Today’s blog is like “show and tell.”  Here are some great ideas teachers have shared with me over the past few weeks.

Banana Dance Book

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

Short Vowels

Joanne Poland from Anniston, AL, has come up with a multi-sensory way for children to remember the short vowel sounds. 

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

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

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

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

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

Catch a Bubble

Melanie Tew of Mobile, AL, sings this song to the tune of “London Bridge” to focus children’s attention:

Catch a bubble in your mouth,

In your mouth, in your mouth.

Catch a bubble in your mouth.

Show it to me now.  (Children puff out cheeks.)

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

Name Game

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

-Count how many letters in each person’s name.

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

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

Sign Language

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

Bbbaaattt

Here’s a great idea from Megan Stewart and Rachel Patterson.  Take the chorus for “Tooty Ta” and use it for blending CVC words.

/b/b/b/   /a/a/a/   /t/t/t/   BAT

/p/p/p/  /e/e/e/   /n/n/n/    PEN

Picture Schedules

Rebecca Jett of Mobile, AL. uses pictures schedules for some of her special needs children.  She recommends inserting pictures for art, PE, or other specials daily so that children don’t get frustrated.

Singing Science

Sandy Romo of El Paso has created some songs to help her children learn about the states of matter, the water cycle, parts of a plant, forces, and other science concepts.  Here’s the link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqVuveUgYWw