CIRCLE TIME UNPLUGGED

HANDOUT FROM THE KICK START SUMMIT!

https://bit.ly/drJCircleTime

It's time to SHUT YOUR DOOR and start remembering why you became a teacher! Love them, play with them, and have fun with them! Oh, yeah, and teach them, too! Carolyn Kisloski and I created a packet called BACK TO SCHOOL HAPPIES a few years ago that we'd like to share with you. We can't solve all the world's problems, but we can give you something to make you smile and be excited to start your best year ever!

https://bit.ly/drJFreeBack

There are over 100 pages of hands-on learning activities with cheers, handshakes, attention grabbers, transitions, Prezis, management tips, brain breaks, finger plays, math, literacy, science, and seasonal lesson plans. There 15+ song downloads with books and visuals, as well as a video where Dr. Jean demonstrates the activities.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBZE86bnZGQ

MAY HAPPIES

May Day! May Day! The lovely month of May is finally here!!! No more snow and cold weather! Sunshine and good times!

 

09-May

https://bit.ly/drJFreeMay

APRIL HAPPIES

Shower April with joy and good memories!

08-April

https://bit.ly/drJFreeApr

Remember that HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS! YOU can add the magic to these activities with your smile, enthusiasm, and energy!

BACK TO SCHOOL HAPPIES

What is a HAPPIE?
Several years ago when I was doing a workshop a teacher walked in with a cup of coffee from specialty coffee shop. I said, “Don’t you just love that coffee.” She replied, “Yes, it’s my happie.” When I asked what she meant she explained, “You know every day is not totally happy. You have to do a little something special for yourself each day - something to make you happy. That’s what a ‘happie’ is.”

The more Carolyn Kisloski and I talked about this the clearer it became to us that we needed to put some “happies” back in the classroom day as well. Teachers are overburdened with standards, assessments, and expectations from administrators and parents. That’s why Carolyn and I wanted to create something to make teaching and learning more FUN! And, yes, we back up our playful and meaningful activities with research and the curriculum trends.

We have put together “the best of” our 60+ years of teaching experience for each month with tried and true ideas. There are over 100 pages of hands-on learning activities with cheers, handshakes, attention grabbers, transitions, management tips, brain breaks, finger plays, math, literacy, science, and seasonal lesson plans. There are also 15+ song downloads with books and visuals each month.

The good news is that you will be able to download a FREE year full of HAPPIES over the next week. The links will only be available for a month, so make sure you take advantage of this opportunity. (You might even let your bestie teacher friends know about this!)

We promise/hope your new school year will be more FUN for you and your children with our HAPPIES!

WOW!  TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE HAPPIES TO START YOUR YEAR!

01-Back to School

https://bit.ly/drJFreeBack

 
Good Morning Sign-In Graph………………………………….8
Rise and Shine……………………………………..…………...9
QR Code Demonstration Video…………………..………..10
Handshakes: Thumb Kiss, Hand Hug……………….....…. 11
Cheers: Firecracker, Pat on the Back, Cowboy….…….12
Attention Grabber: Tootsie Roll…...………………….…….13
Transition/ Rules Rap……………………………………    14
Management Our Class Rules Book Covers…………15, 16
I Can Classroom Rules…………………………………....….17
Learning through Play...………………………………....…..18
Building Blocks………………………………………...….……19
Everything in its Place..………………………………….……20
Making Groups………………………………………….……..21
Brain Breaks Cool Bear Hunt…………………………………22
Tooty Ta...…………………….…………………………….......23
If You’re Happy and You Know It………………………….24
Finger Plays Little Girl and Little Boy………………………25
Five Little Hotdogs……...……………………………………..26
Calendar Days of the Week……………………………………27
Math Over in the Meadow……………………………………28-34
The First Twelve Days of School…………………………….35-40
The Numbers of Me………………………………...………...41-44
Punch it Out……………………...…………………………….45
Math Mats……………………………………………...………46, 47
Cereal Math……………………………………………………48
Game My Messy House……………………………………….49
Literacy Letter Anchor Charts……………………………….50
Letter Food Ideas…………………………...…………………51
Letter Puppets………………………………………………….52
Alphardy………………………………………………………...53, 54
Nursery Rhyme Rap…………………………………………...55
Nursery Rhymes…………...…………………………………...56-69
Who Will Help Me Bake the Bread.....................................70
Body Writing…………………………………………………….71
Talk and Listen Sticks…………………………………………..72, 73
Predictable Morning Message……………………………...74
Name Activities………………………………………………...75-78
Katalina Matalina……………...………………………………79-82
Science Colors Prezi………………….……………...………….83
Color Box…………….…………………………………………..84
Color Train……………………………………………………….85
Our Colorful Class……………………………………………...86-99
My Colorful World………………………………...……………100
Mixing Colors……………………………………………………101
Color Balls…………………………...…………………………..102
Mouse Paint Color Mixing……………………………...…….103
Sort the Rainbow…………....…………………………………104
Seasonal Fall Prezi……………………………………………105
Super Star Chant……………………………………...……….106-108
Gray Squirrel………………………………………...……....….109
Apple Tree………………...…………………………………….110, 111
End of the Day It’s Time to Say Good-Bye…………………112

#14-BACK TO SCHOOL FOR YOUR BEST YEAR EVER! Happies

Several years ago there was a movie called "A Dog's Purpose." What the dog said at the end reminded me about life...and children...and being a teacher. To paraphrase: "The purpose of life is to play and have fun and live in the moment." That's what young children are designed to do and are suppose to do in order to develop into well-rounded and happy adults. I mean, if you don't have happiness when you are a child, how are you ever going to find happiness in your life?

After this past year, we need to do everything we can every day to give children a little happiness. That's why Carolyn Kisloski, Alex May, and I want to give you our BACK TO SCHOOL HAPPIES FREE! We can't solve all the world's problems, but we can give you something to make you smile and excited to start your best year ever!

Click to download

There are over 100 pages of hands-on learning activities with cheers, handshakes, attention grabbers, transitions, Prezis, management tips, brain breaks, finger plays, math, literacy, science, and seasonal lesson plans. There 15+ song downloads with books and visuals, as well as a video where Dr. Jean demonstrates the activities.

Click to watch video

TIS’ YOU
(Tune: “Simple Gifts”)
Jean Feldman and Hollynd Feldman Karapetkova

Tis’ you who cares,
And tis’ you who shares.
Tis’ you who teaches
Children everywhere.
Tis’ you who inspires,
Tis’ you who molds.
You help children’s gifts
And dreams unfold.

Tis’ you our teachers
Everywhere
For some child you’re the
Only one who cares.
And when you come at last
To the end of your days,
I have touched a life
Is what you can say.

It’s not the test scores.
Computers or workbooks.
Into the hopeful eyes
Of each child you must look.
You plant the seeds of learning
With smiles and grace.
Each day you make the world
A better place.

Tis’ you our teachers
Everywhere
For some child you’re the
Only one who cares.
And when you come at last
To the end of your days,
I have touched a life
Is what you can say.

TEACHERS WHO LOVE TEACHING MAKE CHILDREN WHO LOVE LEARNING!

#8 THE HEART OF A TEACHER

Wouldn't it be amazing if your supervisor or administrator asked, "What did you do to have FUN today? What did you do to make your children happy?"

Unfortunately, "little happies" are not a part of most school curriculums. You just have to MAKE them happen! Songs, cheers, brain breaks, jokes, stories, and games can all add happiness to your children's day and YOUR day!

THROWBACK

Smile Break
When children are wound up, help center them with a smile break. Tell them to look at the clock and smile for 30 seconds. (Use the timer on your phone or have them look at the clock until the big hand is on the 6.)

Babble Break
A brain break that students will love is a “talking break.” Set a timer for one minute or whatever and tell students they can talk with a friend until the timer goes off. Once the time goes off there's no more talking!

Joke Break
Encourage each child to learn a joke that they can share with their classmates. Let children decorate craft sticks with their names and put them in a “Joke Can.” When you have a few extra minutes, choose a stick and let that child tell a joke to the class.

THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT!

                                      FAKE IT 'TIL YOU FEEL IT!

Sometimes we just have to put a smile on our face to help children feel happy and confident. Here are some suggestions for each one of us and the families we impact.

Thankful Board
Use a poster, refrigerator, or door to put sticky notes of things to be grateful for.
Hint! Younger children could draw pictures.



Things to Be Happy About
Staple several sheets of paper together to make a book. Invite children to draw pictures, write, or take digital photos of things that make them happy.

                                     

Happiness Acrostic
Write the letters of the alphabet vertically on a sheet of paper. Can you think of something that you enjoy for each letter.


Note! I'm actually doing this every day in a book my granddaughter made me.




If You're Happy and You Know It
You all know this song. Several years ago Elizabeth Hofmaster shared how she sings this song each day as her children leave. What a great idea to adapt to our own children or those we love!

If you know your teacher loves you blow her a kiss.
If you know your teacher loves you blow her a kiss.
If you know your teacher loves you and she really likes to hug you...
If you know your teacher loves you blow her a kiss.



Be a Little More Like the Grasshopper
I have one more thought to share today. I found this on a blog from 8 years ago when my grandson was 6. My daughter sent this email and it just seems to be appropriate right now for all of us to sing and dance and be happy!
                                            
    
Tonight KJ and I did his homework together. He had to read a story and answer some questions about it, trying to get to the theme or main idea, which I'm totally in favor of since my college students struggle with this skill. However, the story was the old fable about the grasshopper and the ant, retold. On the back, the worksheet tells parents that the theme of the story is "Be sure to work hard and save up for bad times." Okay. No problem. But in the story the ant works all summer: "She did not have time to sing and play." And what about the grasshopper? "He was happy to be alive and spent every day doing all of the things he wanted to do... He sang his grasshopper songs and played in the summer rain..." What a beautiful thing! Shouldn't we all try to be a bit happier to be alive? Shouldn't we sing and play more often? We work way too hard in this country, mostly to buy more stuff that we don't need anyway. As KJ and I were reading this story together, it struck me that our country is way too much like the ant--the ant on overdrive! We've worked and accumulated so much stuff that we don't have any time to play. And the poor grasshopper--the ant doesn't even share any of her food with him! How mean! Is that the kind of message I want to give KJ, that he shouldn't bother to help people who need help? That it's probably their fault anyway? So after he told me the "theme"--which he could do without blinking--we talked about how sad the story made me because I really like the grasshopper and I think we should all be happy to be alive, and I think we should help people when they need it. He said, "Yea--if the ant went to Disney World she probably wouldn't even go on any rides. She'd just be running around trying to find seeds and stuff and she'd get stepped on because there are way too many people at Disney World." And I thought that was pretty funny! So here's to being a little bit more like grasshoppers!

LET IT SNOW!

Didn't your winter break just start and here you are thinking about your January lesson plans?  

You'll find great ideas every day this week on my  blog.

Let It Snow!
You will need jumbo craft sticks and an empty plastic cup for this game. Write simple sentences, sight words, letters, math facts, etc. on the sticks with a permanent marker. Glue a snowflake to the end of 2 sticks. Place the sticks in the can with the snowflakes on the bottom. Children pass the cup around, choose a stick, and read the information. If they choose the snowflake they sing, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" and put all their sticks back.




Ice Skating

Give each child 2 paper plates. Demonstrate how to place these on the floor and put one foot on each plate. Slide your feet as if skating. Put on some waltz music and let the children skate, twist, and turn. Play “freeze.” When you stop the music children must “freeze” in their positions. When the music begins again they may continue to skate.

Add a little learning! Write letters, words, math facts, etc. on the plates. When the music stops the children have to exchange plates with a friend and identify the information on the new plates.

Snowballs 
Give children scrap paper and have them write sight words, letters, math facts, or other skills on them. Divide the class into two teams and have them stand on opposite sides of the room. Wad up the paper to make snowballs. When the teacher says, "Let it snow!" the children begin throwing the snowballs at the opposite team. They must quickly find a snowball, open it, and identify the information before throwing it back at the other team.

Icebergs 
Fill plastic containers with water. Add food coloring and freeze. Place these in your water table and tell the children they are icebergs. Add walruses, polar bears, and other plastic arctic animals.
                                                         

Add a little learning! Have children predict how long it will take the "icebergs" to melt. Who guessed the closest time?

 

Check out the fantastic deal we have for you with 

JANUARY HAPPIES and our free CIRCLE TIME. 

http://drjean.org/html/songs/songStore_eBooks.html#JanHappies  

FREE DECEMBER LESSON PLANS

Have you downloaded your free December Happies yet?

http://drjean.org/html/songs/purchaseHappies.php

Enter this code DecHappiesFree and the purchase price will be reduced to $0.00. Put in your email address and you’ll be ready to download 159 pages of fun and 15 songs.

Here's a video to show you how!

https://youtu.be/yG5LYIVV2Dc

Gummy Bears

Everybody will love this song!  What a natural way to teach one-to-one correspondence, subtraction, colors, and number bonds.

Compound Boogie

Hand movements and a song will make compound words more meaningful for children.  And then you can make this puzzle game.

                                     

Five Senses

Isn't December the perfect month for a science unit on the senses?

                                                             

DECEMBER HAPPIES JUST FOR YOU!

Make every day jolly and bright with all the songs, games,

and printables you'll find in our December Happies.

To get your free December Happies click on this link:

http://drjean.org/html/songs/purchaseHappies.php

Enter this code DecHappiesFree and the purchase price will be reduced to $0.00. Put in your email address and you’ll be ready to download 159 pages of fun and 15 songs.

Start each day off right by singing “Feeling Fine” and doing a handshake like the hamburger or the 4-H hello.


Cheer your students on with a brain hug, rollercoaster cheer, or cheese and grater.
                                 

Grab their attention with “How does my teacher feel about me?”

And use “Open, Shut Them” and “Miss Molly” to engage their hands, eyes, and ears.

We’ve got videos of all of these, plus science experiments for the senses, a math game, and tips for scissor skills. And how could you get through December without “Jingle Bells”? 
                                                                  
We hope you’ll be LAUGHING ALL THE WAY with these free activities!

MAY DAY HAPPIES

FACEBOOK LIVE AT FIVE TONIGHT 5/1

JOIN ME AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME "HAPPIES" TO KEEP 

YOU SMILING UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

May Day! May Day! The lovely month of May is finally here!!! No more snow and cold weather! Sunshine and good times!

We've got lots of ways for you to have a good time in our MAY HAPPIES. Go to my website (drjean.org) today to download your free preview.

Handshakes: Fisherman, Jellyfish

Cheers: Clam Clap, Ole!, Raise the Roof

Attention Grabber: Student Heroes

Finger Plays: I Caught a Fish, Dig a Hole

Bugs and Insect Prezi

Writing Prompts

Math Game

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

And if you really want to have a great month, download our complete set of MAY HAPPIES with 100 pages of activities and 18 song downloads.

http://drjean.org/html/songs/purchaseHappies.php

APRIL HAPPIES

Shower April with joy and good memories!

We want to “shower” you with a “downpour” of fun ideas in our April Happies. It’s interesting that SEL (Social Emotional Learning) is receiving so much attention now because that’s exactly what Carolyn Kisloski and I have been preaching about and trying to nurture with our HAPPIES each month. Teachers and children need to find the JOY of learning together. Each child needs to feel loved, capable, and accepted.

Plant those SEL seeds this month with our handshakes, cheers, brain breaks, songs, games and creative activities.

Remember that HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS! YOU can add the magic to these activities with your smile, enthusiasm, and energy!

Click here to get your free preview:
                                        
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Carolyn-Kisloski/Search:april+happies

Click here to purchase the complete packet with 15 songs and 144 pages of activities:
           
http://drjean.org/html/songs/purchaseHappies.php

MARCH IN THOSE MARCH HAPPIES

This month our MARCH HAPPIES PREVIEW packet will be like finding a pot of gold! There are handshakes, cheers, a clean up song, a treasure pirate ship, an egg flip book, a writing prompt “How to Build a Nest”, and “smiles of spring.”

                                                  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/March-HAPPIES-with-Dr-Jean-3240349

Just look what at all these golden nuggets!  And they are all FREE!!!

         

                                 

           

Want more? You can order the 135 page complete packet with 15 songs at my song store or Carolyn Kisloski's TPT store.

FEBRUARY HAPPIES

It's February and a great time to focus on kindness and friendship! You'll find ideas for morning meeting, transitions, math, reading, science, and social studies in our February Happies. There are some great ideas in the preview, or you can order the entire package (136 pages and 16 songs) at Dr. Jean’s website or at Carolyn Kisloski's my TpT Store!

Will You Be My Valentine?
(Tune: “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”)
Will you be my Valentine, (Point to various friends.)
Valentine, Valentine?
Will you be my Valentine?
I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine! (Point to self and then a friend.)

                             
Some are red, some are blue, (Hold up fingers.)
Some have lace and ribbons, too.
Some are funny, some are not. (Smile and then shake head “no.”)
I like the candy ones a lot.
*Download this book at drjean.org.

Bringing Home a Valentine
(Tune: “Baby Bumblebee”)
I’m bringing home a valentine for you, (Cup hands and move them to
One that says, “I love you.” the beat in front of your body.)
I’m bringing home a valentine for you
With a great big hug, and a (kiss) (kiss), too! (Hug self and then kiss
              in the air.)
Softer….hum

                                     

Here’s a story just right for this month to help children think about how words can hurt. Cut a large heart out of red construction paper and hold it in your lap as you begin to tell the story below:

              
This is a story about a special friend named (imaginary name). He always came to school with a smile on his face and a big heart full of love for his classmates. (Hold up the big heart.) (Name) listened to his teacher, did his best work, and helped his friends. However, some of his friends weren’t always so kind. Joe made fun of his shoes and broke a little of his heart. (Tear off a piece of the heart and let it drop to the floor.) Ann said, “I’m saving this seat and you can’t sit here” at story time and broke a little more of his heart. Sammy wouldn’t share his crayons (tear off a little of the heart) and Sara called him a mean name. What are some other things that might break his heart? (Let the children name other things that cause hurt feelings as you let the pieces fall to the floor.) By the end of the day his heart was all in pieces and it was so sad.

                                                       

Who can tell me how to put his heart back together? What are some kind things you can do for your friends? As children name different acts of kindness pick the pieces of the heart off the floor. Glue the pieces together on a poster as a reminder to have a kind heart. Encourage children to write friends’ names on the poster when they are kind and helpful to them!

                  

Run off "Kindness Tickets" and distribute them to your students. Children can thank friends for a kindness shown by writing their name on a ticket.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljaHRsT05ZYmxPZlE/view?usp=sharing