HELP ME! HELP ME!

For years I resisted making a video for children.  The whole point of my songs is for the teacher to interact with the children, look them in the eyes, and enjoy a special time together.  That is still critical to me.  However, I have received so much positive feedback about my “Better Bodies and Brains” DVD that it might be time to make another one.  When I first watched that video I was embarrassed.   I did not like looking at myself, and I thought it was corny.  The bottom line is the kids LIKE it.  So there!  (They think I’m flying like an angel because of the blue background.  Some of them wonder why I wear black all the time.  I get some really cute comments.)  But, let me tell you the real reason this DVD works.  There are times in the day when you would like to put your class on “pause.”  You’ve got to put away reading materials and get ready for math.  You need to send something to the office.  You receive an emergency phone call.  That’s when I’ll help you out.  Put me on your interactive white board and I will sing, dance, entertain your class – and perhaps help them learn something!

So, I need your help!  I’m going to record a new DVD in a few months and I'd like your suggestions for songs that I should include.  Of course, I’ll do the “Tooty Ta” and “The Cool Bear Hunt” on this recording.  But what else would you like?  Let me know your suggestions in the next two weeks and I’ll aim to please.  You might even use this as an opportunity for your students to write an “opinion” about their favorite song.  You can email your suggestions to drjean@drjean.org.  Thanks for your help!

BRING AND BRAG OR SHOW AND SHARE???

One of the enduring rituals in early childhood has been sharing time.  Most children love to be the center of attention and talk in front of their friends.  However, you can reinforce important speaking and listening standards with some of these ideas.

Show and Share  - Instead of “bring and brag,” focus show and tell on a specific theme you are studying, such as a letter, science concept, shape, etc.

*Provide a child-size podium (old music stand) for children to stand behind when they speak.

*Have children close their eyes as friends take turns sharing.  Can everyone remember one thing at the end of sharing time?

*Ask children to come up with three clues about what they have brought from home.  (Parents could write these for young students.)  After giving the clues, friends try and guess what it is.

*Let the class ask 20 questions about show and tell items.  Tally their answers on the board.

*The person sharing can make three statements about what they have brought.  The class then gets to ask them three questions about it.

*Try “show what you know” where children can demonstrate what they have learned about a theme.  They could do an art project, make up a song, do a skit, make a video, etc.

Hint!  Designate a special shelf or table in your classroom where students can place their show and tell objects for friends to look at later in the day.

Assign students different days of the week for sharing time.

YOUR GOLDEN BIRTHDAY

Have you ever heard of your “golden birthday”?  That was a new one for me.   Your “golden birthday” only occurs once in your lifetime when you are as old as the day on which you were born.  For example, if your birthday is March 6^th, the year you turn six years old is your golden birthday.  If you turn 27 on February 27^th, that’s your golden birthday.  (I guess I missed mine long ago!)

Our grandson had a birthday recently and our daughter came up with a unique solution to all the toys.  There is a site (echoage.com) that provides a balance between something for the birthday child and helping a charity of their choice.  K.J. was able to donate money to a camp for injured animals and get the video game of his “dreams.”  (What can I say?)  I’m sure the parents of the children who were invited were thrilled to donate online instead of buying a gift, wrapping it, yada yada.

I did a little exploring on the internet and it’s amazing how many alternatives there are to traditional birthday gifts.   Everything from a book exchange (every child brings a book and goes home with a book) to art supplies (which get donated to a shelter) to homemade cards…

If you’ve never seen my “birthday video” you can check it out to see how we celebrated in my classroom.

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O53tvyWSWKA

BAGS, BOXES, AND BEADS

Letter Bags and Boxes

Standards:   RF 1d, L 1a

Materials:    sacks from restaurants or cardboard food boxes, foam letters  

                   or magnetic letters, paper, pencils

Directions:   Place letters in sacks and boxes.  Children take out the letters 

                    and match them up with those on the bag or box.  Can they    

                    write the letters that they know?

More!           Older students could make a list of words or parts of speech 

                    they find on the bags and boxes.

Singular and Plural

Standard:    L 1c

Materials:    Unifix cubes, sticky dots, marker

Directions:   Put sticky dots on the Unifix cubes.   Write letters on the dots.

                   Make simple CVC words with the letters.  Children read the  

                   word and then add an “s” to make the plural form.  Can they say

                   or write a sentence using the singular and plural form?

Phoneme Beads

Standard:    RF 2b, L 2d

Materials:    pipe cleaner, beads, paper, pencil

Directions:   String 5 beads on a pipe cleaner, knotting the ends so the beads  

                   don’t fall off.  Cut out pictures of objects that are CVC words   

                   and number them. For example:   1. dog, 2. rat, 3. pig, 4. bus, 5. 

                   net, etc.  Children slide a bead for each phoneme they hear in

                   the word.  Next, they draw a blank line for each sound they

                   hear.  Finally, they write the letter for each sound on a line and  

                   read the word.

More!          Use more challenging pictures and words for older students.

Show Me the Money

Standards:   Counting and Classifying

Materials:    coin purse, real or pretend coins

Directions:   Have children sort the coins that are alike.  Which one has the greatest amount?  Smallest amount?

More!          Take a file folder and divide it into 8 sections.  Cut a toy

or other object out of a magazine and write a price by

each one.  (Vary the amount to the counting ability.) Children count out the appropriate number of coins for each object. 

DEALER'S CHOICE AND DICTIONARY SEARCH

Dictionary Search

Standard:    LS 4

Materials:    classroom dictionary or pictionary, list of words, pencils

Directions:   Prepare a list of words (or pictures) that children can find

                   in the dictionary.  Children look through the dictionary and   

                   write down the page number on which that word can be found.

More!          Use a dictionary or a thesaurus to have children find synonyms,

                   antonyms, and other information.

Alphabet Art

Standard:    RF 1d

Materials:    crayons, paper, marker

Directions:   Prepare for this project by drawing a large letter in the middle 

                   of each sheet of paper with a marker.   Children choose a letter

                   and turn the paper all around.  What object, animal, or person

                   does it look like?   Children use crayons to “camouflage” the

                   letter to make it look like something else.

More!          Challenge children to create an object out of the letter that begins with that sound.

Dealer’s Choice

Standard:    Counting, Compare Numbers

Materials:    deck of playing cards (remove the face cards)

Directions:   Have the children sort the cards by suit.

                  Can they put the cards in order from 1-10?

More!          Write “high,” “low,” and “equal” on a piece of paper as shown. 

Children turn over two cards at a time.  Children place the cards in the appropriate pile.  (This would be a fun game to play

with a friend.)

Book Necklace

Standard:    SL 5, L 5c

Materials:    paper, stapler, scissors, hole punch, string or yarn, pencils

Directions:   Cut a sheet of paper in half.  Fold into eighths and cut on the 

                    creased lines.  Staple to make a small book.  Hole punch in the

                    corner and tie on a piece of string.  Children walk around the 

                    classroom and write words they can read.

More!           Use this for an autograph book for friends to write their 

                    names.

                    Make a book of nouns, color words, shapes, adjectives, etc.

CLIPPING ALONG!

You can buy clipboards or make your own from corrugated cardboard and butterfly clips.  Here are a few quick and easy centers you can do with clipboards.

Word Search

Standard:    RF 3c

Materials:    list of words found in the classroom, clipboard, pencil

Directions:   Children walk around the room searching for the words on the 

                    list.  They can cross through the words as they find them.

Hint!           A pair of empty glass frames makes this more fun.

More!          Write a seasonal word vertically down the left side of a sheet 

                   of paper.  Can children find a word in the room for each letter?

Remember Doodles

Standard:    RL 10

Materials:    listening center, story tape, clipboard, pencil

Directions:   Children use the clipboard for “remember doodles.”  Encourage 

                   them to draw or write all the things they remember as they  

                   listen to the story.

Writing to a “T”

Standard:    L 5a, W 2

Materials:    paper, crayons, pencils, clipboard

Directions:   Demonstrate how to make a “T” down the middle of the page

                   with a crayon.  Have children write words or draw pictures

                   for things they “like” or “dislike”; things found “inside” or

“outside”;  “big” and “little”; “real” and “pretend” etc.

More!          Relate to science or social studies by having children write

                  “wants” and “needs” or “plants” and “animals.”

Four Square Writing

Standard:    L 2d, RF 2b

Materials:    paper, pencils, clipboard, word wall or dictionary

Directions:   Have children draw a line down the middle of their paper

                   horizontally and vertically to make four sections.  Number

                   the sections “1,” “2,” “3,” “4.”  Ask children to write

                   one letter words in the section numbered “l.”  Write

                   2 letter words in the second section, etc.

More!          Write one syllable words, two syllable words, etc.

Out the Window

Standard:    W 2

Materials:    clipboard, paper, pencils, crayons or markers

Directions:   Children look out the window and describe what they see.

                   I see…

                   I hear…

                   I smell…

                   I feel…

                  After writing, they can illustrate their observations.

Count the Room

Standard:    Counting

Materials:    list of common classroom objects (chairs, boys, girls, 

                   teachers, computers, puppets, noses, shoes – you can make this

                   funny and challenging!)

Directions:   Children walk around the room, count the objects, and write

                   their response on the line.

Shape Hunt

Standard:    Geometry

Materials:    list of two and three dimensional shapes

Directions:   Children walk around the room and hunt for the shapes on their 

                   list.  They can draw or write a description of the shape when  

                   they find it.

PLAY DOUGH DAY!

It’s Play Dough Day!

Play Dough

Standards:   L 1a (letters), L 2d (words), geometry

Materials:    clear sheet protectors, play dough, paper, markers

Directions:   Purchase play dough or make your own using the recipe below.  

                    Draw letters, words, lines, curves, shapes, etc. on the paper and 

                    insert in the sheet protector.  Children take the play dough and  

                    roll to make snakes.  Next, they use the play dough to trace  

                    over the lines on top of sheet protector.

Phonics        RF 3a

                  After tracing letters, have children make objects that begin

                  with that sound.

Counting and Cardinality

                  After tracing numerals, children make the appropriate set with 

                  play dough.

Geometry

                  Have children make three-dimensional shapes with play dough.

Recipe for homemade play dough:                                                    

1 cup salt                  2 cups water                                                 

2 cups flour               2 Tb. cream of tartar                                    

2 Tb. vegetable oil     food coloring

Mix all ingredients together until smooth.  Cook over medium heat stirring   

constantly until a ball forms and sticks to the spoon.   Cool, knead, and store in a zip bag.  

Hint!  Substitute massage oil for vegetable oil to make “aroma therapy” dough.

Use unsweetened Kool-aid for color and fragrance.

Omit food coloring and knead dough in cocoa to make “chocolate dough.”

AUTHORS, ART, AND TECHNOLOGY

Pick and Type

Standard:    W 6, L 2d

Materials:    plastic pail or basket, index cards with letters or words, 

computer

Directions:   Children “pick” a letter or word from the pail and type it.              

More!          Use a minute timer so children can see how many words they

                  can type in five minutes.

Author Study

Standard:    RL 6, RL 9

Materials:    several books by the same author, bag, scavenger hunt list

Directions:   Choose several books by one of the children’s favorite authors.  

                    Put them in a bag along with a list similar to the one below:

1.     The author of these books is__________.

2.    My favorite book is__________.

3.    The funniest picture is__________.

4.    The book about a bully is_________.

5.    The book about a party is_________.

6.    I wish the author would write another book about____.

Shape Art

Standard:    Geometry – compose shapes

Materials:    geometric shapes cut out of scrap construction paper, glue, markers

Directions:   You could prepare the shapes ahead of time or let children trace around patterns and cut them out.  Children arrange the shapes on a sheet of paper to make new designs and objects.  Can they identify the shapes they used?  Encourage them to give a title to their artwork.    

INVISIBLE WRITING AND PUZZLE MATH

Invisible Writing

Standard:    L 1a (letters), L 2d (words)

Materials:    small paper cups, Q-tips, paper towels, word cards

Directions:   Children fill a cup ¼ full with water.  Next, they dip

                  the Q-tip in water and use it to write letters or words on the

                  paper towel.  As the water evaporates, they’ll have “invisible”

                  writing!

More!          Children can also do invisible writing on the chalkboard with a

sponge dipped in water.

Picture Talks

Standard:    RL 7,  L 2d

Materials:    magazines, paper, pencil, scissors, glue

Directions:   Have children select a picture from a magazine and glue it

                  to a sheet of paper.  Ask them to write words (or sentences)

                  for five things they see in the picture.

More!          Ask children to write what they think the people in the picture

                  are saying.  What happened before?  What will happen next?

Puzzle Math

Standard:    Operations

Materials:    old cardboard puzzles, marker

Directions:   Dump out the puzzle pieces.  On the frame write numerals 0-10

                   (or higher).  On the appropriate piece write a fact that will 

                   equal the number on the frame.  As children solve the problems 

                   they will be completing the puzzle.

More!          Use puzzles to match upper and lowercase letters, antonyms,

                   etc.

TOUCH, TELL, AND I "TIN"

Touch and Tell

Standard:    W 2

Materials:    socks, paper, pencils, small unusual items (Scruffy, dry dog 

                   food, hair bow, baby toy, bubble wrap, seasonal objects, etc.)

Directions:   Place small objects in the socks.  Children choose a sock, feel it, 

                   and then write a description of what they think is in the sock.

Hint!            Use one sock for younger children.  Number socks for older 

                    students so they can write down what they think is in each sock.

I “Tin” Make Words

Standard:    RF 2c, L 2d

Materials:    magnetic letters, mint tin or cookie tin, paper, pencils

Directions:   Place magnetic letters that can be used to make a word family

                   in the tin.  For example: o, p, t, m, h, c, b.  Add a list of words 

                   that can be made from the letters in the tin.  (hop, mop, top, 

                   cop, pop, bop)   Children reproduce the words on the lid of

                   the tin and read them.  You could also ask them to write the

                   words.

More!          Put several vowels and consonants in the tin and challenge the 

                   children to make all the words they can with the letters.

Little to Large

Standard:    Geometry – compose shapes

Materials:    crayons, paper

Directions:   Make a very small shape (triangle, square, trapezoid, half-circle, etc.) in the center of the paper.  Children take a different color of crayon and go around it, making it a little larger.  Continue using different colors of crayons and making the object a little larger until it completely fills the page.

                   Hint!  You could prepare these ahead or let the children create their own small shapes in the middle of the paper.

BOOK BROWSING AND MATH BAGS

Book Browsing

Standard:    RL 5

Materials:    5-10 book jackets or library books on different topics, paper,

pencil, file folder

Directions:   Put letters on the books A, B, C, D, etc. using sticky notes.                         Write questions about the books on the file folder.  For

                  Example:

                           1.  “If you wanted to read a book about a dog, which one

                           would you choose?”

                           2.  “Which book do you think would have a story about a

giant?”

3.  “Which book would help you learn more about space?”

                           4.  “Where could you find a poem?”

                  Children number their papers and then write the letter for

                  the book that would answer each question.

Letter Necklace

Standard:    RF 1d

Materials:    construction paper, pencils, letter stencils, scissors, hole punch,

                  yarn cut in 22” pieces

Directions:   Children place the letters on the construction paper and trace

                  around them.  Punch a hole in each letter and string it on

                  the yarn.  Tie the ends and wear like a necklace.

More!          Children can make necklaces using the letters in their name, their initials, vocabulary words, etc.

Math Bags

Standard:    Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Materials:    zip bags, permanent marker, small flat objects, pencils, paper

Directions:   Draw a line down the middle of a bag with a permanent marker.  

                   Insert objects in the bag.  Children slide the items from one side to 

                   the other to make different combinations.   Ask them to write down 

                   the equations.

More!          Vary the number of bags and amount to make this increasingly 

                   challenging.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Do you need a little “BAM” in your classroom right now?  Every day this coming week on my blog you’ll find simple (and inexpensive) learning centers that you can create.   My goal was to come up with centers that would engage children and that teachers could make in less than 15 minutes.  

One of the best things about learning centers is that you can integrate Core Standards with 21st Century Skills.  As children practice cognitive skills they will also be collaborating, communicating, problem-solving - and developing the executive function (task initiation, self-regulation, delayed gratification)!  Win!  Win! Win!

Tips!

*Use these centers for independent, small group, or take home activities.

These could also be available for students who finish their work early.

*Store centers in zip bags, manila envelopes, pencil boxes, plastic tubs, baskets, etc.

Hint!  Color code with stickers to indicate content area and standard.

*”Invite” parents to be game makers and collect the materials and put the centers together for you.

*Share centers and rotate them with other teachers.  If there are 4 teachers on your grade level and you each made five, then you could rotate them a week in each class.  You’ve got centers for a month!

*Number centers 1-5 and ask children to do one each day.  You could also put a checklist with each center so children could cross through their name when they complete an activity.

*Adapt these games to specific skills and the needs of your students.  For example, with “In the News” pre-k children could highlight letters.  Kindergarten children could highlight word wall words.  First graders could find nouns or verbs.  Second graders could find a word for each letter of the alphabet and write them in alphabetical order.

          

In the News

Standard:    RF 3c, RF 1d

Materials:    newspaper, highlighter, paper, pencils

Directions:   Each child takes a section of the newspaper and highlights ten

                  words (or letters) they can read.  Next, ask them to write

                  the words (or letters)  on a sheet of paper.

Secret Code

Standard:    Counting, Operations

Materials:    old cell phone, paper, pencil, envelopes, index cards

Directions:   Write “secret codes” (words) on index cards and place them

                  in the envelopes.  Children choose an envelope and find the

                  numbers on the key pad that match the letters. 

                  Children write down the numbers and then add them up.

                  Hint!  Write the answer under the lid of the envelope.

                  *Use a single letter for pre-K, a two letter word for K, a three

                  or four letter word for first, and so forth.

Magazine Puppets

Standard:    SL 4, W 3

Materials:    magazines (sports), newspapers, catalogs, scissors, tape, straws

Directions:   Let children cut sports figures and other famous people out of

newspapers or magazines.  Tape to a straw to make a puppet.  What

would your puppet say if it could talk?  What questions

would you like to ask your puppet?

More!          Have students write a story about their puppets.