TAKE AWAYS FROM TAMPA!

WOW! Was I impressed with Tampa, Florida! Summer Camp was downtown at the Sheraton River Walk and it was fantastic! (I’m still a kid when it comes to little things like their bridges being lit up at night and changing colors. So cool!) The great thing about spending two days together at Summer Camp is that we all feel like friends at the end of the day. 

Whale Talk (Katherine Brunson)
When teaching phonics show the clip from “Finding Nemo” where Dorie is speaking “whale.” Then let the kids stretch out sounds in words by speaking “whale.”

Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal (Maqua O’Shea)
(Tune: “Ten Little Indians”)
Horizontal (Make horizontal stroke in air.)
Vertical (Make vertical stroke in air.)
Diagonal (Make diagonal line.)
And zig zag. (Make a zig zag line.)
Horizontal (Make horizontal stroke in air.)
Vertical (Make vertical stroke in air.)
Diagonal (Make diagonal line.)
And zig zag. (Make a zig zag line.)
Horizontal (Make horizontal stroke in air.)
Vertical (Make vertical stroke in air.)
Diagonal (Make diagonal line.)
And zig zag. (Make a zig zag line.)
Lines are all around us!
*Make a book of lines on the playground and in the classroom. 

*Give children long books to practice making lines.

Are You a Tattle Tale or a Danger Ranger? (Rita Harris)
Encourage children to take care of classmates instead of tattling on them.
*If they start their statement with someone’s name a tattle will usually follow!

Respect (Rita Harris)
When a child starts to interrupt ask if the are “bleeding or on fire?” If it’s neither one then they should be respectful and wait their turn.

Number Stories (Rita Harris)
“5” is a little old man. Draw his neck, belly, and then put a hat on him.
“7” left to right and down from heaven.
“8” make the letter “s” and continue to skate back up like a race track.

Peace Rug (Adele Moye – from Cindy Middendorf)
Make a peace sign on a mat. When two children have a dispute ask them to sit on the “peace rug.” They sit knee to knee and talk to each other looking eye to eye. When the dispute is “solved” both come and show the teacher a great big smile!

Name Album (Melissa Kittrell)
After reading CHRYSANTHEMUM by Kevin Henkes send home a sheet asking the child’s full name. Ask the meaning, why the parent chose it, and where they were when they chose their child’s name. Make an album and let one child take it home each evening.

Money in Your Fingers (Adele Moye)
Wiggle your fingers – that’s ten pennies.
Show me 5 pennies (make a fist).
That’s a nickel. How much is it worth? (open hand -5 cents!)
Hold up 2 nickels (fists).
Put them together. (touch fists and connect fingers)
Now you have a dime!
How much is it worth? (wiggle fingers – 10 pennies!)
Or, (knock fists together 2 nickels)
Or, (one fist and 5 fingers – one nickel and 5 pennies!)

Virtual Babysitter (Michelle Fultz)
“Having Dr. Jean’s DVDs is like having a virtual babysitter in your classroom.” That’s one of the nicest things anybody ever said about me!