Gummy Bears

Someone wantedmore information about “The Gummy Bears.” First, cut 5 bears out of construction paper (red, orange, green,yellow, and purple).  Cut fivepennies out of orange construction paper or fun foam.  Choose five children to come to the front of the room andhold the bears.  Pass out penniesto five other children.  Invite therest of the class to hold up five fingers as you sing this song to the tune of“Five Little Ducks.”  (It’s on myCD IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?)

Down at the candyshop what did I see?

Five little gummybears smiling at me.

Along came(child’s name) with a penny one day.

He/she bought thegreen one and took it away.

Down at the candy shop what did I see?

Four little gummy bears smiling at me.

Along came (child's name) with a penny one day.

He/she bought the purple one and took it away.

Continue singingas children buy the other colors.

Adaptations:  Change the number of bears in the song.

Use nickels,dimes, or quarters.

Pumpkins,valentines, and other seasonal items can be used in place of the bears.

Desktop Writing

Desktop Writing

Here’s an idea tosave for when you’re setting up your classroom.  Did you know you could write directly on the surface ofdesks and tables with a Sharpie marker. It can be erased with a Mr. Clean eraser.  Think of all the possibilities for this!  Names, alphabet letters, number lines,sight words, notes of encouragement….!

You can also writeon a mirror with a dry erase marker. Put reminders, such as “Remember to wash your hands!”  Congratulate a child on a specialaccomplishment.  Write a dailyriddle or brain teaser.

Tater Tot Cheer

When I was at the ETSU Conference this week Seglinda taught me the Tater Tot cheer.

For a good job give a tater tot.  (Make a fist and stick out the knuckle of your index finger and tap with your partner.)

For a better job give a tater.  (Make fists and touch all knuckles.)

For a super job give some fries.  (Extend fingers and wiggle as you touch.)

Grandma's Finger Play

(Rita Quarles shared this finger play that she learned from her grandmother when she was little.  Just an example of how all those rhymes and songs stay in our brains forever!)

Two little hands soft and bright.  (Hold up hands.)

This is my left.  (Extend left.)

This is my right.  (Extend right.)

Ten little fingers standing on each.  (Wiggle fingers.)

So that I may hold a plum or peach.  (Open palms up.)

When I get as big as you,

Lots of things these hands will do!  (Clap hands.)

Discovery Bags

What do you do with all those bags you get at conferences?  Here are some 
"discovery bags" you can create to use in your classroom this year.  

Why?             writing;science concepts; math; vocabulary; motivation

What?            computerbag, old briefcase, backpack, etc.

How?             Filla computer bag with some of the materials below.

ConceptBag –Put objects that are the same color, shape, beginning

sound,etc. in the bag

ThemeBags – Collect books about a particular theme.  Add pencils, paper, crayons, and ask children, “What can youfind out?”

TellMe More – Put an object in the bag and give the children clues.  When they guess what it is, take it outof the bag and encourage the children to describe the object.  Keep saying, “Tell me more!” as theyuse more adjectives to describe the item.

WritingPortfolio – Put paper, envelopes, sticky notes, pencils, pens, coloredpencils, stickers, scissors, glue, and other writing paraphernalia in the bag.

MathKit – Add a calculator, ruler, minute timer, counters, toy money, tablet,pencil, calendar, and other math related objects to the bag.

ScienceKit – You will need an old white dress shirt (short sleeve) and safetygoggles to make a science kit. Write “scientist of the week” on the pocket.  Add paper, pencils, a magnet, magnifying glass, and book ofscience experiments to the kit. One child each week gets to be “scientist of the week” and take home thebag on Monday.  They choose ascience experiment and practice it at home with their parents.  On Thursday, they return the kit andpresent the experiment to their classmates.

HappyBag – Fill the bag with a special book, puppet, game, flashlight, and othersmall toys.  Use for emergencies tomake children happy.

ArtPortfolio – Place construction paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors,play dough, and other art media in a bag for individual creative activities.

TakeHome Activities – Send home games, books, puzzles, and other activitieschildren can work on at home with their parents.

WOW!  Take a look at what Jennifer at "kinderpond" has to share!

kinderpond.com/discoverypacks

NAME BADGES

I was cleaningoff my desk this morning and found a name badge from a conference I recentlyattended.  You’ve probably got oneyourself in a drawer.  You can alsopurchase these at an office supply store. Here are some interesting ways to recycle those old name badges in yourclassroom this year!

Skills - Chooseskills you are working on (letters, words, numerals, colors, shapes, etc.) and wear them in thename badge. Sing this song to the tune of “If You’reHappy and You Know it:”

                                    If you can read this word,letter, shout it out. 

                                    Ifyou can read this ______, whisper it out.

                                    Ifyou can read this ______, spell it out.

                                    Ifyou can read this ______, shout it out.

                        Here’sanother chant to reinforce skills:

                                    I know color, numeral.  Yes, I do.

                                    Iknow _____.  How about you?

                                    Childrenrepeat:

                                    Weknow ______.  Yes, we do.

                                    Weknow ______.  Just like you!

Special Event -  Whena child has a special event in their life, make a badgefor them to wear.  Forexample:  “I’m a new big brother.”   “I scored a goal at my soccer name.”  

Hint!  Encourage faculty members to recognizethese badges.

Ask Me About - Tocelebrate a skill (writing their name, recognizing all the letters,reading sight words) a child has achieved, write “Ask me about skill” onthe badge.  For example:  “Ask me about counting to l00.”  “Ask me about writing my name."


Whenchildren show proficiency in addition, make a badge thatsays, “Name has earned a B.A. (Best in Addition).” Forsubtraction write, “Name has earned an M.S. (Master in Subtraction.)"

Ifyou are doing a unit of study, individualize instruction by allowingchildren to choose a topic they are interested in.  Afterdoing “research,” they write their area of "expertise" andwear it in their name badge. Children walk around theroom and ask each other questions.

*Usethis idea for book reports.  

*Atthe beginning of the school year, make “expert” name badges so children can get to know eachother.


Here is a comment from Ms. Jessi:

Perfect ideas! I've usedthem on field trips by putting my business card in it. :)

MrsDugginsDoodlebugs wrote:

I LOVE these ideas - Iuse them a "Center Captain" badges too. My captain of the day (foreach group) get's to wear this badge and boy do they feel special! 

KATALINA MATALINA UPSADINA WALKADINA HOCA POCA LOCA

Katalina GoesBack to School

Oh, mygoodness!  August is almost hereand many of you are getting ready to go back to school.  Katalina Matalina would like to go withyou this year!

Katalina and I goback a long time to when I was a girl scout in the 1950’s.  I loved her then and children stilllove her today!  She has several cousins,like Hagalena Magalena, but the message is the same. 

Skills:  phonologicalawareness, invented spelling, diversity, comprehension

Directions:  Children will love singing this song tothe tune of “Shortnin’ Bread.”  Then you can use Katalina as a catalyst for reinforcing other skills. 

*The song is on my“Silly Songs” CD if you want to get it on my website drjean.org.

Chorus:            KatalinaMatalina Upsadina Walkadina Hoca Poca Loca was her name.

                        Herhead was shaped like a baseball bat.   (Point to head.)

                        Andright on top was a funny, old hat. (Chorus)

                        Shehad two hairs in her head.  (Pointto hair.)

                        Onewas alive and the other was dead. (Chorus)

                        Shehad two eyes in her head.  (Pointto eyes.)

                        Onewas purple and the other was red. (Chorus)

                        Shehad two teeth in her mouth.  (Pointto mouth.  Point up and down.)

                        Onepointed north and the other pointed south.  (Chorus)

                        Herneck was as long as a ten foot pole. (Point to neck.)

                        Andright in the middle was a big, black bow. (Chorus)

                        Herhips were like two ships in port. (Wiggle hips.)

                        Oneheaded south and the other headed north. (Chorus)

                        Herfeet were as flat as a bathroom mat. (Point to feet.)

                        Howdid they ever get like that? (Chorus)

                        Butshe had a heart, so I’m told.  (Puthands over heart.)

                        Thatwas made of purest gold.  (Chorus)

Syllables  - Clapout the syllables in Katalina’s name. Clap out the syllablesin the children’s names in your classroom.  Count howmany claps in each person’s name. Compare and graph.      

            

Shared Writing  -  Asan interactive writing activity slowly say Katalina’s name. Encourage the children to call out letters as you write them on theboard.   Makeup silly rhymes with children’s names,

Comprehension - Have children close their eyes as yousing the song and createa picture of Katalina in their heads. Give each child asheet of paper to draw her interpretation of Katalina.  Displayon a bulletin board or make a class book.

Diversity  - Talkabout what it means to have a heart of gold.  Cut out 4 hearts and decorate with gold glitter. Punch holes in the heartsand tie on string to make necklaces. Each day when yousee a child being a kind friend, let them wear KatalainaMatalina's heart of gold.

      

Today’s blog islike “show and tell.”  Here aresome great ideas teachers have shared with me over the past few weeks.

Banana DanceBook

You’ve got to goto kinderkaren.blogspot.com and download the adorable book she made to go withthe “Banana Dance.”  Too cute!

Short Vowels

Joanne Poland fromAnniston, AL, has come up with a multi-sensory way for children to remember theshort vowel sounds. 

at thechair – children stand at their chairs as you emphasize the short /a/

edge of thechair – children sit on the edge of their chairs = short /e/

in thechair – children sit in the chair – short /i/

on thechair – children stand on the chair – short /o/

under thechair – children crawl under the chair – short /u/

Catch a Bubble

Melanie Tew ofMobile, AL, sings this song to the tune of “London Bridge” to focus children’sattention:

Catch a bubble inyour mouth,

In your mouth, inyour mouth.

Catch a bubble inyour mouth.

Show it to menow.  (Children puff out cheeks.)

Melanie then walksaround and gently “pops” the bubble by touching their cheeks.

Name Game

Kristin Murray ofRiverdale, GA, shared an interesting activity to do with children’s names.  It’s perfect for the beginning of theschool year.  Put stickers on unifixcubes and write the letters in the children’s names. 

-Count how manyletters in each person’s name.

-Pair children upand see who has more, less, or the same.

-Graph names.  Whose name is shorter, longer, or thesame as the teacher’s name?

Sign Language

You know how muchI LOVE sign language.  aslpro.comis one of my favorite sites because they have a dictionary where you can seesomeone sign almost any word you can think of.  Taylor Dinges of Madison, AL, said that there is also a freeapp called isign lite.  I foundanother free app called alphabet sign language.  Oh, what wonders there are in the app world!

Bbbaaattt

Here’s a greatidea from Megan Stewart and Rachel Patterson.  Take the chorus for “Tooty Ta” and use it for blending CVCwords.

/b/b/b/   /a/a/a/   /t/t/t/  BAT

/p/p/p/  /e/e/e/   /n/n/n/    PEN

PictureSchedules

Rebecca Jett ofMobile, AL. uses pictures schedules for some of her special needschildren.  She recommends insertingpictures for art, PE, or other specials daily so that children don’t getfrustrated.

Singing Science

Sandy Romo of ElPaso has created some songs to help her children learn about the states ofmatter, the water cycle, parts of a plant, forces, and other scienceconcepts.  Here’s the link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqVuveUgYWw

ABC - Sing with Me!

ABC Tunes

Did you know thatthe traditional tune we use to sing the A B C’s is also the tune for “Baa BaaBlack Sheep” and “Twinkle Little Star”? Here are several other tunes that you can use to sing the ABC’s.  Give it a try!

“Amazing Grace”

“Braham’sLullabye”

Theme fromGilligan’s Island

“100 Bottles ofBeer on the Wall”

“Mary Had a LittleLamb”

Clap on theconsonants and hop on the vowels as you sing.  You can alsomarch, tiptoe, disco (finger up in the air and then cross the midline and pointdown), patty with a friend or do other movements.

Give children acopy of the alphabet and have them point to the letters as you sing.  You can use a pretzel stick, Bugle, or craftstick with a wiggly eye as a pointer.  But, my favorite pointer is a fake fingernail glued to a craft stick.  "Keep your finger on the letter!"

Debbie sent a link for some song posters she made to go with a few tunes I posted lately.  They're really cute!  Thanks for sharing, Debbie!

http://teachingmaketheworld.blogspot.com/2011/07/linky-party-songs-for-classroom.html

After a whirlwind trip to Houston, Mobile, and Dallas this week:
I'm home again, home again, jiggity jog!  
Now I'll get busy and do some more blogs!