GREAT TEACHERS 110

SHARING IS CARING! THANKS TO ALL THESE CARING TEACHERS!

Math Office (Amanda Green)
Use a pipe cleaner to make an abacus at the top of a pocket folder. Put a hundreds chart, shapes, or whatever you are studying in the office.
*You could even do five beads of each color like rekenrek.
Hint! Let them put papers they are working on in the left pocket and papers they have
finished in the right pocket.

Good Listening Chant (Eunica Turner)
(Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Eyes are watching. (Point to eyes.)
Ears are listening. (Point to ears.)
Lips are closed. (Point to lips.)
Hands are still. (Clasp hands together.)
Feet are very quiet. (Wiggle toes and point to feet.)
That’s the way we like it. (Nod our head.)
Listening well. Listening well. (Smile)


Creep Track 

This is made from a shower curtain. Tape sight words, letters, numbers, etc. Children crawl across and identify the information by slapping it with their hands.

Vowel Chant (Emily Lieb)
Teacher: Give me a long A.
(Students stretch it out as they say it with their hands.)
All: You’ve got your /a/, you’ve got your /a/, you’ve got your /a/ /a/ /a/.
Teacher: Give me a short A.
(Students signal short with hands as they make the sound.)
All: You’ve got your /a/, you’ve got your /a/, you’ve got your /a/ /a/ /a/.
Continue with all vowels.


Line Up Song (Julie Golden)
(Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)
My hands are by my side.
I’m standing straight and tall.
My eyes are on teacher’s name
And I’m ready for the hall.


Read to a Star (Kim Potter)
Purchase plexi-glass picture frames that stand up at the dollar store. Print pictures of famous people (Justin Bieber, Obama, etc.) and put them in the frames. Children sit and read to the picture of their choice.


Name on My Paper (Veronica Guerrero)
(Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Teacher: Are you ready?
Students: Yes I am.
Teacher: Let’s write my first name.
Students: Let’s write my first name.
Teacher: Let’s write my last name.
Students: Let’s write my last name.
Teacher: Let’s write the date.
Students: Let’s write the date.
Teacher: Now I’m done.
Students: Now I’m done.

Trash Words (Trisha Loftin)
When a student curses have them say the “trash word” into a scrap sheet of paper. Then they crumple up the paper and put the “trash word” into a small table top trash can (from Dollar Tree). Once it is in the trash it’s gone for good!


Throw It Away! (Janine Conway)
If children come in grumpy, ask them to throw their negatives away in the trash can. (Model taking imaginary things off your body and putting them in the trash.)

Talk to Your Hands

If children are wiggling their hands, ask them to please talk to their hands and tell them to be quiet.

LINE UP - LINE UP

Kids and lines don't go together very well, but it's a necessary part of classroom life. Instead of "keep your hands to yourself," try one of these positive approaches.

I’m Ready (Say or sing to the tune from "Gilligan's Island")
I’m looking straight ahead of me.
My arms are at my side.
My feet are quiet as can be,
I’m ready for outside.
Hint! Write the chant on a poster and tape it to the door.

Line Up Song (Tune: “Hi Ho, Hi Ho”)
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to (lunch, play, home, etc.) we go.
With our heads held high and arms by our sides
And our belly buttons all in a row.

Hips and Lips
Teacher says "Hips" - children put one hand on their hips.
Teacher says "Lips" - children put index finger from the other hand on their lips.

Hallway Trip
“Zip” – pretend to zip your lips.
“Flip” – fold arms across your chest.
“We’re ready for the hallway trip.”

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

Let’s Pretend!
Marshmallows - Have the children put “marshmallows” in their mouths (Puff out cheeks.)
and put “marshmallows” on their feet. (Model walking slowly and gently.)

Museum Hands – Children clasp their hands behind their backs.
Butterfly Wings or Angel Wings - Children put their hands behind their backs and stick out their elbows and flap them like wings.

Fix It Up
When students forget school rules and appropriate behavior, simply say:
STOP! (Put your hand in the air.)
BACK IT UP! (Have them return to their seats.)
FIX IT UP! (Choose a child to describe the appropriate behavior.)

Days of the Week
Name your tables, rows, etc. according to the days of the
week. On Monday, the “Monday table” gets to line up first all day long. For example:
“Monday table, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.” On Tuesday, call the “Tuesday
table” first all day. “Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday.” Every group will
have a turn being first as well as last.

Line Up Rhymes
Use these rhymes to dismiss children:
Apples, peaches, pears, plums –
Tell me when your birthday comes.
(Each child tells their birthday.)

Cat, dog, frog mouse –
Tell me the number on your house.
(Children say their street address.)

Ring, ring, anybody home?
What’s the number of your telephone?
(Children state their phone number.)

A E I O You may be dismissed.
(Point to children as you say the vowels. The child who would be “U” may line up.)

Wall Push Ups
While children are waiting and standing in line in the hall encourage them to do push ups against the wall. 

TIPS AND TRICKS - Line Up!

Children and lines are not a “perfect fit,” but these songs and movements will engage them in a positive direction.

Lining Up Is Easy to Do ("Cadence" - Children repeat each line.)
Lining up is easy to do (Slap thighs to the beat)
When you take care of only you.
Feet together hands by sides,
We've got spirit, we've got pride.
Sound off - 1, 2
Hit it again - 3, 4
Out the door - 1, 2, 3, 4,
1, 2 - 3, 4

Line Up Song
(Tune: “Gilligan’s Island Theme Song”)
I’m looking straight ahead of me
My arms are at my sides.
My feet are quiet as can be
I’m ready for outside.

Line Up Song
(Tune: “Hi Ho, Hi Ho”)
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to (lunch, play, home, etc.) we go.
With our heads held high and arms by our sides
And our belly buttons all in a row.

Hips and Lips
Children place one hand on their hip and one finger on their lips.

*Hips, Lips, Zip, Flip
Teacher says "Hips" - children put one hand on their hips.
Teacher says "Lips" - children put index finger from the other hand on their lips.
Hallway Trip
“Zip” – pretend to zip your lips.
“Flip” – fold arms across your chest.
“We’re ready for the hallway trip.”


Let’s Pretend!
Marshmallows - Have the children put “marshmallows” in their mouths (Puff out cheeks.)
and put “marshmallows” on their feet. (Model walking slowly and gently.)
Museum Hands – Children clasp their hands behind their backs.
Butterfly Wings or Angel Wings - Children put their hands behind their backs and stick out their elbows and flap them like wings.

Bears and cave – One hand is the bear and insert it in the other hand behind your back.

Fix It Up
When students forget school rules and appropriate behavior, simply say:
STOP! (Put your hand in the air.)
BACK IT UP! (Have them return to their seats.)
FIX IT UP! (Choose a child to describe the appropriate behavior.)


A E I O U

A E I O - You may be dismissed.
(Point to children as you say the vowels. The child who would be “U” may line up.)


Wall Push Ups
While children are waiting and standing in line in the hall encourage them to do push ups against the wall.

Locket Pocket
To line up the teacher says: Locket. (Pretend to lock lips.)
Children respond: Pocket. (Pretend to put the key in their pocket.)

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

Some of your children might have checked all the boxes on your assessment, but do they know where they live? Do they know their phone number? Here are some ideas that you can send home to parents so they can help their children learn some basic personal information.

Where do you live?
Addresses can be sung to “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”
874 Pine Oak Circle, Pine Oak Circle, Pine Oak Circle.
874 Pine Oak Circle, Cincinnati, Ohio

What’s your zip code?
Learn zip codes by singing them to the tune of “BINGO.”
There is a zip code where I live and I know my zip code.
54892, 54892, 54892 is my zip code.

When is your birthday?
Birthdays can be sung to “Happy Birthday to You.”
September 24th, September 24th,
That is my birthday, September 24th.

What’s your phone number?
Phone numbers can be learned by singing them to “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore.”
481-297-4308
481-297-4308


Crafty Idea
Want a bulletin board idea to help children learn their addresses? Let children decorate a lunch bag to look like their house. Give them newspaper to stuff inside, fold down the top, and staple on a roof. Let them write (or you can write for the younger children) their name and street address at the top.

*You can staple these to a bulletin board or use in the block center to build your community.

Line Up Rhymes
These are good rhymes to transition children, as well as to reinforce birthdays, phone numbers, and addresses.

Apples, pears, peaches, plums,
Tell me when your birthday comes. (Children say birthday before lining up.)

Candy, candy, ice cream cone.
Tell me the number of your telephone. (Children say phone number before transitioning.)

Rabbit, dog, cat, mouse,
Tell me the number on your house. (Children tell their address.)


Hint! Keep a copy of the children's address, phone number, and birth date so you can prompt the ones who need help.

LINING UP IS EASY TO DO

Kids and lines don't go together very well, but it's a necessary part of classroom life. Instead of "keep your hands to yourself," try one of these positive approaches.

                                             
I’m Ready (Say or sing to the tune from "Gilligan's Island")
I’m looking straight ahead of me.
My arms are at my side.
My feet are quiet as can be,
I’m ready for outside.
Hint! Write the chant on a poster and tape it to the door. 

Line Up Song  (Tune: “Hi Ho, Hi Ho”) 
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to (lunch, play, home, etc.) we go. 
With our heads held high and arms by our sides 
And our belly buttons all in a row. 

Lining Up Is Easy to Do ("Cadence" - Children repeat each line.)

Lining up is easy to do (Slap thighs to the beat)

When you take care of only you.

Feet together hands by sides,

We've got spirit, we've got pride.

Sound off - 1, 2

Hit it again - 3, 4

Out the door - 1, 2, 3, 4,

1, 2 - 3, 4

Hips and Lips

Teacher says "Hips" - children put one hand on their hips.

Teacher says "Lips" - children put index finger from the other hand on their lips.

Hallway Trip 
“Zip” – pretend to zip your lips. 
“Flip” – fold arms across your chest. 
“We’re ready for the hallway trip.” 

Let’s Pretend!
Marshmallows - Have the children put “marshmallows” in their mouths (Puff out cheeks.)
and put “marshmallows” on their feet. (Model walking slowly and gently.)

Museum Hands – Children clasp their hands behind their backs. 

Butterfly Wings or Angel Wings - Children put their hands behind their backs and stick out their elbows and flap them like wings.

                              
Fix It Up
When students forget school rules and appropriate behavior, simply say:
STOP! (Put your hand in the air.)
BACK IT UP! (Have them return to their seats.)
FIX IT UP! (Choose a child to describe the appropriate behavior.)

Hush, Little Children ("Hush, Little Baby")
Hush little children don’t say a word. 
We’re leaving the room and shouldn’t be heard. 
Hands at your side and do not talk. 
Tip toe in the halls when we start to walk. 

Line Up Chant (Kelley DiBella) 
1, 2 Listen and do. 
3, 4 Face the door. 
5, 6 Fingers on lips. 
7, 8 Stand up straight. 
9, 10 Let quiet walking begin. 

Wall Push Ups 
While children are waiting and standing in line in the hall encourage them to do push ups against the wall. 

Self Control  (Becky Gilsdorf)

Use this visual cue to help children who are out of control.

Cross hands over your chest.  (Self)

Slide both hands down the sides of your body.  (Control)

As the child repeats the movements silently it will calm them down.

Air Hug  (Mary Katherine Ellis)

Open your arms as if giving a huge hug in the air.

*This is good for when students see a friend in the hall.

*This is also good when someone comes in or leaves the classroom and the kids want to jump up and give them a hug.

Count Down 

Take 3” X 5” cards and write different numbers from 1-20 (or however many students you have) on each card. Shuffle the cards and hand one to each student. Have students line up in numerical order at the door.