THIS AND THAT FROM THE PAST

Want to know a secret? Even Dr. Jean runs out of new ideas every now and then. Fortunately, I've been collecting ideas from teachers for over ten years and sharing them on my blog. Look at these cool activities I found from ten years ago.

Morning Dance (Genevieve Shafer)
This call and response reminds students to have a positive attitude and that they are all special.
Note! The teacher models each line and then the children repeat the words and movements.

I am ready for school. (wiggle shoulders)
I will have a good day. (twist)
I am confident and will do my best. (stand tall)
I am special and so are you. (point to friends)
We’re all amazing! (spin with arms up)
Thank you God for making me. (pray hands)
I’m exactly who I’m supposed to be! (say loud and proud while jumping with arms in the air)

                                    


Classroom Mirror (Andrea Neal)
Children love using mirrors in the classroom. Cover a mirror and ask students to look under it to see your favorite kid.

Peace Corner (Jillian Teder)
Set up a "peace corner" in your classroom where children can go to self-regulate and regain self control before returning to the group when they are overwhelmed or frustrated.

Drawing a Person
Many children have difficulty drawing a person, so this is a technique that might help. It's also an interesting way to focus on positional words. First, fold a piece of paper into thirds as shown. Open. Prompt children with these directions:

1. What's at the top of you? Your head! Make the head in this top section.

2. What's in the middle of you? Your body! Make a body in the middle section.

3. What comes off your body? Your legs! Make your legs in the bottom section.

4. What's at the end of your legs...

5. What comes off the sides of your body...

6. What's at the end of your arms...

7. What helps you see...(Some children may need to look in the mirror to see what color their eyes are.)

Talk...hear...smell...continue calling out details for the children to add.

Time Out Words
Make a chart with “Time Out Words.” Those are words that don’t obey rules like “are, the, one, etc.”

*I've also heard these referred to as "Outlaw Words" because they don't obey the laws.