MORNING MINDFULNESS

How you start your morning can create positive feelings that will last all day long. Stretching, breathing, and balancing can help children "center" themselves so they can focus and learn.

Morning Stretch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIq9TbaCokc

Five Finger Breathing
Children stretch out one hand like a star. They take the pointer finger of the other hand and trace the outside of the thumb as they inhale. They exhale as they trace the inside of the thumb. Inhale as they go up the index finger. Exhale as they go down the index finger. Continue inhaling and exhaling until all the fingers have been touched.



*Reverse and do the same thing using the opposite hand and finger.


Balancing Act
Balancing is a simple, yet powerful way to help children calm their bodies and engage their brains. Balancing is quiet and requires no special equipment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thq9MTAUfSY

GREAT TEACHERS 123

HEY, HEY, WHAT DO YOU SAY?  IS THERE A NEW IDEA HERE FOR YOU TODAY?

Puppet Password
Have a class puppet that gives a password every day. For attendance, the children say the password instead of “here.” Select a password that is the subject for the day, such as “Pilgrims,” “winter,” etc. You could also use a sight word or a vocabulary word.
Use this chant to introduce the password:
Mr. Mouse, Mr. Mouse (or whatever your puppet is),
Oh, what do you say?
What is the password for today?
Pretend to let the puppet whisper the password in your ear. 

*You can also let the puppet go home with a student each weekend and come back Monday with a story and pictures. Keep the stories in a class book.

Hot Number! (Nola Faulkner)
The teacher picks a random number between 1-10. That’s the number that is the HOT NUMBER. Students stand in a circle and one by one count by ones from 1 – 10. The student who says the hot number can jump or cheer and then must sit down. Keep counting from 1-10 until one child is left.

Polite Partner Share (Meghan Burkholder)
Before reading a story, do questioning and partner talk. The kids turn to a partner and say:
Eyes to eyes.
Knees to knee.
It’s nice that you
Are partners with me.
After sharing their thoughts they thank each other. It’s also a great way to practice taking turns when talking.

McDonald’s Cheer (Michelle Sanders)
Ba, da, ba, ba, ba.
I’m loving it! (Arms overhead like the golden arches.)

Fun Rules (Jackie Fursman)
*Hoods cannot be worn unless it rains or snows inside the school.
*You can only run in the school if there’s an elephant or tiger chasing you.
*You can only lie down if “I” do.
*Ask three before me when I’m at the reading table.

1, 2, 3, Show Me! (Joy, Olathe, KS)
Using individual white boards the teacher asks a question and the children write a response. The teacher says, “1, 2, 3, show me!” Children quickly hold up their slate and show the teacher.
Sample questions: Write the number 15. Write the letter Mm. Write 5 tally marks. Write the number that comes between 2 and 4.

Three Star Sentences (Joy, Olathe, KS)
To help kids learn the mechanics of sentence writing they can earn 3 stars. They get a green for using a capital at the beginning; a yellow for spacing between words; a red star for punctuation.



Doubles Don’t Give Me Trouble (Sarah Jackson)
(Tune: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”)
1 + 1= 2, 2 + 2 = 4, 3 + 3 = 6, 4 + 4 = 8, 5 + 5 = 10, 6 + 6 = 12
Now I know my doubles,
They don’t give me any trouble!
7 + 7 =14, 8 + 8 = 16, 9 + 9 = 18, 10 + 10 = 20, 11 + 11 = 22, 12 + 12 = 24

Focus Finger Play (Pat Kesler uses this before handwriting. It wires up the brain!)

Two tall telephone poles (Fists touching with index fingers pointing up.)

Across them a wire was strung. (Touch middle fingers.)

Two little birds hopped on ((Put thumbs up on middle fingers.)

And sung and sung and sung. (Swing fingers.)



Push the Wall
One teacher’s occupational therapist suggested that when children are waiting in the hall you tell them to put their hands on the wall and try to “push it down.” This builds upper body strength, releases energy, and focuses children’s attention.



Tummy Reading
Here’s another easy suggestion to help children build upper body strength. Let them do “tummy reading.” Children lay on their tummies and prop themselves up with their elbows as they read. Try it and see how it strengthens those arm and shoulder muscles.

Friday Dance (Tarsha Walker)
Come on, everybody let’s take a chance. (Motion arm “come” as you move from left to right.)
It’s time to do the Friday dance. (Thumb over shoulder as you dance.)
Clap your hands (clap)
And stomp your feet. (stomp)
Come and do the Friday dance with me.
It’s Friday! (Throw arms in the air.)
It’s Friday! (Throw arms in the air.)
It’s Friday! (Throw arms in the air.)
YEAH!

Bubbles (Erin Yarborough)
To help children remember to walk quietly in the hall, tell them to hold a bubble in their mouths. When you get to your destination they can “pop” their bubbles.

TO THE POINT

I'll get right to the point with some pointers today.

WHY?
Children love anything novel and different. They can use these pointers to track from left to right, identify key details in a picture, point out letters or words in print, highlight capitalization and punctuation, touch shapes, identify parts of speech…I think you get the “point”!

WHAT?
Take a look at all these pointers I've collected. I bet you'll find at least one new idea that will capture your students' interest. 

Magic wand – dip the end of a chopstick in glue and roll in glitter

Finger nail – glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick

I Spy – glue a googly eye to a craft stick

Jewel – glue a fake jewel to a craft stick

Witches’ finger – great fun

Magnifying glass - pipe cleaner formed in a circle

Swizzle stick – buy these at a dollar store or have a drink at a bar (Just kidding!)

Pretzel stick – point and then eat

Seasonal – glue small seasonal toys or stickers to craft sticks or purchase seasonal pencils

Bugles - point, read, and eat!!!

Alien - Glue pipe cleaner antennas to the eye pointer and use for pointing and spacing between

words.

 

Giant Pointers
Glue a toy to the end of a cardboard pants hanger or decorate a butterfly net.

Smart Center
This was one of those simple, yet clever ideas that a teacher shared years ago. She said she had a center called the "smart center" with an old pair of glasses and a hand pointer. Children wore the glasses and walked around the room and pointed to words, shapes, colors, letters, etc. to show how "smart" they were. The only rule was you had to use a whisper voice. The teacher who shared this said the kids LOVED this center. She said nobody paid any attention to them, but they thought they were smart just the same!

WIGGLE WORMS

Have you ever been in front of your class and it truly looked like a can of WIGGLE WORMS?  Here's some tips to help them release wiggles so they can FOCUS!

Note!  Before doing these activities ask children to show you their “body space” by extending their arms slightly and twisting around. Remind them to stay in their body space as you do these activities.

Shake It Up
Hold up your right hand and shake five times as you count.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Hold up your left hand and shake five times as you count.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Hold up your right foot and shake five times as you count.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Hold up your left foot and shake five times as you count.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Count to four with each arm and leg…then three…two…one.
End by saying, “Oh yeah!” as you extend your arms and make the letter “Y.”

Adaptations: If children are wound-up do this with a whisper voice.

*Count to five in different languages.

*Do the vowel shake down where you say, “A, E, I, O, U,” and the “E, I, O, U,” and then “I, O, U,” and so forth.

Push the Wall
While children are waiting in the hall have them put their hands up against the wall and push it as hard as they can. Ask them to do push ups against the wall?

Babble Break
How about a three-minute "babble break" where children can talk to their friends? You could give them a topic to discuss that relates to a unit of study, let them tell jokes, or just chit chat.

Hanky Panky
Tell the students when you throw the handkerchief (or tissue) up in the air they can start doing a silly dance and make funny noises. When the hanky hits the ground they must freeze. Do this several times to get rid of wiggles.

WAVE!
To do the WAVE, ask children to look at you. Explain that when you point to them, they can stand up, wave their arms in the air, and then sit down. (This is often done at sports events.)

Hint! Do the wave several times. Do it forwards and then reverse and do it backwards.

Wiggle Worm Game

Make flash cards more fun by adding a few joke cards that say “wiggle worms.” When that card comes up, children stand and wiggle, wiggle!

RIDE THAT PONY

Here's a fun activity that children can do with a partner to use up some energy.

https://bit.ly/drJRidePony

The second version is longer and faster than the first.

https://bit.ly/drJRideFaster

Handout Link:  https://bit.ly/drJPonyBadges

ABRACADABRA!

You can make a little magic like the leprechauns with this wand. Take wooden chopsticks or coffee stirrers and dip one end in glue. Roll in glitter, dry, and ABRACADABRA! Now, let’s see if we can do a little magic with the wands in your classroom.

Smart Wands
Children walk around the room and point to words, letters, shapes, etc. that they can recognize.
*Encourage them to use whisper voices and make complete sentences.
*Divide children into pairs and let one child point while the other child reads the word.

Trackers
Use wands to track print, identify parts of speech, find details in illustrations, and so forth.

Invisible Writing
Use wands to write letters, words, numerals, etc. in the air.

Story Starters
Prompt creativity by having children write stories about what they would do with a magic wand.

Teacher Magic
Close your eyes as you wave the wand and say, “Abracadabra! I wish that all my students would sit quietly and listen to me.” When they are all quiet you can open your eyes. Taa daa!

Hocus Pocus
Can your students help you come up with some other magic chants? On Sesame Street the Count said, "Allah peanut butter sandwiches." In Cinderella the phrase was, "Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo."

Harry Potter Cheer
Give yourself a Harry Potter cheer by putting your finger in the air like a magic wand as you go, “You’re psh psh psh – TERRIFIC!!!”

More Magic
You can also make a magic wand by covering a cardboard pants hanger with aluminum foil. Wave it over the children’s heads as you say, “Abracadabra! You are rabbits.” Children hop around like rabbits until you wave your wand and say, “STOP!” Continue calling out different animals and objects for the children to pantomime.





Butterfly Net
How about this wand made out of a butterfly net? It's perfect for "framing" letters, words, etc.

Here's a new video Alex May has created about St. Patrick's Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVftEuq5Tk

PD at Home - ATTENTION GRABBERS

"Shhhhhh!"  That doesn't work well with kids, so here are some attention grabbers that will engage children in a positive way.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6EKSUJ6Wg 

Hint!  The best attention grabbers involve children's hands as well as their eyes and ears.  Keep doing the motions and chanting the words until the entire class is following along.

MORE?  Here's another video with a few more tricks to help children focus.

                                          

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xRVtrnnw-w&t=1s 

 

R & R FOR THE BRAIN

If children are stressed and wound up, these strategies will help them relax and calm down.

Inhale – Exhale MAGIC CIRCLE

Directions: First, have the children take several deep, slow breaths. Ask them to place their hands on their diaphragm so they can feel their lungs expanding and contracting. Ask them to inhale through their noses and exhale through their mouths on a slow count of eight. For example: Inhale 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ~ and exhale 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

*Demonstrate how to make a “magic circle” by extending fingers and touching finger tips. Breath in and out through the “magic circle.”

*Pretend to hold a cup of hot chocolate and smell it as they slowly breath in. Pretend to blow out candles on a birthday cake as they slowly breath out.


Tighten and Relax
Directions: Help children release stress by tightening and relaxing different body parts.
Squeeze your hands tight as you can. Tighter. Tighter. Now relax.
Squeeze your toes tight as you can. Tighter. Tighter. Now relax.
Squeeze your arms…
Legs… Shoulders… Mouths… etc.

*Explain that when you say, “soldiers” they should stand as stiffly as they can. When you say, “rag dolls” they should flop over like a rag doll. Alternate saying “soldiers” and “rag dolls.”


“Eye” Can Focus
Directions: Demonstrate how to hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your head. Look at the right index finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger. Do this several times to improve attention.

                                      
Make Rain
Directions: Tell the children to do exactly what you do and they’ll get a surprise!
Tap right index finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index finger and middle finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index, middle, and ring finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index, middle, ring, and pinky finger to your left palm 10 times.
Clap hands 10 times.
Clap hands and stomp feet 10 times.
(Reverse movements)
...Place hands quietly in your lap and smile.




Water Please!
Materials: water bottles
Directions: Did you know that every hour the brain needs water? Have children keep a water bottle at their desk and “take a swig” on the hour.


Silent Version
Directions: Lip sinc songs and the noise volume and energy level will decrease.

EYE-HAND BRAIN EXERCISES

These are quick ways to engage children’s eyes, hands, and brains when you have a few extra minutes.

Make Rain
Hold up palm as you say, “Let’s make rain. Do what I do.”
Tap pointer finger on palm for several seconds.
Tap pointer finger and middle finger.
Tap pointer, middle, and ring finger.
Tap pointer, middle, ring, and pinky on palm.
Clap hands together loudly, then reverse movements.
Tap pointer, middle, ring, and pinky on palm.
Tap pointer, middle, and ring finger.
Tap pointer and middle finger.
Tap pointer finger on palm.
Slowly bring palms together and put in your lap.

Twiddle Your Thumbs
Can you twiddle your thumbs?
Can you unwind them?
Can you twiddle your thumbs with the other thumb on top?

See Saw
Palms together. Push your right hand against the left and then push the left hand against the right.

*Do the same thing with your thumbs, index fingers, middle finger, ring, and pinky fingers.


Beehive
Cross fingers to make a beehive. Wiggle each bee/finger starting with thumbs as you count from one to ten. Reverse as you count backwards. Cross fingers with the opposite thumb in front and then wiggle each finger.


Spider
Open hands and touch fingertips. Bend in and out. Tap thumbs. Then tap index fingers, middle fingers, ring, and pinky fingers. Reverse. Roll each leg/finger forward and then backwards.

Here's a video where you can see some of these demonstrated:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4lXUhRfMU


Palm Pilot Writing 

Hold up one palm. Write on it with the index finger from the other hand. Children can make shapes, write letters or numbers, words, and so forth.

“Eye” Exercise
Demonstrate how to hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your head. Look at the right index finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger.

TURN ON YOUR BRAIN

It’s pretty amazing, but if you tell the brain to pay attention to something important it will! Here are a few ways to jump start your children’s brains each morning.

Turn on Your Brain
Start your day by having the children turn on their brains.
Turn on the left side of your brain. (Make a twisting motion on left.)
Turn on the right side of your brain. (Make a twisting motion on right.)
Turn on your left eye. (Pretend to twist left eye.)
Turn on your right eye. (Pretend to twist right eye.)
Turn on your left ear. (Pretend to twist left ear.)
Turn on your right ear. (Pretend to twist right ear.)
You don’t have to turn on your mouth because it stays on all the time.
Now you are ready to learn!!!

Rev Up Your Brain
Have the children hold up their thumbs. Go around, grab each child’s thumbs, and pretend to twist them as you say, “Rrrrrm! Rrrrrm! Now your brain revved up and ready to learn.”

Brain Sprinkles
Put a few spoonfuls of rice in a Pringle’s can and glue on the lid. Cover the can with sparkly paper. When it’s something important for the children to learn explain that you will put brain sprinkles on them. (Shake the can over their heads!)

Hocus Pocus!
Pretend to wave a magic wand as you say, “Hocus pocus!”
Put thumbs and pointers together to make circles and place around your eyes as you say, “Everybody focus!” Have the students leave on their focus goggles and look at the front of a book, a shape, a word, or whatever you want them to attend to.

Bzzzz!
Children stick out their index finger and tap a friend’s finger as they go, “Bzzzz!”

Thinking Caps
Goodness, this is old as the hills. Mrs. Meyers, my first teacher, used to say this to us. As ancient as it is, it’s still new to your little kiddos. Remind them that their thinking caps will help them remember and learn as you demonstrate putting an imaginary hat on your head.

Thinking Hands
Explain that when you cross your fingers and put your hands in your lap it helps your brain listen and learn.

Schema
Make circles with thumbs and index fingers and join them together to make a connection. Tell children as they listen to a book they can make this sign to let you know they are connecting what is in the book to what is in their brain.

Schema (Anne Evans)
Show students the symbol for join/connect in sign language. (Hook two index fingers together.)
Students put one hand on their head for what’s in their head.
They hold out the other hand for what’s in the book.
Join the fingers together to connect what’s in their head and what’s in the book to make a schema.

Magic Wand
Make a magic wand by covering a cardboard pants hanger with aluminum foil. Wave it over the children’s heads as you say, “Abracadabra! You are rabbits.” Children hop around like rabbits until you wave your wand and say, “STOP!” Continue calling out different animals and objects for the children to pantomime.

TESTING! TESTING!

If I were in charge of the world you wouldn't be allowed to test little children!  Unfortunately, I'm not in charge of the world, and even young children are experiencing "test anxiety" this time of year.  How ridiculous for a four or five year old to be worried about a test!  Bless their hearts...and bless your hearts.

Nevertheless, here are some activities that might help children relax and focus before a test.  They might also be a good break between tests.

Deep Breathing

Inhale slowly as you count to 8. Exhale slowly as you count backwards from 8 to 1. Breathe in hot chocolate. Breathe out and blow the candles out on a birthday cake.  
                                           


Tighten~Relax

Tighten up your body as tight as you can and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Then relax and let it all go. Repeat several times.
*Starting with the toes, call out one body part at a time for children to squeeze and then relax. For example, toes, feet, knees, legs, hips, back, fingers, arms, shoulders, necks, faces, and then a whole body SQUEEZE!

Rag Dolls and Soldiers 

When the teacher calls out “rag dolls” everyone flops over like a rag doll. When the teacher says, “soldiers,” everyone stands up tall and stiff. Continue calling out “rag dolls” and “soldiers” faster and faster.
        


“Eye” Exercise

Demonstrate how to hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your head. Look at the right index finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger.
                                           


Balancing Act

Ask children to stand. How long can they balance on their right foot? How long can they balance on their left foot? Can they balance on their right toes? Left toes? Can they balance on their right foot and extend their left leg in the air? Can they balance on one foot with their eyes closed?
Hint! Classical music is lovely for balancing activities.
                                                   


Vacation 

Tell your class to give their mouth and their eyes a “vacation” by closing their eyes and mouths. Next, ask them to practice breathing through their noses. You’ll be amazed at how this brings down their energy level and helps them focus.

Lip Sinc 

Make motions as you mouth the words to finger plays and songs. Invite children to join you when they recognize what you are doing.

Silly Dance 

Play some catch music for the children to do the silly dance.  When you stop the music they have to "freeze."  Continue playing and stopping the music as the children dance and freeze.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

One of the easiest and best ways to engage children is to activate their fingers. Here are some great tips to try online or in person or wherever!!!

Quiet Man (Candace Reed)
Make "quiet man" with your fingers by sticking up pinky and pointer and touching thumb, ring man, and tall man. When the teacher holds up "quiet man" the children respond by making "quiet man" and focusing on the teacher.

                                             

Book Connections
Demonstrate how to touch index fingers to show you’ve made a connection with a book. To keep children engaged as you read, invite them to touch their index fingers whenever they “connect” with the book.

               

Peace and Love to YOU!
You can do this for your students and tell them to pass it on.
Peace (Make sign for peace.)
Love (Make sign for love.)
You (Point to someone.)
                                              

Magic Triangle (Cathy Crady)
Teach children how to self-regulate and focus with their magic triangle in their pocket. Place fingertips next to each other to form a triangle. When they need to calm down or if a child is upset have them take out their magic triangle and hold it in front of their mouth. Tell them to take a deep breath in through their nose, and then slowly blow through the triangle.

                     

Thumbs Up Statements (Brenda Lee Hernandez) 

Have students repeat positive comments as they stick up their thumbs.

                                     
                                                I am a good Citizen.
                                                I am trustworthy.
                                                I am responsible.
                                                I am fair.
                                                I am caring.
                                                I use good manners.
                                                I use kind words.
                                                I can do it.

R & R FOR THE BRAIN

If children are stressed and wound up, these strategies will help them relax and calm down.

Inhale – Exhale MAGIC CIRCLE
Directions: First, have the children take several deep, slow breaths. Ask them to place their hands on their diaphragm so they can feel their lungs expanding and contracting. Ask them to inhale through their noses and exhale through their mouths on a slow count of eight. For example: Inhale 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ~ and exhale 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

                                         

*Demonstrate how to make a “magic circle” by extending fingers and touching finger tips. Breath in and out through the “magic circle.”

*Pretend to hold a cup of hot chocolate and smell it as they slowly breath in. Pretend to blow out candles on a birthday cake as they slowly breath out.


Tighten and Relax
Directions: Help children release stress by tightening and relaxing different body parts.
     Squeeze your hands tight as you can. Tighter. Tighter. Now relax.
     Squeeze your toes tight as you can. Tighter. Tighter. Now relax.
     Squeeze your arms…
     Legs… Shoulders… Mouths… etc.

*Explain that when you say, “soldiers” they should stand as stiffly as they can. When you say, “rag dolls” they should flop over like a rag doll. Alternate saying “soldiers” and “rag dolls.”


“Eye” Can Focus
Directions: Demonstrate how to hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your head. Look at the right index finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger. Do this several times to improve attention.


Make Rain
Directions: Tell the children to do exactly what you do and they’ll get a surprise!
     Tap right index finger to your left palm 10 times.
     Tap right index finger and middle finger to your left palm 10 times.
     Tap right index, middle, and ring finger to your left palm 10 times.
     Tap right index, middle, ring, and pinky finger to your left palm 10 times.
     Clap hands 10 times.
     Clap hands and stomp feet 10 times.
(Reverse movements)
...Place hands quietly in your lap and smile.

Water Please!
Materials: water bottles
Directions: Did you know that every hour the brain needs water? Have children keep a water bottle at their desk and “take a swig” on the hour.


Silent Version
Directions: Lip sinc songs and the noise volume and energy level will decrease.


Tony Chestnut
Directions: Point to the body parts as you sing. Sing each verse softer until you are doing the silent version.
     Toe (Point to toes.)
     Knee (Point to knee.)
     Chest (Point to chest.)
     Nut (Point to head.)
     Nose (Point to nose.)
     Eye (Point to eyes.)
     Love (Cross arms over chest.)
     You (Point to a friend.)
     Toe Knee Nose (Continue to point to body parts.)
     Toe Knee Nose
     Toe Knee Chest Nut
     Nose Eye Love You
     That’s what Toe Knee Nose.

                                     
                                           https://bit.ly/drjeanTony