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"Ooookkkaaalllahhhoommmaaaa!!!" 2011

Back to Back
Every child needs a partner and touches body parts as the teacher calls out:
back to back (touch backs)
shoulder to shoulder (touch shoulders)
elbow to elbow
knee to knee
head to head
wrist to wrist
feet to feet
hip to hip
Continue calling out vaious body parts...
End with "bottom to chair" as children sit down!

Can You Dig It? (Rachel Lawrence)
Hide magnetic numerals in a sand table. Each student is given a sheet with math facts appropriate to their level. During math centers they have to do their facts and then dig out the answers (magnetic letters) in the sand.

*You can also hide letters and have children spell words.

Spelling Trays (Rachel Lawrence)
Prepare "spelling trays" in plastic drawers. Children choose a tray and then take it to their desk and spell words using one of the materials below:
*Wikki sticks
*magnetic letters
*puzzle letters
*black light pens (security pen with black light key chain)
*alphabet stickers
*alphabet blocks
*dry erase board

Let’s Look Important! (Diane Ringer)
Use this idea instead of criss cross applesauce.
Would you like to know how to look important? Put your right hand over your heart like this. (Demonstrate)
Put your left hand across your chest and fold your arms like this. (Demonstrate)
Lift up your chin and smile importantly. Now look at all my important people!

Song Requests (Heather Cline)
Make a box for song requests. Children write their favorite song on a sheet of paper and put it in the box. Pull requests each morning and sing.

End of Day Chant (Linda Wood)
Sit in a circle criss cross applesauce and start the chant with this rhythm:
Slap knees two times
Clap two times
Snap two times
Clap two times
“Linda, Linda, what do you say?
What did you like at school today?”
The child has to tell what they liked best that day. It’s a good way to remember what they learned as you reinforce oral language.

A Fuzzy Little Caterpillar (Leanne Hutchison)
(Tune: "I Had a Little Turtle")
A fuzzy little caterpillar wiggled right by me. (Wiggle index finger.)
He wiggled long. (Wiggle finger away.)
He wiggled short. (Wiggle finger close.)
He wiggled right at me. (Wiggle finger at your face.)
I put him in a box. (Cup hands.)
"Don't go away I said!" (Point finger.)
But when I opened up the box
There was a butterfly instead! (Clasp thumbs and wiggle fingers like a butterfly.)

*You can adapt this song for "I had a little tadpole...I put him in a jar... Don't go away I said. . But when I opened up the jar a frog hopped out instead!"

Surprise Can (Julie Wiegman & Anne Greer)
Each week place a different letter on top of a paint can. (You can purchase an empty paint can at Lowe's or Home Depot.) Select one child each night to take home the surprise can. Ask parents to assist their child in finding four items at home that begin with the letter. Put the four itmes in the can along with clues about each object. At school the next day, the child (with help from the teacher) gives clues as classmates try to guess what the objects are. Example: This is something that is a fruit. This is round and red. It grows on a tree. A-Apple!

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KISS PRINCIPLE - KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Quiet Creatures (Jennifer Olayo)
You’ll need a large pompom, small pompom, googly eyes, and a foam heart or flower to make a quiet creature. Glue the small pompom to the large one for a nose. Add eyes and stick the heart on the bottom for feet. Children take out their quiet creatures during quiet activities. If they talk they lose their creature. When they finish they can whisper quietly to their creature.

Birthday Do Dah (Mary Lehman
(Tune: “Camptown Racers”)
Our friend name is age years old
Do dah, do dah. (Wave scarf up and down on “do dah.”)
Our friend name is age years old
Oh, do dah day.
Let’s all shout “hooray!”
It’s a special day.
Our friend name is age years old
Oh, do dah day.
*Take scarves, streamers, or just wave your hand as you “do dah” the person’s age.

Ear on the Door (Shannon Kennady)
Put a big ear on the door and when children start to tattle say, “Tell it to the ear.”

Tattle Stopper (Linda Rossiter)
Pick up some old tax forms at the library. When children start to tattle hand them a form and tell them to fill it out and then bring it back to you.

*You'll have to save this idea for December!
Letters to Santa (Shannon Kennady)
Have children write letters to Santa and then let older students (class buddies) respond to them. Put the letters in the freezer and then take them out and return them to the children. Explain that the letters are cold because they just arrived from the North Pole!

If You Can Hear Me (Susan Paulus)
If you can hear me, clap once.
If you can hear me, clap twice…
*Continue until all children are engaged and listening.

Transitional Breathing (Katie Saucier)
Smell the roses – hold a pretend bouquet of flowers and smell them.
Blow out your candle – hold up one finger like a birthday candle and blow it out.

Flip Book

Make a flip book as shown. Draw an egg, tree, cave, or other animal home on the front flip. Open and draw a critter that you would find in that habitat. Hold up to the light to see your little critter in its home.

Sentence Structure (Lisa Ruff)
Make the love sign with your hand. Your thumb is the capital.
Your pointer finger asks if it makes sense.
The little finger is a reminder for the punctuation mark at the end.
Check to make sure you LOVE your sentence. You need all three fingers to love it!

Hall Chant (Melanie Griffin)
Teacher: Are your hands ready for the hall?
Students: Yes, yes, yes they are. (Put hands behind back.)
Teacher: Are your feet ready for the hall?
Students: Yes, yes, yes they are. (Stomp feet.)
Teacher: Is your mouth ready for the hall?
Students: Mmm, mmm, mmm. (Mouth closed.)

GREAT TEACHERS 119

LOOK WHAT THE WIND BLEW IN THE WINDY CITY IN 2015!

Finger Math Game (Karen Rosenkranz)
This “show me” game can be used for math facts 1-10. The teacher says a number like “5” and holds up one finger. The other children show 4 fingers. The teacher can easily see who knows the facts.

Porcupine Words (Mica Ike)
Students collect “porcupine words” that are prickly, sticky, and hard to pronounce. Make porcupine folders (folder with colored porcupine on it) so children can write the words.

Ask Me Badges (Jenna)
Pass out badges that say “Ask me! I can help!” for students to wear during independent work. Students must go to “ask me” friends before coming to the teacher. This empowers low level students and it’s good for high level students to explain concepts.

Popcorn Freeze Dance (Debbie Mendelson)
Here’s a great game for a literacy brain break. Write sight words on small, yellow pieces of paper and crumple them up to look like popcorn. Store these in a popcorn container from the dollar store. Play music and encourage creative dancing/movement. Stop the music and the children have to freeze. Children who are totally frozen get to pick up a piece of popcorn and read the word. After several children have had a turn put the music back on.

20 Questions (Megan Pacella)
The star student gets to bring in a mystery object. The rest of the class can ask 20 questions to try and guess what the mystery object is.  

Picture/Word Charts (Kathy Kilgore)
Use picture/word charts around the room for students to practice asking questions. Students take turns asking questions and the answer has to be on a picture/word chart in the room.

Park That Comment (Jess Pesola)
This idea will help you with students who have tons of stories or interjections. Create a parking lot from a poster for ideas, questions, and stories. Students write a word or phrase on a post it and put it in the parking lot to remind them. Come back to the parking lot comments at the end of the lesson. 

Busy Baskets (Alicia A. Rivera)
This idea works for students who finish first or have behavioral issues. Fill several small baskets with magnetic letters, numbers, color blocks, etc. Students can put the letters in order, numbers in order, or reproduce a block pattern. This will keep them engaged until you are ready to do the next activity.

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 Many "Mini" Ideas from Minneapolis 2015

Picture Game Pieces (Katie from Little Falls) 

Use pictures of the kids that you have taken and turn them into game pieces. When they play any game they can use their own game piece and they'll actually be moving themselves. 
*If you have the bases from Candyland or Chutes & Ladders the pictures fit nicely into those. 

Singing Directions (Sandra Knap) 
Sing directions rather than repeating yourself.  (Tune:  "If You're Happy and You Know It")
Example: Grab a milk and sit down for a snack. 
Grab a milk and sit down for a snack. 
Grab a milk and sit down for a snack. 
Grab a milk and sit down for a snack. 
*Add, "Just like Alisa. Just like Jonathan..." 

Password (Megan Engelsgjerd) 
Practice sight words or CVC words by placing a sign on your door that says, "What's the password?" Write a new word each day and the students have to whisper it when they enter and leave the classroom. 

Word of the Day (Mairin Born)
Put a sight word each week (or day) in a clear nametag pocket. All week the kids must name the word or turn it into a sentence as a "ticket" to talk to the teacher. 

Spiderman (Jessica Schmidt)
That's when the children need to "glue" themselves against the wall. 

Friend Book (Barb Larkin) 
Make a friend book at the beginning for the year where each child has a page with their favorite book, names of family members, favorite food, color, etc. Towards the end of the year play a guessing game where you give three clues about one of the classmates and the children have to guess who it is. 

Mystery Person (Amy Keith) 
Parents fill out a sheet of paper with five clues about their child. (Begin with generals and end with specifics.) The teacher puts the clues on sentences strips and covers them up. One clue is revealed each day until they figure out who the mystery person is. 

Pretzel Legs (Tracy Hagen) 
Children sit down with legs spread out straight. The teacher says 3 "p" words and when she says "pretzel" the kids sit criss cross. 

Silence (Karen Reindl) 
Tell the kids you're going to play "silence." 
"Let's shake it out!" 
Stand tall and still and hold up one hand. Slowly put up one finger at a time. However, if they make noise before that stop until they are silent again. When you get to 5 or 10 everyone can clap. 

Behavior Management (Denise Clusian) 
Place a Chutes and Ladders board on your wall. When the children deserve it they "earn a spin." As they make their way to 100 they may have a slide just like in real life. “Oh, well! We'll have to work a little harder.” When they reach 100 the class votes on what they want for a reward/party. 

Rainbow Clap (Kammi O'Hara) 
Start on one side of your body and clap in an arch over to the other side. 

Self-Regulation (Sarah Mumaw-Flury) 
Put your idea in your hand and hold it up. 
Whisper your idea or the answer to the question in your hand and then hold it up. Release! 

Mystery Bag (Janie Lundstrom) 
Hide an object in a myster bag. Students have to ask questions to get clues about what is inside. 
*Give clues, such as it starts with (sound). 

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Awesome shirt that a teacher wore in Birmingham in 2013!

Noun Song (Staria Russell)
(Tune: “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain”)
A noun is a person, place or thing.
Yee haw!
A noun is a person, place, or thing.
Yee haw!
A noun is a person. (Point to or name a person.)
A noun is a place. (Name a place.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. (Name a thing.)


Roping Spelling Words (Jennifer Stringer)
Let children turn their chairs around and sit on them backwards (like a horse). The teacher throws out a word. The kids then “catch it” and spell the word
(c –a –t) as they pretend to rope each letter.


Sight Word Cadence (Karen Fortner)
There are twenty words you’ll need (Children repeat each line.)
If you want to learn to read…

    You     could      their      was
    Go      where     some      have
    Said    me         little         the
    This     come     with        here

*Select words that are difficult for children because they cannot be sounded out phonetically.


Wikki Stick Words (Tami Humphries)
Write nursery rhymes or poems on chart paper. Children use Wikki sticks to circle the sight words they find in the poem or rhyme. Use with a whole group activity, center, or small group.


Around the World (Phyllis Malone)
To review letters, sounds, words, etc. play “Around the World.” Have the children sit in chairs and mix up the flash cards. If they answer the question right they get to stand. If not, they stay seated. Once everyone is up, start round two. This time they sit. The last one to sit down “wins.”


Sight Word Um Umph! (Casandra Stewart)
Place sight word cards in a bag along with school day pictures of the teacher. Laminate cards and pictures on like paper. Students pull cards out and read the words. If a student pulls a card with the teacher’s picture, she has sight word “Um Umph!” and all her cards must go back in the bag. Students love this game!


Four Corners Sight Word Game (Brandi Morse)
Tape sight words around the room. Teacher closes eyes and counts to five. The students walk to a word. If the teacher says a word where they are standing, then they must sit down. Continue until one child is left standing.


Cowboys and Chickens (Gina Copeland)

This is similar to the “Boom” flashcard game, but use pictures of cowboys and chickens. When the cowboy comes up the children make a roping motion as they say, “Yeehaw!” If the chicken comes up they flap their arms and cluck.

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Met some great teachers and gathered some fantastic ideas on St. Louis in 2014! 

Noodle Sensory Fun (Kyle Kranes)
Cut fun noodles into sections and let the children roll on their back, arms, legs, belly. It’s a great cool down and brain break – and perfect for sensory kids.

Line Up Call Back (Jeana Rhoades)
I say “line.”
You say “up.”
Line (teacher)
Up (Children)
I say “sit.”
You say “down.”
Sit (teacher)
Down (Children)
“Happy” – “Monday” etc.

Name Game Line Up (Heather Barrio)
Play the name game to transition to go home, outside, etc. The teacher picks a student to stand up. That student picks a friend to line up, and the game continues until one person is left. The last child gets to pick me!!! This activity helps children learn their classmates’ names. If a student says, “I don’t know her name.” Explain that they should say, “What’s your name, friend?” This also helps shy students engage with the group.

Vowel Flip Book (Krystal McVicker, American International School, Vietnam)
Make a flip book with 5 flaps. Write the vowels on the top of the outside. Children draw or cut out pictures with short vowel sounds and glue them under the correct vowel flap. 

     

*Another teacher shared that they use flip books to reinforce beginning reading and sight words like “the,” “a,” “I,” etc. Write “the” on the front of all four flips. Children open and draw a picture under each flap. Then they can read “the house,” “the sun,” and so forth.

Virtue Book (Jane Lake)
After studying virtues, make a booklet for each word and then let children illustrate it or cut pictures out of magazines. You could also call it a “Good Manners Book” or “My Best Behavior Book.”
Examples of virtues could be: be kind, think of others, love everyone, listen and watch, be eager and excited, share with others, try my best, be ready.

Fantastic Friends (Jane Lake)
At the beginning of the year (or for Valentine’s Day) make a book about friends.
1. A good friend is…
2. I’m a good friend when…
3. What friends like to do together…
4. Symbols of friendship…
5. Names of my friends…

Eye Ball Stories (Penny Salvato)
*I cracked up with this one! 

Penny makes "eye" pointers for her children.  She tells them that she collected the eyeballs on the playground from kids who played too rough!!!

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GOOD NEWS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE IN 2016!

Personality Bag (Kathy Channon)
Find a large bag with a zipper and handles and put a note in similar to the one below:

Dear Families,
Your child is bringing home the personality bag which they need to fill with all the things that tell us about them. For example, a spoon for cooking, ballet slipper for dancing, photos of the family, hobby items, such as baseball cards, and so forth.

Each day at the beginning of the school year a child takes the bag home, fills it up, and then uses it to introduce themselves to their classmates.

Book Jackets (Rose)
Cut figures off book jackets and add a strip of Velcro to the back so the kids can use them to retell the story on a flannel board.
*You can also put magnetic tape on the back and use on a magnetic board.

Flip-a-roo (Rose)
Place the pencil point on the table pointing towards the child. Tell the child to pick it up and then push the top of the pencil “flip-a-roo” towards them and they’ll have the perfect pencil grasp.

My State Book
Make a state book based on your state flower, animal, famous people, state bird, capitol, flag, insect, famous places, etc. Children can become EXPERTS about their state.
For example: New Hampshire, New Hampshire, what do you see?
I see the Capitol in Concord looking at me.

Capitol in Concord, what do you see?
I see the purple lilac looking at me.
Dartmouth, Dartmouth, who do you see?
I see Dr. Seuss looking at me....

*The teacher who shared this idea said her kids loved reading this book and the parents were so impressed that their children knew more than they did about the state!

The Big Cheese (Michele Busby)
This is a counting game the children love. Start in a circle and the teacher chooses a number for the children to count up to. (At the beginning of the year you can practice up to five, but increase the number as the year progresses.) The teacher begins at 0 and each child calls out the next number. If “5” is the number then that child who says “5” must sit down. This continues as children count 0-5 around and around until there is only one person standing – THE BIG CHEESE!

*This counting game can be used for skip counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s. It is also great for counting on.

The Vowel Game (Similar to the Big Cheese)
Students stand in a circle and begin by singing the vowel song. (A E I O U, A E I O U, A E I O U, these are the vowels of the alphabet.) Students start saying the letters of the alphabet, but when they say a vowel they must sit down. This gets repeated until everyone is seated.

Bottle Cap Math/Reading (Kathy Channon)
Collect colored bottle caps (Boost works well) and write letters or numbers on them. You can also write punctuation marks or math signs (+ - =) on them. Use them in a center and children can make words, work out math problems, etc.
Adaptation: Go through magazines and cut out letters with all different kinds of fonts. Sort and the children can use these to glue words together.

Picnic Book with a Window
Cut a “window” out of one section of a picnic book and children can draw a secret picture inside.



Talking Key (Laurie)
Let children use a skeleton key to “turn on” their voice when sharing at circle. Pass the key around and the child holding the key gets to talk.

Quiet Lamp (Laurie)
Use a small fancy lamp and turn it on when it’s time to work. Children must be quiet and concentrate whenever the light is on, but when you turn it off the students may talk.

Incentive to Tie Shoes (Catherine)
As soon as your students can quickly and independently tie their shoes they are allowed to take their shoes off. This is a BIG DEAL and really motivates kids to learn and practice tying their shoes.
Tips: Shoes must be kept side by side at their desk.
Shoes can only be off when they are at their seats.
If there’s a fire drill don’t worry about putting your shoes back on.

Super Duper Number Troopers (Dee Kettlewood)
Here’s a game to reinforce odd and even numbers.
The children make 2 fists and that’s zero.
Put up one finger on right and say “1.” (“1” doesn’t have a partner so it’s odd.)
Put up one finger on left and say “2.” (That’s a partner so it’s even.)
Put up another finger on right and say “3.” (That’s odd.)
Put up another finger on left and say “4.” (That’s a partner so it’s even.)
Continue counting and saying if the number is odd or even.
When you do larger numbers just say like “30” and then count up from their on the fingers.