JANUARY CELEBRATIONS

I don’t know about you, but when I was in the classroom January was always a LONG month. I started doing a little celebration every Friday for me as much as for the children. It gave us something positive to focus on and look forward to during the cold, dark days. 

Here are some ideas that will build memories, create a classroom community, and nurture social-emotional development because they are positive and playful. Take a look and I hope you’ll find one or two that are just right to chase those winter blahs away!

Sock Hop
Children get to wear silly socks to school and have a dance at the end of the day.
*Teach the children the “Twist,” “Swim,” “Pony,” or other dances from your past.

Talent Show
One of my favorite memories is of a Talent Show we had one Friday. I just invited all the children to think of a “talent” (song, dance, story, joke, gymnastic stunt) they could do. We sat in a circle and they all got up and performed! We clapped and laughed and cheered!

Board Game Day
Let children bring board games from home. Set aside the last hour in the day to share games and play games with friends.
Note! It might be good to have parent volunteers or older students in your school help.

Pajama Party
Have children wear pajamas and bring pillows and stuffed animals to class. Read books, watch a movie, and eat popcorn.



Career Day
Children come dressed for the career they’d like when they grow up. After sharing with friends, have each child draw a picture (or take a photograph) and make a class book.

Beach Party
Bring beach towels and wear sunglasses, shorts, and T-shirts. Play beach ball games, beach music, and have a “cool” snack like popsicles.

Toy Day
Children bring a favorite toy from home and share with their friends the last 30 minutes of the day.

Book Day
Invite children to bring their favorite book from home and share with classmates.

TOP TEN SONGS - ENGLISH AND ESPANOL

Here are some of my favorite songs in English and Spanish.  What a perfectly fun way to help children make language connections!

TODAY IS SUNDAY

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsfKTNAL50

Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qye0EgZwPog

THE WEATHER SONG

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDyGRf8ChYc

Spanish

http://bit.ly/drjeanWeatherEspanol

OPPOSITES

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOOTu6O_fzw

Spanish

http://bit.ly/drjeanOpuestos

FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS 

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBGvyUG7uNY

Spanish

http://bit.ly/drjean_fivemonkeys_espanol 

COUCH POTATO POKEY

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrvcblv1QVw

Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQuKU52JCnY

COLOR FARM

English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlgZjI_K8vA

Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzRLebFyIIc

FREE TO TEACH IN 2023!

If I were in charge of the world, these would be my GOALS FOR 2023.

I would start each day by greeting my children with a smile and a handshake – just because!

I would sing a song to start my day – just because!

Every day I would read a book that I like to my children – just because!

I would take my class out for recess every day (yeah, old fashion run around and do whatever you want) – just because!

I would do a finger play each day – just because!

I would do cheers each day – just because!

I would end our day with a song – just because!

And I would shut my door and have more FUN – just because Dr. Jean said I should because I will be happier and my children will be, too!!!


THUMBS UP STATEMENTS

I found this idea that Brenda Lee Hernandez shared several years ago. Her statements are based on her school’s six pillars, but your students could think of 5 or 6 original statements. Write them on a language experience chart and then begin the day by sticking up your thumbs and repeating them.

I am respectful.
I am trustworthy.
I am responsible.
I am fair.
I am caring.
I use good manners.
I use kind words.
I can do it.
*Role-play these positive behaviors.
*Let students make books called “Thumbs Up for 2023.”

                                     

Step into 2023
You'll need is some funky duct tape for this project. Each day write some information you want to reinforce on a sheet of heavy paper and tape it to the floor with the funky tape by the classroom door. Children repeat the information each time as they go in and out the door. For example:
Letters - children say the letter and something that starts with the sound
Math facts - children say the answer
Sight words - children read the word
*Hint! You could also make letters, numbers, or shapes on the floor with the duct tape.




Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 

Make a brochure by folding a piece of paper into thirds. Label the sections “Yesterday”…”Today…”Tomorrow…” Children draw what they were like when they were little (babies or toddlers), what they look like now, and what they will be like when they are grown-up.
*You could also let children make a time line of their lives. 

Soaring in 2023 

Let children draw (or write) goals for the New Year on a blank sheet of paper. Fold the paper into an airplane. Children state their goal and then fly their plane across the room (or outside).

Sharing Good News (Jessica Williams)
Write children’s names on craft sticks and place in a jar that says “Good News.” The teacher starts every morning by sharing her own “good news.” The children clap or cheer for her. Next, she pulls a stick and the class sings, "Tell me something good!" That child shares their good news and then the class does a cheer. The teacher pulls the second stick and they sing, "Tell me something good" and then cheer. Do three children each day and then put those who have had a turn in an envelope and start all over again when everyone has had a turn.

APRIL JOKES AND KNOCK KNOCKS

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY! 

I'VE GOT SOME SILLY JOKES THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMILE!

Hint! Some of your children will “get” these and some of your children will just fake laugh. This is a good opportunity to have children “think out loud” and explain the jokes to their friends.

Why did the egg go to school?
To get "Egg-u-cated".

What kind of jokes do eggs tell?
Egg yolks!

What did the mommy egg say to the baby egg?
You're "Egg-stra special".

How do eggs stay healthy?
They "Egg-cercize".

What happened to the egg when he was tickled too much?
He cracked up.

What kind of plants do eggs keep?
Eggplants

What flowers grow on faces?
Tulips (Two-lips)!

What is a bunny's motto?
Don't be mad, be hoppy!

How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on it.

How do you catch a tame rabbit?

The tame way. Unique up on it.

What is a rabbit's favorite dance style?
Hip-Hop!

Why are rabbits so lucky?
They have four rabbit's feet?

Some “bunny’s” got some knock knock jokes for you!

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Ether.
Ether who?
Ether bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Justin.
Justin who?
Justin other Ether Bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Notta.
Notta who?
Notta nother Ether Bunnies.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Stella.
Stella who?
Stella nother Ether bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Juan.
Juan who?
Juan more Ether bunny.

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Chuck.
Chuck who?
Chuck-olate bunny!



Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Dewey.
Dewey who?
Dewey have to listen to any more Ether bunny jokes?

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Some bunny.
Some bunny who?
Some bunny is eating all my Easter eggs!


Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Noah.

Noah who?

Noah body . . . April Fool's!

DID YOU EVER SEE A LASSIE?

I played this game as a kindergartener and I always played it with my students this time of year. It's an "oldie but goodie."

Did You Ever See a Lassie?
(Traditional Tune)

Children form a circle as you explain that a "lassie" is a girl and a "laddie" is a boy. A girl is chosen to be the "lassie." She gets in the middle of the circle and makes a funny motion that the others must mimic as you sing. The girl then chooses a "laddie" to stand in the middle and make a motion. The game continues as girls and boys take turns leading in the game.

Did you ever see a lassie, a lassie, a lassie?
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that?
Go this way and that way,
Go this way and that way.
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that?

Did you ever see a laddie...

Note!  One of my grandson's favorite memories from pre-k was St. Patrick's Day. They got to take off their shoes at nap time and put them in the hall. When they woke up the leprechaun had left them a Rice Crispie Treat in their shoe. It's those little things that make memories for our "little things." Here are a few other "little things" you might want to include in your lesson plans next month.

Hunting for Gold 

Spray paint pebbles or rocks gold. (Spread out on newspaper. Spray with gold paint. Dry. Shake. Spray the other side with gold paint. Dry. Shake. Spray a third time.) Hide the pebbles on the playground before children arrive at school. Tell the children a leprechaun hid some gold for them. What fun they will have hunting for the gold nuggets! 

Hint! Need a little bucket for collecting that gold? Hole punch opposite sides of a plastic cup. Insert a pipe cleaner handle and you’ve got a perfect “pot of gold.”

What If? 

Have children write stories (or draw pictures and dictate) what they would do if they found a pot of gold.


Leprechaun Mischief 

While the children are at lunch or on the playground, turn over a few chairs, put books on the floor, and mess up the classroom. Sprinkle a little green glitter around. Have the children write stories about what they think happened.


Catch a Leprechaun 

Challenge children to design “traps” to catch a leprechaun in the block center. Give children an empty sack out on the playground and see who can catch a leprechaun.


Green Snack 

Eat foods that are green like celery, broccoli, lime gelatin, snap peas, edamame, etc. You could also use green food coloring to dye cream cheese, milk, yogurt or other snacks.


Leprechaun Lunch

Purchase miniature peanut butter crackers (Ritz), cookies (Chips Ahoy), and other mini-foods. Serve these on dessert plates with napkins cut in fourths. Milk or juice in medicine cups makes this a perfect snack for “wee folks.”


Field Trip

Take a field trip (on the internet) to Ireland. Find Ireland on the globe. How could you get there? Could you go in a car? Why or why not?


Math Manipulatives

Spread out dry lima beans on a newspaper. Spray paint one side gold. Dry. Flip over and spray paint the other side gold. These golden nuggets are perfect for making sets, adding, and subtracting.

PARTY TIME

Make the last few days “sweet” ones to remember with lots of special days. You might want to celebrate “Wonderful Wednesdays” the last month of the school year or plan a little celebration every day the last week of school. What many adults forget is that children are happy with “plain vanilla.” Wearing a silly hat or a shirt from a favorite sports team can be as much fun as a fancy ball!

Sports Day – Enjoy the warm weather with a “Sports Day.” Children can wear t-shirts and hats from their favorite teams. Let them bring sports equipment to share with friends on the playground.



Book Party – Encourage children to dress up like their favorite book character. Play “Guess Who I Am?” or have children describe why they like a particular character. Let them bring favorite reading material (books, magazines) from home and sit or lay wherever they want for independent reading.

Talent Show - One of my favorite memories is of a Talent Show we had at the end of the school year. I just invited all the children to think of a “talent” (song, dance, story, gymnastic stunt) they could do. We sat in a circle and they all got up and performed! We clapped and laughed and cheered!

Board Game Day – Let children bring board games from home. Set aside the last hour in the day to share games and play with friends.

Pajama Party – Have children wear pajamas and bring pillows and stuffed animals to class. Read books, watch a movie, and eat popcorn.

Career Day – Children come dressed for the career they’d like when they grow up. After sharing with friends, have each child draw a picture (or take a photograph) and make a class book.

Unbirthday Party – How about a birthday party when it’s everyone’s “unbirthday”? Play party games, sing, and decorate cupcakes. (This is also a great way to celebrate all those summer birthdays.)

Beach Party – Bring beach towels and wear sunglasses, shorts, and bathing suits. Set up sprinklers or other water activities on the playground. Play beach ball games, beach music, and have a “cool” snack like popsicles.

Teddy Bear Parade – Children bring in a teddy bear or stuffed animal and parade around the classroom. Have them write stories and draw pictures of what they like to do with their bear. Have a “tea party” with your bears.

Hat Day – Ask children to wear their favorite hat to school, or challenge them to design a hat from a paper plate and art scraps.

Luau – Make grass skirts from draw string garbage bags. Cut straws in 1” pieces and alternate stringing with paper flowers on dental floss to create a lei. Hula, surf, and eat pineapple fruit kabobs for snack.

Toy Day – Children bring a favorite toy from home and share with their friends.
                                          

Wash Day – Wear old clothes and bring sponges, pails, and squirt bottles. Let children wash tables, desks, toys, etc. (You could tie this in with a water play day.)

Sock Hop – Children get to wear silly socks to school and have a dance at the end of the day.
*Teach the children the “Twist,” “Charleston,” “Jitterbug,” “Swim,” “Pony,” or other dances from your past.

Teacher of the Day – Assign one child each day the last month of school to be “Teacher of the Day.” That child gets to sit in your desk and be in charge of circle time. They can choose a book to read to the class, a song to sing, game to play, and so forth.

                            Note! "Teacher of the Day" is my favorite!!!!

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS...

It’s the day after Christmas and time for leftovers and cleaning. I hope you all have a special memory to treasure in your hearts. It’s sad to put away the lights and the “merry” until next year, so here are a few (inexpensive) ideas to make yourself feel better today!  I've also got a few "happies" for your lesson plans in 2021.

1. Go for a walk or get some exercise.

2. Call someone (yes, on the phone) you haven’t talked to in a long time.

3. Read a book.

4. Go to a movie.

5. Make some hot chocolate or have a cup of tea.

6. Take a bubble bath.

7. Put on some favorite music and dance by yourself.

8. Look at photos or videos of Christmas.

9. Take an imaginary vacation on the internet.

10. Make a list of all the things you have to be happy about.

                                                
Note!  You all have such unique "classroom" arrangements this year that it's difficult to write a blog that will meet everyone's needs.  Please think of my blog as a BUFFET and pick, choose, and adapt what will work for you.

Hot Chocolate Friday
I LOVE this idea! Ask each parent to send in a box of instant hot chocolate and an old coffee mug. End your week by letting each child stir up some hot chocolate. Read poems, say rhymes, read books, and fall in love with language as you sip your hot chocolate together!
                       
Dress Up
We always looked forward to dress up days. Pajama parties, beach day (Yes, in January!), what I want to be when I grow up, my favorite book character, hat day, and silly sock day are just a few ideas. You can easily tie these in with units of study or literature. (Goodness, don’t forget about “instructional time”!)

                                                     

Game Day
This was on a blog several weeks ago. Let children bring in games from home on Friday and play with their friends the last 30 minutes.

How about you?
Have you got any tips for energizing yourself and your students when you go back to school? Please email them to me (drjean@drjean.org) and I’ll share them on my blog. Thanks! I love to learn new things!

P.S.
I was looking through some old blogs and I saw this idea from KIRPC Head Start in Indiana. The teacher said she bought sheets, tied the ends with ribbons, and then hung them on hooks around the smart board. Wouldn’t this be a nice touch to your classroom in January!
                          

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY isn't until September 19, but I wanted to give you a little time to think about how you'd like to celebrate. There are some good ideas here no matter what your situation might be.  And, friends, sometimes it just takes something like this to make children smile and look forward to school.

                                      

Why?
According to the founders of Talk Like a Pirate Day, “Silliness is the holiday’s best selling point. And it’s fun!” There are many troubles and a great deal of seriousness in the world now, but we all need a little FUN!

Note!  You could also pass on some of these ideas to your families.

Pirate Read – Reread poems and big books by talking out of the side of your mouth like a pirate.

Pirate Song – Tune: “Yankee Doodle”
I’m a pirate. That I be!
I sail my ship upon the sea.
I stay up late – til half past three.
And have a peg below my knee.
Yo ho ho ho
Let’s sail away
Aarrr! Matey! Is what I say.
A treasure I will hide today
And walk the plank another day.

Note! I adapted this song from one posted on talklikeapirateday.com

Creative Writing – What would you do if you were a pirate? Where would sail on a pirate ship? What would you like to find in a treasure chest?

Pirate Cheer – Put one hand over your eye to make a patch. Talk out of the side of your mouth as you say, “Aarr! Way to go, matey!”

Parrot Cheer – Put your hands in your armpits to make wings and then flap them as you squawk, “You did a good job! You did a good job!”

Pirate Maps – Cut the bottom off lunch bags and then cut down one side and you’ll have a big rectangle. Children can draw a treasure map with markers or crayons. Squash up the paper and roll it around in your hands to give it a vintage look.

                      
*Older children could write stories about their treasure hunt on the back of the map. Younger children could dictate a story.

*Add a compass map and introduce North, South, East, and West.

*Have children make maps of the playground.

Mustache – Cut mustaches out of construction paper and tape them under your nose. (This would just be optional, but what little kid wouldn’t want a mustache?)

                                                 


Eye Patch – Cut an oblong shape out of construction paper, fold it in half, and glue it over a 30 piece of string.

Hook – Cut hooks out of cardboard and let children cover them with aluminum foil. Insert the end of the hook in a cup you can insert over your hand.




Vocabulary – Introduce pirate vocabulary that you can actually use in the classroom on September 19th.
Ahoy = hello
Avast = stop and pay attention
Matey = friend
Disembark = leave
Embark = enter, get started
Foul = something turned bad
Grog = drink
Weigh anchor = prepare to leave
Aye = yes
Nay = no

Parts of a Ship – Relate these to places in the classroom with labels.
Starboard = right
Port = left
Stern = back
Bow = front

Pirate Flags – Let children design their own pirate flags. These can be done with crayons on paper, or, better yet, cut an old sheet into rectangles children can draw on with markers.

Walk the Plank – Children can practice balancing by walking forwards and backwards on the plank. (To make a plank put a piece of masking tape on the floor or draw a plank outside on the sidewalk with chalk.)

Pirate Snack – How about some fish crackers in an ice cream cone? After they eat the crackers they can eat the cone.
*You could also serve oyster crackers, Pirate Booty, or grog (juice).

TEDDY BEAR PARTY

Let's have a Teddy Bear Party! Teddy Bear Day is officially September 9th, but it would be fun to do this any day in September.  This could be a special treat either virtually or in class.

Everybody loves teddy bears, so how did this love affair with teddy bears begin? President Theodore Roosevelt was a hunter. While hunting in Mississippi in 1902, he refused to shoot a small bear. The Washington Post published a story about it and illustrated the event with this cartoon.

Brooklyn candy shop owner, Morris Michtom, saw the cartoon and asked his wife to make two stuffed toy bears to go in his shop window. After asking permission from President Roosevelt, he called them “Teddy’s bears.” Eventually Michtom started the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.

About the same time a German named Margaret Steiff was making her living by sewing stuffed animals. An American saw a stuffed bear she had made and ordered many of them. These bears also came to be known as Teddy Bears…and that’s how the whole thing started.

"Teddy Bear Party"
Ask children to bring their favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed animal) and introduce him/her to their classmates. (Encourage them to name their bear and explain why they love their bear.)



*Let children draw pictures and write stories about their bears.

*Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast real bears and stuffed bears.

*Read some books about teddy bears. Let children vote on their favorite using a bar graph.

*Play “build a bear” which is similar to hang man. Think of a word and then make blanks for the letters in the word. As children call out letters, write them on the lines. If they call out a letter not in the word begin drawing a bear (body, head, ears, etc.).

*Let children make teddy bears from play dough.

*Peanut butter play dough makes cute bears you can eat.  Here's a simple recipe that you could share with your families.

Peanut Butter Play Dough

Mix 2 TB smooth peanut butter, 1 tsp. honey, and 2 TB instant dry milk in a bowl. Stir until smooth.

HOME TEACHING GRID

Friends, I hope you can join me today 

at 10 for Facebook Live.

 I'm doing "Little Lessons for Online Learning."

(Simple things that you or families can do with their children.)

Carolyn Kisloski and I have created several packets with monthly "Happies," centers ideas, science units, etc.  Carolyn is not only my friend, she's a gifted teacher and writer!  Find information here.

                                        

You are going to be THRILLED with these FREE HOME TEACHING CALENDARS that she is making.  They are going to save you a TON of time and they are going to be so MEANINGFUL to your children and families.  Every day there is a reading, writing, phonics, math, science activity with links to the songs and projects.  There's even "specials" every day for art, PE, etc.  If I were a teacher or a parent I would be so grateful to have something like this.

 

Home Teaching Calendars

I'll let her tell you a little more about them...

Oh my goodness OF COURSE you can share the grids!  I can send you my new one each week to share, too! 

Here is how I use the grids:

I wanted to have all of the subject areas and everything parents would need for one week in one spot for easy access.  I made a grid with a lesson for each subject for each day.  I included a link to a song or story if needed.  I post the grid on Sunday night and then again on Wednesday, so parents can complete the activities with their child on their schedule, since every family is doing their best and has very different schedules.  If they print the grid, the child can color in a square when an activity is completed so they can see how much they get done in the week!  Each week I will put in new activities, links, and extra pages.  Another nice thing about this is that all children need to complete these activities is paper or a journal to write in.

                               

LETTER TALES (Tune: "Gilligan's Island")

This is one of my favorite alphabet books that Barb Smith created several years ago. It's good for letter recognition, phonics, and visual closure (recognizing the whole from the part).

Download Letter Tales Here

Here’s a YouTube video of this song:

Watch Letter Tales on YouTube

P.S.  I is inchworm and N is nanny goat.

NO JOKE! I'VE GOT APRIL JOKES FOR YOU!!

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY! I'VE GOT SOME "EGG-STRA" SPECIAL 

"EGG-U-CATED" JOKES FOR ALL OF YOU TODAY!  I HOPE THEY MAKE YOU SMILE!



Why did the egg go to school?
To get "Egg-u-cated".

What kind of jokes do eggs tell?
Egg yolks!

What did the mommy egg say to the baby egg?
You're "Egg-stra special".

How do eggs stay healthy?
They "Egg-cercize".

What happened to the egg when he was tickled too much?
He cracked up.

What kind of plants do eggs keep?
Eggplants

What flowers grow on faces?
Tulips (Two-lips)!


What is a bunny's motto?
Don't be mad, be hoppy!

How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on it.

How do you catch a tame rabbit?
The tame way. Unique up on it.

What is a rabbit's favorite dance style?
Hip-Hop!

Why are rabbits so lucky?
They have four rabbit's feet?

Some “bunny’s” got some knock knock jokes for you!

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Ether.
Ether who?
Ether bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Justin.
Justin who?
Justin other Ether Bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Notta.
Notta who?
Notta nother Ether Bunnies.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Stella.
Stella who?
Stella nother Ether bunny.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Juan.
Juan who?
Juan more Ether bunny.

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Chuck.
Chuck who?
Chuck-olate bunny!

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Dewey.
Dewey who?
Dewey have to listen to any more Ether bunny jokes?

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Some bunny.
Some bunny who?
Some bunny is eating all my Easter eggs!


Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Noah.

Noah who?

Noah body . . . April Fool's!


Why Can't I Go to School?
Here's a video that Katie Mac from the Story Shack made to help children understand what's going on and why they can't go to school.
 
https://youtu.be/NHpzWpxAURc