parent each week to come in and cook.

DoYour Own Thing – Children get to read, draw, talk…


*Please email me if you have an idea to add to the list!  
Oh, and have a FABULOUS FRIDAY!

Barbara sent some other great ideas:


Here are some of the ideas our teachers at Westwood use:

Tiptoe tag time
Paper airplane time
Funny Face time
Drum line using pencils
Quiet art time
Extra library - kids LOVE this!
Work with play-doh
Wiki Sticks time
Nature Center time
Make a puppet
American Idol Sing-along time
Musical chairs

Barbara
The Corner On Character

Here's another idea from my friend Gina in Michigan:

We have "mystery reader" on Friday. Parents sign up using a google.doc so the kids do not have any idea who is coming in. We wait very quietly with the lights out and when the door is open someone is very surprised. The parents can bring a "souvenir" to help the child retell the story at home but this is not expected. The kids absolutely love it!! 

Shhhhhh!

Is, “Shhhhhh!” notworking?  Well, here are a fewtricks for you to try!

Student Heroes

5-4-3-2-1-zero                  (Holdup hand and put down one finger at a time.)

I’m looking for my              (Makecircles with index fingers and thumbs and

student heroes.                  placearound eyes like glasses.)

*Call the names ofchildren who are sitting quietly.

         SpecialSignals

         Blowbubbles.  Challenge children tolook at you and be quiet before all the bubblespop.

         Opena music box.  When children hearthe music they should freeze.

         Blinkthe lights, play a xylophone, or make some other unique noise or motion.

Simon Says

Begin a game of Simon Says:

         Simonsays clap three times.

         Simonsays put your hands in the air.

         Simonsays touch your ears.

         Simonsays blink your eyes, etc.

As children join in the game lower yourvoice as you say:

         Simonsays put your hands in your lap and

         listento me…line up at the door…get out your

         mathbooks, etc.

Look at ____!

If you can findone child in your room exhibiting the behavior you are looking for then you cansay, “If you don’t know what to do, look at child’s name.”

Magic Clap

Explain to the children that you have amagic signal that only your class will know about.  Every time you clap your hands, you want them to repeat theclap and look at you.  Practice clapping various patterns until all the children have joinedin..

If You CanHear My Voice

In a normal voice say:

If you can hear my voice, clap yourhands one time.

In a softer voice say:

         Ifyou can hear my voice, clap your hands two times.

In a whisper voice say:

         Ifyou can hear my voice, please look at me.

Continue lowering your voice until childrenare focused on you.

  

Criss Cross

Criss cross,                           (Siton floor and cross legs.)

Be your own boss.                  (Foldyour arms and nod head.)

Sitting Chant

1, 2, 3, 4  - glue your bottoms to the floor.

5, 6, 7, 8  - hands to yourself and sit upstraight.