MOUTH OF THE SOUTH

When I was a cheerleader in high schoolthey called me the “mouth of the south.” As I was working on my blog it dawned on me that 45 years later I’mstill the “mouth of the south” for teachers.  You share wonderful ideas with me and then it’s my privilegeto pass them on. 

Thank you, Louisiana teachers, for thesegreat ideas!

HighFive Hands

Eachweek cut two hands out of construction paper and tape them to the classroomdoor.  Write upper and lowercaseletters, words, numerals and number words, shapes, etc. on the hands.  Each time the children enter theclassroom they “high five” the hands and identify the information.

QuizQuiz Trade – Pass out flashcards (letters, shapes, words, etc.) to thestudents.  They walk around andfind a partner.  Each childidentifies the information on their partner’s card and then they trade and finda new partner. 

Hint!  Encourage students to give hints tohelp their partner identify the information.

Magic Finger (Suzanne Newton, BatonRouge)

Havechildren hold up their index finger and tell them it’s their “magicfinger.”  Tell them to close theireyes and then spritz their finger with water.  They can use their “magic finger” to track print and point.

CheerBook (Norma)

Normamakes a book for each child in her room to help them learn letters and to learntheir name.  For each letter in thechild’s name there is a page that says, “Give me a letter.”   The last page says, “What’s thatspell?  Child’s name!”  You could let children illustrate the lastpage with their picture or use a photograph.

Friendship Game  (Allison Andrews, Shreveport LA)

This is a great activity to use at thebeginning of the school year, to start your day, or when children are havingdifficulty getting along.

Skills:          orallanguage, social development, self esteem

Materials:    large bucketwith lid (Decorate it with pictures of the children.)     popsiclesticks or cards with each child’s name    (Makesure to put the teacher’s name in as well!)

Instructions:  Sit in a “Friendship Circle.”  Each child draws a    nameand says something special to make his/her    friendsmile.

Dial a Word  (Sheila Howze, Livingston, LA)

Here is a great game to recycle an old cellphone.  Children take CVC words andfind the numbers they represent on the phone.  They can then “call” the word and talk to it. 

D O G – 3, 6, 4

R A T – 7, 2, 8


Want a free concert?  If anyone in Springfield, MO, reads this I will be flying into Springfield Monday and I'll have time to sing at a school that afternoon.  Give me a call 404-386-9057 if you're interested.