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!"