ALL DAY LONG

The songs on this recording will keep your children singing "All Day Long!" There are circle time songs that will help children learn to spell the days of the week and months of the year, as well as tunes for special occasions like having a birthday or losing a tooth There are chants to line children up, clean up, and sit down, plus a hand washing song, "Lunch Time Round-Up," and "Backpack Boogie." Children will sing and learn with songs about using scissors, holding a pencil, coloring, and "Magic Words." You'll guide children with a smile, dance, and song through the transitions in your day.

Look at all these songs:

1. Rise and Shine
2. Happy Days
3. Month Hop
4. Weather Song
5. Surprise Sack
6. New Shoes
7. Welcome Back
8. Loose Tooth
9. Birthday Song
10. Line-Up Cadence
11. Dismissal Song
12. Have a Seat
13. Give Me a Clap
14. Wiggle Them
15. Tidy Up
16. Hi Ho Helpers
17. Scrub a Dub
18. Lunch Time Round-Up
19. Hush, Little Baby
20. Magic Words
21. Name on Your Paper
22. Pencil Grip
23. Scissors Snip
24. A Coloring We’ll Go
25. What Did You Learn Today?
26. Back Pack Boogie
27. Skinnamarinkydinkydink
 

Click to see all the ways you can bring these songs into your classroom. 

KISS YOUR BRAIN VIRTUALLY!

I am honored to be a presenter at the ECA - APER Virtual National Conference in India on February 12th. What is ECA and APER?

Early Childhood Association (ECA) is a registered Non-Profit organization established in April 2011. ECA is headquartered in Mumbai, with operational centres all across the country, comprising over 10,000 active members with a vision to bring about a change in the quality of Early Childhood Education & Care.

My topic is KISS YOUR BRAIN, which is exciting because you know how I love to sing and dance and cheer and move and PLAY! Children's brains all over the world need the same things they have always needed - LOVE, PLAY, FUN, MOVEMENT! 

                                             

I know that many of you are struggling with teaching online and keeping the children engaged and interested. I hope the brain breaks (aka movement activities) I'll be sharing on my blog this coming week will help your children focus and give them a positive outlet for energy and wiggles.

Note! Please take these and get a BA and a BS. (Borrow and Adapt and Borrow and Steal)


TIPS FOR TERRIFICT BRAIN BREAKS!

*The teacher adds the magic. You need to model these brain breaks and use them as an opportunity to smile and have fun with your students.

*Moving with a purpose. Explain to your students, parents, and administrators the importance of these brain breaks. Yes, we are having fun, but we are also exercising children’s brains and bodies.

*Introduce one brain break at a time and practice it for several days. Each class is different, so if your students like it keep on doing it. If they don’t like it move on to another one.

*Write titles of brain breaks your students enjoy on sentence strips and tape to a wall. Once you have introduced 5-10 you can let a student helper choose a brain break and lead the class.

*It’s all good! It doesn’t matter of your students do the movements perfectly or not. As long as they are watching you and trying to mimic your movements you know their brains are working.

*Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work the first time. According to research, it takes 7-25 times for muscle memory to master a task. Try, try, and try again. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will see some improvement.

*These activities have an additional benefit by reducing stress – in adults and children! Instead of getting upset – take a brain break!


Wakey! Wakey!

Wake up children’s brains with exercise and a song. They’ll be able to focus better when they release their wiggles and have a positive attitude.

Turn on Your Brain
Help children focus and get ready to learn by turning on their brains each morning:
Turn on the right side of your brain. (Pretend to turn on right side.)
Turn on the left side. (Pretend to turn on left side.)
Turn on your right eye. (Pretend to turn on right eye.)
Turn on your left eye. (Pretend to turn on left eye.)
Turn on your right ear. (Pretend to turn on right ear.)
Turn on your left ear. (Pretend to turn on left ear.)
You don’t need to turn on your mouth because it’s always “on.”
Now you’re ready to learn!
                                         

Class Rock
Activating the extremities (hands and feet) sends blood to the brain and wakes up the body.
Stand in a circle and begin doing this beat as you stomp your foot two times and then clap two times: stomp, stomp, clap - stomp, stomp, clap
Insert each child’s name in the chant below as you go around the circle.
      We think first child’s name is super. Super!
      We think second child’s name is super. Super!
      We think….

Adaptations: Insert other positive adjectives, such as awesome, incredible, talented, kind, etc.


Rise and Shine

https://bit.ly/drjeanRiseShine


Time to Get Up

https://bit.ly/drjeanTimeToGetUp


Morning Stretch

http://bit.ly/drjeanStretch


Feeling Fine

https://bit.ly/drjeanFine

MORNING SONG

Choose a morning song and use it every day. In this way it will become an “indicator” activity to let the children know it’s time to get ready to learn. Here are a few of my favorites:

Hello Song (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)
Hello, how are you? (Wave hand.)
Hello, how are you?
Hello, how are you?
How are you this morning?

I am fine, and I hope you are, too. (Point to self, then a friend.)
I am fine, and I hope you are, too.
I am fine, and I hope you are, too.
I hope you are, too, this morning.

Turn to your neighbor, and shake their hand. (Shake hands.)
Turn to your neighbor, and shake their hand.
Turn to your neighbor, and shake their hand.
Shake their hand this morning.

Activities: Make up additional verses, such as, “Turn to a neighbor and give high five.”

Insert children’s names in the song by singing, “Hello, Timmy, how are you? Hello Izzy, how are you?” and so forth.

INTERACTIVE MORNING SONGS

Singing a song with a partner will nurture friendships and smiles.

Twinkle Friends  (Tune:  "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. (Children face partner and touch
What a special friend you are. fingers gently in the air.)
From your head to your toes, (Point to head and then toes.)
We are special friends you know. (Hold hands and circle around.)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, (Gently touch fingers to partner.)
What a special friend you are. (Hug friend.)
Now go find another friend (Children walk around the room
And we’ll twinkle once again. and find another friend.)

Hello, Neighbor! (Tune: “Good Night, Ladies”)
Hello, neighbor. (Wave to partner.)
What do you say? (Give high five.)
It’s going to be a (Slap, clap, tap hands.)
Happy day.
Greet your neighbor. (Shake hands.)
Boogie on down. (Wiggle hips.)
Give a bump, (Bump hips.)
And turn around. (Turn around.)

Activities: You can do this song as a line dance where children step down to the next partner each time you sing.
Change “bump” to “jump” if your students bump too hard.

If you prefer a video for a morning greeting you can use one of these:

Feeling Fine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bm8lk7lvUg


Time to Get Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39__jCTwNt0


Rise and Shine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyAD2OoFuoY

#4 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - MORNING STRETCH

This song will help children “center” themselves and get ready to learn. As they practice breathing and stretching different body parts they will naturally calm down and focus.

                                   

Morning Stretch

It feels so good to start the day by stretching. (Stretch up high on toes.)

Breath in deeply and then let the air out. (Slowly breath in and out.)

Breath in fresh air – push the stale air out.

Stand up tall. (Stand with crown of head reaching up.)

Look left then right. (Slowly look left and then right.)

Roll your neck around (Gently roll your head around in one direction.)

So it’s not too tight. (Roll head in opposite direction.)

Shoulders up and circle around (Shoulders up as if shrugging and around.)

Other direction without a sound. (Opposite direction.)

Slowly breath in and lift your arms up high. (Lift arms up and then down.)

Let the air out and bring your arms by your sides. 

Now stretch your arms out (Stretch arms out in a T.)

Big circles make. (Make big circles with arms.)

Other direction, (Make circles in the opposite direction.)

Then swish and shake. (Swing arms like a dishrag left and right.)

Bend to the left with right arm over head (Straighten right arm and bend.)

Next on the right with left arm instead. (Straighten left arm and bend.)

Slowly… (Lift arms and breath in. Lower arms and exhale.)

Touch your toes, then stretch high in the air. (Touch toes then up.)

Once more touch toes, lift up your cares.

Heel up and bend down first on the right. (Right heel up and stretch.)

Then left heel up and bend with toes in sight. (Left heel stretch.)

Slowly… (Lift arms and breath in. Lower arms and exhale.)

Stretch the right calf, and then the other side. (Bend right knee, then left.)

Stand tall as can be and hug yourself with pride. (Wrap arms around self.)

Bring the corners of your mouth up toward your eyes.

Think of something happy and give big smile! (Squeeze body and smile.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIq9TbaCokc&feature=youtu.be

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.

Balancing Act

Feet together, close your eyes, (Close eyes breath in and out.)

And breath slowly in and out. 

Open your eyes, (Balance on left foot.)

Lift your right foot and balance on the left.

Put your arms out straight. (Arms out wide as you balance.)

Now reach for the stars. (Arms up in the air as you balance.)

Place your right foot on the floor 

And raise your left foot. (Balance on right foot.)

Put your arms out straight. (Arms out wide as you balance.)

Now reach for the stars. (Arms up in the air as you balance.)

Place your left foot on the floor 

And raise your right knee. (Lift right knee and balance on left foot.)

Can you bend your arms like a tree in the wind? (Move arms around.)

Place your right foot down 

And raise your left knee. (Lift left knee and balance on right foot.)

Can you bend your arms like a tree in the wind? (Move arms around.)

Place your left foot on the floor.

Raise your right knee (Straighten right leg in the air and balance.)

And then stretch your right leg out straight. 

Bend your right knee and place it on the floor.

Raise your left knee (Straighten left leg in the air and balance.)

And then stretch your left leg out straight.

Bend your left knee and place it on the floor.

Raise your right leg to the side. (Straighten right leg by side.)

Place your right leg on the floor.

Raise your left leg to the side. (Straighten left leg by side.)

Place your left leg on the floor.

Stand on your left leg. (Balance on left leg.)

Stretch out your arms. (Stretch arms out wide.)

Bend forward like an airplane. (Slowly bend forwards as you balance.)

Stand on your right leg. (Balance on right leg.)

Stretch out your arms. (Stretch arms out wide.)

Bend forward like an airplane. (Slowly bend forwards as you balance.)

Stand up on tippy toes. (Stretch up on toes and balance.)

Stand still for as long as you can.

Raise your right hand and place (Raise right hand and pat on back.) 

It on your back and give yourself a pat.

Raise your left hand and place (Raise left hand and pat on back.)

It on your back and give yourself a pat.

Now close your eyes and slowly breath in and out.

Let your mind take you to a happy place.

http://bit.ly/drjeanBalancing

Happy Birthday, America!!

God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.

I hope your day is filled with fun, special memories, and a happy heart 

because you are proud to be an American!

#3 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - SHAKE A HAND

The only way to the head is through the heart, and you can connect to children’s hearts with one of these handshakes.

Hint! Choose one each week and do it every day. At the end of the week write it on a sentence strip and add a picture clue. After you have introduced several you can let the “helper” each day choose the handshake she’d like to do.
                                             


Butterfly– Hook right thumbs together. Extend the other four fingers to make the butterfly’s wings. Pretend to flutter the butterfly’s wings as you move your hands in a circular motion.
                                                                                 

Cool Dude– Partners knuckle bump and then open their fist and slide it back as they say, “Pssshhh!”

Lumberjack– Partners hold up right thumbs and grab them with the left hand. Partners then clasp right fingers and pretend to saw back and forth.

Squirrel– One friend extends her arm. The other friend quickly runs fingers from the wrist up to the shoulder. Switch places.
         
Farmer– The teacher crosses her fingers and points thumbs down to represent the cow’s utter. The child grabs the thumbs and pretends to milk the cow.

Builder– Shake hands and move them up and down vertically as you say, “Here’s a hammer.” Move hands horizontally back and forth as you say, “Here’s a saw.” Gently twist wrists as you say, “And here’s a screwdriver.”

Potato– Bump fists as you say, “Baked potato.” Bend index fingers and touch as you say, “Tader tot.” Open fingers and wiggle with your partner as you say, “And fries.”

Burger– Children bump fists and say, “Burger.” Open fists and wiggle fingers together as they say, “Fries.” Hands in the air and shake fists and hips as they say, “Shake.”
                                     
Ghost– Extend arms and swish back in forth as you say, “Woooo!”

Buzz! Extend index finger and touch to your partner’s index finger as you make a buzzing sound.

Fisherman– Place right hand on each other’s right forearm and tap gently like a fish tail. Bend right arm back as if reeling in a fish as you say, “Good morning!”

Thumb Kiss– Hold up thumbs and touch as you make a smacking sound.
                                                                      
Hand Hug– Hold up right palms and touch in the air. Bend thumbs around and gently squeeze.

Biker – Children hold out fists and stick up thumbs. The teacher grabs the thumbs and pretends to turn them while making a “Brrrrmmmm” sound. “Now your brain is revved up and you’re ready to learn!”

Body Parts– Call out different body parts and challenge children to greet partners by gently touching elbows, knees, heads, ankles, toes, chins, etc.

Jellyfish– Bump fists and then open and close fingers as you pull them back like a jellyfish.

Spiderman– Partners hold up four fingers and intertwine. Spiders have 8 legs and you have 8 wiggly fingers.
                   
Bow Wow– Partners bow and then make “w’s” by sticking up three middle fingers. Open mouth and place “w’s” on either side to create the word “WOW!”

Here's a video where you can watch me demonstrate some of these handshakes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaONx6N7-kM

#2 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - START WITH A SMILE AND A SONG

Put on a happy face and start each day with a song. Use the same song every day for a month so it will be like an “indicator activity” to let children know it’s time to get their day started.  Music emits endorphins in the brain which make you happy.  You and your students will naturally smile with one of these songs!

                                                    

Rise and Shine
Rise and shine, (Bend down, then rise and put arms in air.)
And welcome to school today. (Clap to the beat.)
Rise and shine, (Bend down, then rise and put arms in air.)
And welcome to school today. (Clap.)
Rise and shine, (Bend down, then rise and put arms in air.)
And welcome to school today. (Clap.)
We’re so glad you’re here! (Shake hands.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyAD2OoFuoY
   

Feeling Fine I'm in right, (Hold up both index fingers and point to chest.)
Out right, (Point out with index fingers.)
Up right, (Reach up high.)
Down right, (Stoop down low.)
And I'm feeling fine. (Turn around in a circle.)
I eat the food that’s good (Pretend to feed self.)
And exercise like I should. (Run in place.)
That’s why I’m in right,
Out right,
Up right,
Down right,
And I’m feeling fine.
A little faster…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bm8lk7lvUg

                                 

Hello, Friends! (Tune: "Good Night, Ladies")
Hello, friends! (Wave to partner.)
How are you?  (Give high five.)
I'm very happy   (Slap, clap, tap hands.)
to see you.
Greet your neighbor. (Shake hands.)
Boogie on down. (Wiggle hips.)
Give a bump, (Bump hips.)
And turn around. (Turn around.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ywIu30lqKA
                                                            


Turn on Your Brain
Start the day by having your students “turn on their brains.”
Turn on the left side (twist by left forehead).
Turn on the right side (twist by right forehead).
Turn on the left ear…
Turn on the right ear...
Turn on the left eye…
And the right eye.
You don’t have to turn on your mouth because it stays “on” all the time.
Now you are ready to learn!!!