GO WILD!

Several years ago I read Richard Louv’s book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER. It reminded me that exposure to nature is essential for healthy physical and emotional development in children AND adults. (This book first came out in 2005, but you can imagine the decrease in outdoor time and increase in screen time over the past 18 years!!!!)

Hint!  This is some meaningful information that you could share with your families.

                                                   

This is the perfect time of year to get outdoors and let children explore in a less controlled environment. Educators, as well as many parents, are concerned about all the time their children spend in front of a screen. But, you can’t always give children a choice. If you say, “Do you want to go outside and go for a walk or play video games on your computer?”  You know what the answer will be!

We need to engage children in outdoor activities and create opportunities where they will choose to play and “be wild”! These are some suggestions I adapted from the website that you might want to share with your parents:

Climb a tree

Roll down a really big hill

Build a tent

Hunt for stones

Watch the sun wake up

Go on a nature walk at night

Plant it, grow it, eat it

Discover what’s in a pond

Go to a park

Play in the sand

Run around in the rain

Fly a kite

Hunt for bugs

Go fishing

Cook on a campfire

Look for objects in the clouds

Make a mud pie

Swing on a rope swing 

I loved this UK website:   kidsgowild.org 

Our site strives to help you as the parent be informed and motivated to get your kids into nature and go wild with fun! Also to teach them to interact and get along with other kids from all ages, not just their own. All for the betterment of their future success, and yours as a parent of course!
                          
                                       

In keeping with today's theme, here's a poem I found on a paper plate after I did a workshop in 2016.  

Don’t Take away My Childhood

By Yolanda Richey, 2016

Don’t take away my childhood,

Let me run and play.

Don’t take away my childhood,

Let me learn in my own way.

Give me songs to sing

Give me time to dance.

Don’t take away my childhood,

I only get one chance - 

To be a little child

Who loves to learn each day.

So don’t take away my childhood

Because my work is PLAY!       

 

WE'RE GREAT!

My webmaster created a video to go with my song "We're Great!" It's a natural way to introduce vocabulary words and positive character traits. I hope your class will enjoy it.
http://bit.ly/drjean_Great



Hint! If you're still looking for an idea for an end of year program this might work for you. One teacher said each child decorated a poster with a letter and word. The children came out on stage with their letter at the appropriate time as they sang the song.

We’re Great!
We’re great, but no one knows it.
No one knows it so far.
Some day they’ll realize how wonderful we are!
They’ll look at us, and point at us,
and then they’ll shout, “Hurray!”
Let’s cheer how we’re wonderful beginning with A.

A- We’re awesome.
B- We’re brave.
C- We’re creative.
D- We’re dynamic
E- We’re enthusiastic
F- We’re fantastic.
G- We’re gifted
H- We’re honest
I- We’re imaginative
J- We’re joyful.
K- We’re kind.
L- We’re lovable
M- We’re magnificent.
N- We’re nice.
O- We’re outgoing
P- We’re polite.
Q- We’re quick.
R- We’re responsible
S- We’re special.
T- We’re terrific.
U- We’re unique.
V- We’re valuable.
W- We’re wonderful.
X- We’re excellent.
Y- We’re youthful
Z- We’re zany!

Class Book
On the front of the notebook or pocket folder write “We’re Great!” Write a
different letter of the alphabet on each page. Tell the children that you want them to help you make a special dictionary with WONDERFUL words that describe special people just like them! Use the words from the above chant to start your dictionary. Add words that children suggest.

Here's another fabulous article by Laura Pearson that you can share with your families.  Children will act "GREAT" when they feel great with these tips!

Revitalize and Refresh: Tips to Reset Your Child's Day

In an era where children face unprecedented challenges, equipping them with self-care tools is more crucial than ever. This comprehensive guide from Dr. Jean and Friends delves into practical, enjoyable strategies designed to foster kids' physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We can pave the way for healthier, happier futures by embedding these practices into their lives.

Elevate Energy and Mood with Physical Play

Harnessing children's natural energy through physical activity isn't just beneficial; it's essential. Transform everyday outings into adventures and living rooms into dance floors. Encouraging movement through play, sports, or dance boosts mood, enhances health, and injects joy into daily routines, setting a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

Spark Imagination and Preserve Creativity

Creativity provides a window to a child’s soul, offering them a unique means to express feelings and experiences. Encourage your young ones to dive into the arts, from drawing and painting to digital design. To keep these memories alive, transitioning artwork into digital form is key. 

Saving your child's masterpieces as a PDF preserves these moments and simplifies sharing with loved ones. For those unsure where to start, seeking guidance on how to create a PDF file online can reveal a plethora of tools designed for editing, compressing, and managing digital files, ensuring these creations stand the test of time.

Enrich Lives Through Engaging Hobbies

Engaging in hobbies goes beyond mere entertainment; they enhance skills, fuel passions, and foster a feeling of accomplishment. From the melody of a guitar to the excitement of crafting a new dish — or the dedication to tending a garden — hobbies serve as a rewarding avenue for discovery and self-expression. They encourage personal development and unleash creativity. In essence, hobbies are a valuable means of enriching one’s life and expanding horizons.

Foster Digital Well-Being and Real-World Engagement

While technology offers invaluable resources for learning and entertainment, moderation is key. Encourage periods of digital detox, promoting activities that foster imagination and interpersonal connections. Board games, book clubs, and outdoor adventures reduce screen time and strengthen cognitive and social skills.

Strengthen Bonds Through Shared Experiences

Nothing rivals the impact of quality time spent with family. Design outings and at-home activities that encourage teamwork and create lasting memories. These shared experiences reinforce the family unit, providing a nurturing environment that supports emotional and social development.

Cultivate Compassion and Empathy

Teaching children kindness and empathy is crucial for building a compassionate future. By encouraging simple acts of generosity and thoughtfulness, we not only help others but also enhance the well-being of the giver. These actions strengthen the giver's connection to their community, fostering a sense of belonging. Thus, instilling these values in young minds is vital for nurturing a caring society.

Model and Mentor Stress Management

Children look to adults for cues on managing life's stresses. For parents working from home, demonstrating a balanced approach to work and family life, including setting boundaries and adhering to a schedule, offers valuable lessons in stress management and resilience, laying the groundwork for healthy coping mechanisms and emotional well-being.

Design Personal Havens for Reflection and Calm

A tranquil space for a child, dedicated to quiet and relaxation, serves as a sanctuary away from daily hustle, fostering peace and self-reflection. This special nook, filled with comforting elements, invites mindfulness, teaching the importance of inner harmony. It cultivates a sense of calm, encouraging introspection and a balanced well-being.

The Bottom Line

Adopting these self-care practices enrich the lives of our children today and equip them with the resilience, creativity, and empathy needed for their journeys ahead. Integrating physical activity, creativity, hobbies, and digital moderation into their routines — along with fostering family connections, kindness, stress management, and personal sanctuaries — lays a robust foundation for their development. 

Let us commit to guiding our children toward becoming well-rounded individuals, capable of facing the future with confidence and grace. Through our support and example, we can inspire the next generation to embrace life's challenges with open hearts and curious minds.

If you enjoyed this article, you can find much more content on the Dr. Jean and Friends blog!

BACK TO SCHOOL

"Selective nostalgia" is the ability to remember the good things and forget about the negative things. Most children are more adept at this than grownups - thank goodness! Here are a few ideas to involve your class in recalling special memories as well as welcoming your upcoming class.

The Best Thing About…

Invite children to recall some of their favorite memories from the school year. Give them a sheet of paper to illustrate it. Ask them to write (or dictate) a sentence about it. Put their pictures together in a cover that says, “The Best Thing About (Grade)” and bind. Save the book to read to your new class when school starts.

Welcome Brochure
Demonstrate how to fold a sheet of paper into thirds to make a brochure. Let each child create a brochure called “Welcome to Grade.” They could include things they’ll learn, special events, etc. Save these and give them (or send in the mail) to your upcoming students when school starts.


Hint! Have children do a “rough draft.” Edit and then make a revised copy.


Back to School Bulletin Board
Invite your students to create a bulletin board to welcome the new class. Cover with newspaper to protect over the summer, and you’ll be ahead of the game when school starts. How about one of these themes?

Lights, Camera, Action! (Photos of Special Events)

A Great Batch (Gingerbread Cookies)

(Teacher’s Name) Bunch (Bananas)

Round Up for a Great Year (Horses)

Lookin’ Good! (Giant Mirror)

Kick off for (Grade)! (Football & Goal)

Join (Teacher’s Name) Team! (Pennants and Pompoms)

Welcome Super Stars (Stars)

Swim into a New Year (Fish)

Bloom in (Grade - Flower Garden)

Note! I'm smiling to myself because we used many of these same themes years ago. Some things just don't change!

SWEET THANK YOUS

Everybody wants to be appreciated!  Here are some clever ideas for awards you can give volunteers or school helpers at the end of the year.  

Kudos Bar – “Kudos to you!”

Snickers – “Nuts about you!”
                         

100 Grand – “A million thanks for all you did!”
                                      

M & M’s – “You’re marvelous and magnificent.”
                                                  

Mint – “You ‘mint’ the world to us.”

Hershey’s Kisses – and Hugs, too!

Lifesavers – “You were a lifesaver this year!”
                                                  

There are also several free websites where you can customize candy bar wrappers.

You can also search for free printables for candy wrappers.

Here are some certificates that Carolyn Kisloski created for pencils, crayons, coupons, etc.
     

MATH BOX

 

What's a math box?  It's a fun math project that parents and children could create together to encourage children to explore "hands-on" over the summer. 

You can use any container, such as a pencil box, diaper wipe box, etc.

You can put any math manipulatives in the box such as:

Dice
Math cards (1-10 or 10-20)
Deck of cards
Rekenrek
Inexpensive calculators
Counting items with a small cup
Set of tangrams
Dot cards
Small Calendars

*The Dollar Store is a perfect place to go shopping!




Dealer's Choice!
O.K. So it's wishful thinking that every family would make a math box, but I bet that almost every family has a deck of cards around their home. Here are some activities that you can share with your parents to help their child practice math skills in fun and meaningful ways.

*Note! These games can be adapted to different age levels and skills.

Sorting
Ask children to sort cards by color, suit, number, etc.


Order Please
Remove the face cards and then have the children put the cards in numerical order.

Patterns
Can children make a pattern with their cards? 

Memory
Use two suites of cards for this game. Shuffle cards and place them face down in rows on the floor or a table. Children rotate turning over two cards. If their cards match they may keep them and take another turn. If their cards don’t match they turn them back over and the next player has a turn. The game continues until all pairs have been matched.

Top It
(This game was formerly known as “war,” but “top it” sounds more politically correct.) Remove face cards and shuffle. Split the deck and place face down. Players remove one card at a time and turn it over. The player with the highest number takes both cards. If they turn over the same amount they place 3 cards face down and turn over the 3rd card. The highest number takes all the cards. The game continues as long as time permits.

Add It Up
This is similar to top it. Children turn over one card at a time. The first player to correctly add up both numbers gets both cards.

House of Cards
Can children build a house using cards? This takes some engineering skills!
Check out this video that shows how to build a house with cards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBEFOEnwRk8



Dealer’s Choice
Go Fish and Crazy Eights are other traditional card games families can play.

SUMMER SKILL KITS

Need another strategy to encourage children to practice sight words and other skills over the summer?

Note! You can adapt these activities to letters, math facts, or anything you want the children to master.

Treasure Boxes
Ask parents to send in empty mint cans. Cut paper into 1 ¾” by 3” rectangles. Have children write sight words on these rectangles and store them their containers.

Hint! Explain that lifetime words are words you will need to be able to read all your life. They are like a “treasure” because they will belong to you forever!!!


Word Pockets
Seal envelopes and cut in half. Cut down 1” from each side and fold down the flap as shown. Punch holes in the sides and tie on a piece of string or yarn. Give children strips of paper cut 2 1/2” x 4” on which to write their sight words. Students can take the words home in their little pockets for summertime practice.



How about some games parents and children can play with the flashcards?

Hide and Seek
Hide the words around the room. Children find them one at a time, bring them to you, and read them.

Sentence Makers
Children choose a word and use it in a sentence.
*Older students could write a sentence.

Sidewalk Words
Children practice writing words with chalk on the sidewalk.

Sort the Words
Put all the one letter words together, two letter words, three letter words, and so forth.
Sort the nouns and verbs.
Sort the words by syllables.

Can You Find?
Can you find the words in a book? Can you find them printed on food labels or other things around the house?

SUMMER READING & WRITING

You've worked so hard to get your children to where they are, but how do you keep them reading and writing over the summer?

Summer Journal
Carolyn Kisloski created this free download a few years ago and it’s a wonderful way to encourage children to write over the summer.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Writing-Prompts-Journal-2521920

Library Card
What better gift can you give your students at the end of the year than a library card? Take a field trip to your local library or ask the children’s librarian to visit your school and describe all their summer reading activities.


Summer Reading List
It’s easy to do an internet search and find a suggested reading list for your grade level. Parents would probably appreciate this when helping their child choose books to read over the summer.

 

*I found this summer reading challenge and book list at scholastic.com.


Postcards
Cut cardstock the size of a postcard. Let children decorate one side with markers or crayons. On the reverse side draw a line down the middle. Have the children write the teacher’s name on one half. Explain that if they send you the postcard over the summer and write you a note that you will write back to them.

*You could also give the children a pre-stamped envelope addressed to you. Explain that when they write you, you will write them back.

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day is just around the corner on May 12th. I'm sure you'll find an idea just right for your special moms on my blog today.

A Box for Mommy (Tune: "Polly Wolly Doodle")
I wish I had a little box (Pretend to hold a box in your hands.)
To put my mommy in. (Pretend to put something in the box.)
I’d take her out and go (Take something out of the box
(kiss, kiss, kiss) and kiss in the air.)
And put her back again.

If my mommy were in my box
Were in my box, then she would always know.
School or play, night or day,
How I love her so! (Cross arms over chest.)

I made this box for mother’s day, (Pretend to hold a box.)
It’s full of love for you.
When we’re apart, hold it to your heart, (Put hands over heart.)
And know I’m thinking of you.

Box of Love Necklace
You can collect small boxes that jewelry come in or use matchboxes for this project. Spray paint the boxes and then let the children decorate them with stickers, glitter pens, etc. Glue a small picture of the child inside the box. Punch a hole and attach a ribbon so it can be worn around the neck. Teach children the song and let them present their necklaces at a Mother’s Day tea, or send the boxes home with the words to the song.



My Mom Can
Let each child make a predictable book about all the things their mom can do. 

Hats off for Moms
These are adorable hats from paper plates that children can make for their mothers. Cut the inner section out of the plate. Decorate the outer rim with markers. Cut 4” squares out of tissue paper and wad up and glue on the rim to look like flowers. Punch a hole in each side and tie on a 16” piece of string or ribbon. Place the hat on your head and tie under the chin.

LOVE YOU Flower
Trace around children's hands on construction paper and cut out. Glue to a stem and fold down the middle and ring finger to make sign language for "I love you!"

A Gift from the Heart
Make a flip book and write the following on the flips:
Some gifts are round.
Some gifts are tall.
Some gifts are large.
Some gifts are small.



Open and write:
But a gift from the heart is the best gift of all!


(Glue the child's photo or let them draw a picture of themselves.)
*Hint! Write "flip book" in my search engine to see how to make this book.


Handprints
Have children dip their hands in mud (or use paint) and press them on a sheet of paper. Let them decorate and then add this poem:
Here are my handprints made for you
this happy Mother's Day.
These are ones you can always keep
and not have to wash away!

END OF YEAR CAMP

I was looking through old blogs and I found this idea that a teacher in Indiana shared several years ago. What a fun way to end the school year!

Camp Kindergarten (Michelle Page)
We do camp kindergarten the last two weeks in the school year. Every morning we meet at the flagpole for the pledge and camp songs.
*“Baby Shark,” “The Ants Go Marching,” “Banana Dance,” “Chicka Boom,” and “Calamine Lotion” are a few songs we sing.

Note!  This could easily be adapted to any grade level.

The parents write letters for “mail call” and the children write back.

We take an ABC nature walk and try to find objects for each letter in the alphabet.


We make s’mores and trail mix for snack.

The children bring blankets, towels, and sleeping bags. They get to take off their shoes to read, do work, listen to a story.

We go fishing for words (plastic pool and words with magnets).

We go on a bear hunt and then draw pictures of our adventure.

To tie in science we study about bugs and worms.


What an amazing way to celebrate and end the school year!

Look at our camp t-shirts with the kids’ names on the back.

ABC COUNTDOWN

Several years ago Brad McKinney (Kindergarten Teacher at Severn Elementary) emailed this idea to me. I was searching through old blogs and I found it!!   What a WINNER!  Makes me wish I were still in the classroom!

Parents and Guardians,
Believe it or not, the school year is quickly coming to an end. During the last 26 days of school, our class will be participating in an ABC Countdown. Each school day will have a different activity related to the letter for that day. Your child may need to wear or bring something special on some days – those days are underlined. This sheet will help you and your child remember what day of the countdown we are on.



A
Monday, May 19
Animal Day
Bring your favorite stuffed animal to school

B
Tuesday, May 20
Bubble Day
We will be making and blowing bubbles

C
Wednesday, May 21
Card Game Day
Bring your favorite card game to play at school

D

Thursday, May 22
Dinosaur Day
We will be dinosaur detectives with Mr. D

E
Friday, May 23
Everybody dress like Mr. McKinney and celebrate his birthday!!!

F
Wednesday, May 28
Fruit Day
Bring your favorite fruit for snack today 

G
Thursday, May 29
Going to Tanglewood and Harris Hill
Bring a packed lunch!

H
Friday, May 30
Hat Day
Wear your favorite hat to school

I
Monday, June 2
I’m going to the library and on an ABC Hunt
Meet your family member at Centennial Park at 11:15 for ABC Hunt on Market St.

J
Tuesday, June 3
Joke Day
Write down your favorite joke to share with class

K
Wednesday, June 4
Kick Off Your Shoes Day
You will be able to take your shoes off in class all day

L
Thursday, June 5
Leisure Day
We will relax outside with a book (weather permitting)

M
Friday, June 6
Memory Day
We will be writing about our favorite memories from kindergarten this year

N
Monday, June 9
Nature Day at the Binghamton Zoo – PAPR Trip
Bring packed lunch

O
Tuesday, June 10
Orange Day
Wear the color orange and bring an orange for snack

P
Wednesday, June 11
Pinkalicious Day
Wear as much pink as you can and participate in activities based on the book Pinkalicious!

Q
Thursday, June 12
Quiz Your Teacher Day
Bring your hardest question for Mr. McKinney to answer. See if you can stump him

R
Friday, June 13
Roadrunner Field Day
Field day games and activities outside with entire grade level

S
Monday, June 16
Sidewalk Art Day
We will be decorating a section of the sidewalk

T
Tuesday, June 17
Talent Show Day
Share your talent with the class

U
Wednesday, June 18
Used Book Day
Bring a used book you would like to donate to the class or library

V
Thursday, June 19
Veggie Day
Bring your favorite vegetable to share with class

W
Friday, June 20
Wishy Washy Day
Be prepared to get wet!

X
Monday, June 23
X-change Autographs Day
Make an autograph book and collect as many autographs as you can

Y
Tuesday, June 24
Year End Clearance
Bring a bag to gather all your items from the year

Z
Wednesday, June 25
Zoom Out of School Day
Last day of kindergarten

END OF YEAR CADENCE

Someone once told me that if you end the meal with a good dessert they will forget if the rest of the meal wasn’t very tasty. Isn’t that kind of like the school year? SHUT YOUR DOOR and have some fun! “Doctor’s orders.” (Dr. Jean - the doctor of funness!)

End of Year Cadence
(The children repeat each line.)
School is coming to an end. (Stand, march, and slap thighs
School is coming to an end. to the beat.)
Say so long to all our friends.
Say so long to all our friends.
We’ve learned to read and write and spell.
We’ve learned to read and write and spell.
We know our shapes and numbers well.
We know our shapes and numbers well.
We’ve learned to follow classroom rules.
We’ve learned to follow classroom rules.
Getting along is really cool.
Getting along is really cool.
Science, music, art, PE.
Science, music, art, PE.
School’s been great for you and me.
School’s been great for you and me.
And when school begins again.
And when school begins again.
We’ll be happy to see our friends.
We’ll be happy to see our friends.

Now I Can!
Brainstorm all the things your students have learned during the school year. Give each child a sheet of paper and have them draw something they couldn’t do at the beginning of the year that they can do now. Complete this sentence: “I couldn’t _______, but now I can _______.” Make a cover that says “Now We Can!” and bind to make a book.


Time Capsule
Create a memento of the year with a time capsule. Ask each child to bring in Pringle’s can. Have them draw a picture of themselves and put it in the can. Let them write or dictate what they want to be when they grow up and illustrate it. Challenge them to collect a wrapper from their favorite food, something their favorite color, friends’ signatures, and other small, meaningful objects to add to their bottles. After gluing on the lid and decorating the outside, send the time capsules home with a note to the parents asking them to save them until their child graduates from high school.



Count Down Chain
Let each child make a paper chain with the number of days left in the school year. Each day they can remove one strip.

*Make a bulletin board with balloons for the number of school days left. Pop one balloon each day. (These could be real balloons or paper balloons.)

The Year from A to Z
The amount of time you have left in the school year will dictate how you approach this project. If you have a few weeks, then you could assign several letters each day and have children recall activities that begin with that sound. If you have more time then you could just do one letter each day.

Make blank alphabet books for each child and add this poem on the cover:
We’ve learned and played in many ways,
But now the year must end.
Here’s a book to remember special days,
And all your kindergarten (first grade) friends!

At morning meeting encourage the children to brainstorm activities, friends’ names, books read, songs, etc. that begin with the letters and write them on the board. As an independent activity invite children to draw pictures and write about the different events in the ABC books.

How about some ideas to get you started?
A- apple tasting, art, alphabet, “Alligator”
B- “Bear Hunt,” blocks, birthdays, books, bus
C- computers, caterpillars, counting, cooking, CLIFFORD
D- dinosaurs, dancing, drawing, “Days of the Week”
E- easel, exercise, eating, exploring
F- friends, fall, first day of school, “Five Little Monkeys”
G- GINGERBREAD MAN, games, graphs, gym
H- Hundred Day, Halloween, holidays, handprint
I- ice and snow, insects, “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “I can___”
J- jack o’ lanterns, journals, jump rope
K- KISSING HAND, kites, kindness, “Katalina”
L- letters, library, “Lettercise,” lunch, LEO
M-“Macarena Months,” music, math, magnets
N- nests, nursery rhymes, names, numbers
O- oceans, outside, “Over in the Meadow”
P- pizza parlor, P.E., puzzles, painting, “Peanut Butter”
Q- quiet time, quilts
R- reading, rainy days, running, rabbits, “Rime Time”
S- singing, spring, shapes, senses, science
T- “Tooty Ta,” turkeys, teeth, tests, TACKY THE PENGUIN
U- upside down, under, umbrellas (April showers)
V- Valentine’s Day, VERY BUSY SPIDER
W- word wall, writing, winter, “Wally Acha,” weather
X- “X” marks the spot (treasure hunt), X with body
Z- zoo field trip, zigzag art, “Z” end of the year
*Use the name of the school, teacher’s name, etc.