tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47603981405348722082024-03-18T06:00:31.702-04:00Dr. Jean & Friends BlogA Teacher's Best Friend, Dr. Feldman inspires teachers across the country with her engaging songs and creative activities that help make teaching and learning FUN!Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comBlogger4610125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-85215947923579978502024-03-18T06:00:00.024-04:002024-03-18T06:00:00.134-04:00THE BEST NESTThere are so many wonderful fiction and non-fiction books about birds, nests, and feathers. This nest is a hands-on way to begin a unit and capture the children's interest.Lunch Bag NestOpen a paper lunch sack and roll out and down until you reach the bottom and it looks like a nest. Give children a bird identification book and invite them to choose their favorite bird. Provide construction paperJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-20590615109119059262024-03-17T06:00:00.025-04:002024-03-17T06:00:00.136-04:00HAPPY "BIRD" DAYI just love these activities that you can integrate into a spring theme or science unit. I mean, who doesn't love birds? Birds are joyful and carefree and decorate our world like ornaments on a Christmas tree. I hope you can share your passion for nature and our feathered friends with these ideas.SHHHH! DON'T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfZuGmjlyPMBirdiesWay up in the Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-10612430879387075002024-03-16T06:00:00.023-04:002024-03-16T06:00:00.135-04:00RHYME ON WITH HUMPTY DUMPTYhttp://bit.ly/drjean_humptyHere's the new verse for the end of the rhyme:Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.All the king’s horses and all the king’s menCouldn’t put Humpty together again.So the good children got out some tape and some glueAnd they fiddled and faddled until he looked like new.Then they carefully placed him back on the wallAnd said, "Humpty Dumpty, please Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-80692169321827633202024-03-15T06:00:00.025-04:002024-03-15T06:00:00.166-04:00"EGG" SPERIMENTSThere's more to eggs than dying them! Rubber EggMaterials: clear jar with lidvinegarraw egg in its shell1. Put a raw egg in a jar and then cover it with vinegar. Screw on the lid and set it aside for 3-5 days.2. Observe the egg each day and describe what is happening to it.3. After 3-5 days, the eggshell should be almost invisible. Remove the egg, rinse it off, and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-36666833711506595772024-03-14T06:00:00.034-04:002024-03-14T06:00:00.139-04:00EGGS, EGGS, EVERYWHERE!One of the fun things about this time of year is using those inexpensive eggs in your classroom. If things are cheaper by the dozen, then here's a dozen ideas for you!Reading GamesWrite an upper case letter on one half with a permanent marker and the lower case letter on the other half.Give children small pictures of objects to put into appropriate eggs.Put antonyms on eggs for children to match.Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-67124344856944308882024-03-13T06:00:00.026-04:002024-03-13T06:00:00.139-04:00SOME BUNNY HAS A JOKE FOR YOUI don't know why, but I bet your kids will love these corny jokes and knock, knocks!Why did the egg go to school? To get "Egg-u-cated". What kind of jokes do eggs tell? Egg yolks!What did the mommy egg say to the baby egg? You're "Egg-stra special".How do eggs stay healthy? They "Egg-cercize".What happened to the egg when he was tickled too much? He cracked up.What kind of plants do eggs keep? Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-16488760548638232732024-03-12T06:00:00.040-04:002024-03-12T06:00:00.341-04:00BUNNY TALESWhether you celebrate Easter or not, You've all got to love bunnies a lot!Here are some rhymes and crafts, too.I've even got a rabbit story for you!Flip, Flop, Hop(Tune: “Wheels on the Bus”)The ears on the bunny go flip, flop, flop (Hands over head and wiggle.)Flip, flop, flop,Flip, flop, flop.The ears on the bunny go flip, flop, flop,Flip, flip, flop.The nose on the bunny goes twitch, Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-60772137686413059672024-03-11T06:00:00.028-04:002024-03-11T09:53:10.640-04:00SINGING SIGHT WORDSMusic can be the “dessert” in your curriculum. Try using some of these familiar tunes to practice reading sight words. Singing the Word WallSing the word wall from a to z with the tune of “Gilligan’s Island.”Sight Word CadenceChildren echo each line as you sing four word wall words at a time.There are some words you needIf you want to learn toJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-78683927020814619402024-03-10T06:00:00.029-04:002024-03-10T06:00:00.128-04:00TOUCH AND LEARN SIGHT WORDSChildren have different learning strengths and weaknesses. Some children have good visual memory skills, while others (kinesthetic/tactile learners) learn better through the sense of touch. Rainbow WordsChildren write words with a black crayon or marker in the middle of the page and then trace around the word with different colors of crayons.*Hint! Write a “Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-21659864578858172422024-03-09T06:00:00.026-05:002024-03-09T06:00:00.133-05:00MOVING WORDS TO THE BRAINThe more senses you activate, the more likely the message is going to get to the brain. Try some of these whole body strategies to help your students learn sight words.Sign LanguageSign language is a wonderful kinesthetic way to “store” words in the brain. Sign language provides a “hook” or connection for children. After teaching children the manual signs for letters, you can finger spell words. Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-45054892555606349782024-03-08T06:00:00.038-05:002024-03-08T06:00:00.258-05:00WORD OWNERSHIPDid you know that 3 words make up 10% of what we read? (I, and, the)Did you know that 13 words make up 25% of what we read?Did you know that 100 words make up 50% of what we read?It just makes sense that if children memorize these words, then reading fluency and comprehension will be strengthened. Many of the high frequency words do not follow phonetic patterns and they cannot be sounded out. Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-76037056941380302392024-03-07T06:00:00.021-05:002024-03-07T06:00:00.251-05:00WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?This is a perfect project for any skill because children love to make things and they also enjoy collecting things. They’ll feel “richer” as they learn new words and add the dollars to their wallets.Materials: construction paper 9” x 12”, markers, green paper cut 4” x 2”Directions: First let each child make a wallet where they can “save” their sight words. Lay a sheet of construction paper Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-79351226892082102872024-03-06T06:00:00.020-05:002024-03-06T06:00:00.322-05:00ZYX - SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS WITH ME!My webmaster (The Amazing Alex May) created a video with one of my songs. Those of you who have taught your class this song know how the kids get a kick out of singing it. (I've even been known to surprise my adult friends by singing the alphabet backwards!) Those of you who have never done this song might think, “That’s stupid!” The idea for singing the alphabet backwards originally came from aJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-78683797155038788242024-03-05T06:00:00.017-05:002024-03-05T06:00:00.138-05:00LOOK! LOOK!This is a meaningful way to encourage children to observe nature. It’s also a powerful way for them to make print connections and write descriptive sentences.WHAT? cardboard paper towel rolls, string, hole punch, wide packaging tape, markers, crayonsHOW? 1. Cut the cardboard rollers into 4” sections and tape together to make binoculars. Punch a hole in each side and tie on a piece of string thatJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-61723761811421299512024-03-04T06:00:00.017-05:002024-03-04T06:00:00.154-05:00DINOSAUR BOOGIEGrrrr! Let's do the dinosaur boogie so the kids can growl, wiggle, and release all that energy. Jumping up and down is a great way to get oxygen going to the brain and as the children dance they will be developing motor skills and self-regulation.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS1cPJhQPmMDinosaur BoogiePterosaurs had wings and could fly. (Stretch out arms.)He’d swoop in the swamp then up in the Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-78408473238610141382024-03-03T06:00:00.030-05:002024-03-03T06:00:00.356-05:00LEPRECHAUN'S MAGIC WAND I journeyed to The rainbow’s end And found not gold, But you, my friends! Thanks for being my friends! You might not find the leprechaun’s pot, but friendship is better than silver or gold! We used to sing a song in Brownies that went like this: Make new friends, But keep the old. One is silver and The other’s gold. The song reminds me of how I try toJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-45304746731773364682024-03-02T06:00:00.038-05:002024-03-02T06:00:00.155-05:00LOOKING FOR A POT OF GOLD?It's not a pot of gold...it's the little things that make lasting memories for children. My grandson is now in college, but when he was in preschool the children took off their shoes at naptime on St. Patrick's Day and put them in the hall. When they woke up there was a Rice Krispie treat in their shoes for snack. He still remembers it. Here are some other memory makers for St. Patrick'sJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-66145714627113411972024-03-01T06:00:00.025-05:002024-03-01T06:00:00.133-05:00NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAYBet you didn't know that March 1st was National Peanut Butter Day.In honor of this day, here's one of my silliest songs that your kids will LOVE! (Who wouldn't smile singing about peanut butter on their "underwear"?)https://bit.ly/drjeanPBPeanut Butter (Tune: "Allouette")Peanut butter, we like peanut butter. (Clap hands and march to the beat.)Peanut butter, that’s what we like best.Do you Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-35411468491271226922024-02-29T06:00:00.019-05:002024-02-29T06:00:00.131-05:00LEAP AHEAD WITH MNEMONIC DEVICESA mnemonic device helps you recall how to spell a word or how to remember a string of words or a phrase that stands for more complicated information. I can remember my fourth grade teacher standing at the board saying, “My father taught me how to spell geography by saying: George Elliott’s Oldest Girl Rode A Pig Home Yesterday.” Some days I can’t remember my phone number, but I’ll never forget Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-3237445564204827722024-02-28T06:00:00.015-05:002024-02-28T10:05:50.570-05:00LASSIES AND LADDIESYou'll definitely want to add this new video that my webmaster (Alex May) has created for you.https://bit.ly/drjStPatYTThere's even a free counting puzzle you can download.Did You Ever See a Lassie? (Traditional Tune - I remember doing this as a kindergartener in 1952, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I bet your kids might enjoy it just as much - and it's something that you could do Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-81562472331438789002024-02-27T06:00:00.032-05:002024-02-27T06:00:00.135-05:00MARCH "MARCHES" INMarch winds will be blowing soon. Here's some ideas to put in your lesson plans for next month.Five Little Kites One, two, three, four, five little kites (Hold up fingers as you count.) Flying up in the sky (Fly fingers in the air.)Said “hi” to the clouds as they passed by, (Pretend to wave to clouds.)Said “hi” to the birds, said “hi” to the sun, (Wave.)Said “hi” to the airplanes, oh what fun. (Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-71424091908878806592024-02-26T06:00:00.020-05:002024-02-26T06:00:00.137-05:00FAIRY TALE DAYTell a Fairy Tale Day is February 26th, but any day is perfect for a fairy tale!Some people think fairy tales are too violent for young children. And I would agree that some of them are a little twisted and dark. However, most of them aren’t any more violent than Saturday morning cartoons. The bottom line is children have enjoyed these stories for hundreds of years. Proof that a good story is a Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-23923588294493613772024-02-25T06:00:00.014-05:002024-02-25T06:00:00.138-05:00BEANIE WEENIESLooking for something cheap, simple, and easy to do in your traditional classroom or to share with your families? A bag of large, dry lima beans, a permanent marker, an Altoids tin, and you are all set to reinforce phonics, sight words, and math concepts. First, use permanent markers to write the consonants in blue and the vowels in red on the beans.*Use for making CVC words.*Use for word Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-31898142892526593962024-02-24T06:00:00.022-05:002024-02-24T06:00:00.126-05:00CHECK MATENeed some new "tricks" to help your children focus?Check MateBefore starting a lesson, post a checklist of what students will need. As you read down the list, students respond, “Check!” if they are all set.Pencils? – Check!Paper? – Check!Crayons? – Check!Eyes Watching? – Check!Ears Listening? – Check!Hands and Feet Quiet? – Check! Self Control Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760398140534872208.post-64129250424613440432024-02-23T06:00:00.020-05:002024-02-23T06:00:00.129-05:00DOG BISCUIT DAYFebruary 23rd is a big day if you are a dog because it's INTERNATIONAL DOG BISCUIT APPRECIATION DAY. Buzzie (the love of our lives) is going to get some special treats today!Hint! Some of these activities would be perfect to share with your families who are dog lovers.Woof! Woof! GameMake a “Woof! Woof” game. Cut out dog bones and write sight words, math facts, letters, etc. on them. On a few Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07225629519330420883noreply@blogger.com