FREE FAMILY FUN!!!!

     I am so excited to share this FREE resource with you. Many of you might be familiar with the Frog Street Curriculum as well as the Letter People. I contributed to both of those and I'm so happy that my videos with "Action Rhymes," "Handshakes," and "Cheers" are going to be available to your families. They will also find lots of other free resources to help us "love to learn and learn to love" during this time. 

As we continue to develop continuity of learning due to school closures, Frog Street is launching another great resource for learning at home! The DIG Pre-K at Home parent portal is an online learning platform that features Dr. Jean's educational videos, The Letter People Songs, The Letter People Games, and a comprehensive Resource section with extensive activities to complete at home. DIG is a core Pre-K program that develops the whole child, inspires big learning across all domains, and grows early learners into confident kindergarten-ready students. During this COVID-19 stay-at-home season, this resource will be FREE to teachers and families. 







Click for FrogStreet

When you go to this link you can register or log in if you are already registered. Then, just click on "Dr. Jean."

Sign in to Frog Street

Isn't it refreshing to find a company that cares more about CHILDREN than a profit right now?

WHERE'S UGA?

This game can be adapted to any school mascot, action hero, or seasonal character.  Since I graduated from the University of Georgia, UGA was my first choice.  This is a quick, simple game that can be played with any age level or any skill that needs to be reinforced.  It’s the perfect game if you’ve got a few minutes before lunch or a few minutes at the end of the day.

WHY?         shapes, colors, letters, words, numerals, math facts, etc.

WHAT?       flash cards, picture of a favorite school mascot

HOW?         Have children sit in a circle and encourage them to identify the  

                   information on the flash cards as you place them on the floor.

Tell the children to turn around and hide their eyes. 

                   Take “UGA” and slip it under one of the flash cards.  The

children turn back around and raise their hand if they think

they know where UGA is hiding.  One at a time, have children call out a word, letter, shape, etc., and then look under that card.  The game continues until a child finds UGA.  That child may then be “it” and hide the mascot.

*Use a pocket chart to play this game.  Arrange the flash cards in the pocket chart and then hide the mascot under one of the cards as the children hide their eyes.

GOT A WHITE BOARD?

Here's a little field trip for you this summer.  This website has everything you need if you have a white board, if you are getting a white board, or if you don't have one and want to write a grant for one.

http://www.teachhub.com/free-interactive-whiteboard-resources

I hope you're on vacation or reading a book by the pool.  However, if you're stuck at home you'll have fun discovering all the FREE resources on this site.

HOT IDEAS FROM "HOT"LANTA!

Oh, my goodness!  Did we have a GREAT conference in Atlanta!  Loved, loved, loved all of the teachers!  And, you’ll love these ideas they shared!

Shake Down  (Diep Nguyen)

(This is an awesome brain break!)

Shake your right hand five times as you count out loud.

Shake your left hand five times as you count.

Shake your right foot five times and count.

Shake your left foot five times and count.

Shake your right hand four times…left hand four times…right foot four times…left foot four times.

Shake your right hand three times…

Shake your right hand two times…

Shake your right hand one time…

Oh, yeah!!!!

Put the Baby to Bed  (Nitefa Jones-Pecou, The Children’s School, Atlanta)

Now it’s time to go to sleep.         (Hold up index finger.)

Put the baby in the bed.                  (Open palm and lay finger down.)

Cover the baby in the bed.         (Wrap fist around finger.)

Kiss the baby goodnight.                  (Kiss finger wrapped up.)

“Waaaa.!”  (Make the sound of a baby crying while waving around finger.)

“Uh oh!  Baby’s out of bed!”

*Ask the children what you can do to get the baby to sleep.

*Add the children’s suggestions to the song.  For example, “Feed the baby.” 

Now it’s time to go to sleep.

Feed the baby.

Put the baby in the bed.

Cover the baby in the bed.

Kiss the baby goodnight.

*Keep Adding the children’s suggestions to the song and try to remember them all and create hand gestures for them.

When you are ready to stop, whisper the last verse.

The Twelve “Joys” of Teaching (Christy, Sharon, & Terri Lynn from Martha R. Smith, Jesup, GA)

Here’s a great song to sing at your first faculty meeting when you go back to school.

On the first day back to school my principal gave to me one book study.

2 ELP’s

3 Cases of head lice

4 Picture days

5 Focus walk-throughs

6 Angry parents

7 ADD kids

8 furlough days

9 RTI’s

10 Weeks of busy duty

11 Fire drills

12 Staff meetings

THE  (Kathleen Adair)

(Tune:  “Shortnin’ Bread)

You can say the.

You can say the.

But you always spell it

T – H – E.

Lookin’ Good Cheer  (Kipp DC:  Discover Academy)

Top – ch  (Make imaginary line across.)

Side – ch (Make imaginary line down.)

Bottom – ch (Make imaginary line on bottom.)

Brush your hair.  (Pretend to brush your hair.)

Put on your chap stick/lip stick.

Looking good!

Looking good!

Awwwh, YES!

*Marshmallow cheer – Hands up!  Pretend to take a big bite.

Batman Cheer – Hands up!  Stick out arms and go (da da da da da da da da) Batman!

Push Five Handshake  (Wynter McBride, Athens, GA)

Hold your hand up flat and push against the student’s hand.

Chair Bands (Wynter McBride, Athens, GA)

Get Pilates bands and cut them in half.  (Target has the best price.)  Tie around the front legs of the students’ chairs.  They can bounce their feet on these or push against them to release extra wiggles.

Dropbox  (Wynter McBride, Athens, GA)

Use Dropbox (free app) to send photos from your smart phone to print.

Special Helpers (Karen Butler, Brewton, AL)

Have “special helpers” (stuffed animals) who look for good behavior or participation.  Children get to keep the stuffed animals at their desk for the rest of the day.

20 Questions  (Jocelyn Boldizsar)

Play “20 Questions Game” to develop:

*critical thinking skills

*questioning skills

*listening, processing, and recalling skills

*introduce descriptive words

3 Goals  (Melissa Lane)

Each parent creates 3 goals for their child at the beginning of the school year.  The parents write them down and tell the teacher how they will help their child reach their goals.  Review the goals at the mid-year conference and end-of-year conference.  This lets the teacher know what is important to the parents and transfers some of the ownership for reaching the goals to the parent.

PVC Center

For those of you with lots of parent volunteers, you can have a Parent Volunteer Center.

Ketchup Folder

Students keep work they need to finish and “catch up” on.

The Little Engine That Could…  (Jackie Daniel, Magill El., Loganville, GA)

At the beginning of the year read the story of “The Little Engine That Could.”  Talk about things that we can do like the engine.  Repeat, “I think I can, I think I can…”  Learn the sight word “can” and have students set goals that they want to accomplish.  For example, “I can write my name.  I can write my numbers.”  Each student comes up with a goal and draws a picture of it.  The students dictate their sentences and make a class book of “I Can.”  In January, have children look at their goals from the beginning of the school year.  If they accomplished that goal they make a new one.  If they did not accomplish it then talk about the progress they made.  Make a new book of goals in January.  At the end of the year check the book again and make goals for first grade.

Pass the Stomp  (Sarah Poole)

Six or more children join hands in a ring.  Child one lifts right leg and neighbor on their left lifts her left leg at the same time, stomping together.  Continue passing the stomp around the circle.

The “Magic” Way  (Theresa Watkins, The Children’s School)

Do a finger play activity or song with words.  Ex:  “Ram Sam Sam” or “Twinkle Little Star.”   Do the same activity without words and call it “the Magic way.”

Mrs. Buck Says  (Donna Marie Buck)

Play the game of “Simon Says” using the teacher’s name.  During the game there is no talking.  If you don’t follow directions or if you make a sound you are out.  If you are out of the game and make noise you won’t get to play the next game either.

www.mrsperkins.com

Great website for free Dolch words, phrases, games, activities, etc.

www.teachwithme.com

Lots of free downloads.

Get Your Heads Down  (Wynter McBride, Athens, GA)

Spray students’ papers with body spray.  They’ll get their heads down and start working!!!

Math Manipulatives  (Kathleen Adair)

Make your own rekenrek tools with foam board, pipe cleaners, and red and white pony beads. 

You can also make a simple one with a pipe cleaner bracelet with 5 red and 5 white beads.

Draw a black line down the center of a snack size zip bag.  Insert manipulatives (glass lobs slide easily) inside.  Children can move the objects around to discover different ways to make number bonds.

Pocket Book  (Linda Milam)

Take a strip of construction paper (4 ½” x 9”) and fold it as shown.  Punch holes at the top and insert a pipe cleaner handle.  Cut the edge with decorative scissors.

TEACHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE - TECHIES AND DINOSAURS!

TEACHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

By Brian Puerling

Chapter Two

 “Using Photographs and Images to Inspire”

Oh, my goodness!  I haven’t written a book report since high school!  Let’s see if I can remember how to do this!

First, I feel like a kid who just learned to ride her bicycle!  This is a challenge for me, but I want to pat myself on the back for learning something new.  My techie mentor (Vanessa Levin) is an inspiring teacher who is helping me scaffold to a new level.  If you are a dinosaur or a techie, TEACHING IN THE DIGIAL AGE is a great summer adventure.  I’ve even learned how to use the QR scans in the book, which make it come alive.   Here’s your ticket to this amazing journey:

http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-book-study/

Several years ago I purchased a Kitchen Aide stainless steel mixer with all the bells and whistles.  I put it under the sink and it has sat there for 6 years.  I NEVER used it because it was easier to get out my old hand held mixer.   (I finally gave the Kitchen Aide to a friend last week.)  Why am I telling you this?  Well an iPad or interactive white board or any new tool doesn’t do you any good unless you KNOW how to USE it and you USE it to accomplish something.  Author Brian Puerling wants to help you make the most of the technology tools you have to connect with children…open the door to a new world…reinforce learning…capture children’s interest…and take them into the future.

When I saw the chapter “Using Photographs and Images to Inspire” I thought it would be about using children’s photographs to make books, name cards- etc.  Wrong!  It was about the power and opportunities that are instantaneously available through technology.  (A long time ago we had to go to a place called the library and spend hours looking for photographs.)   Puerling gives examples of how photographs can be used to facilitate conversation, encourage desired behaviors, develop schema, create interest in the world and other communities, and enrich all areas of learning.

My favorite vignette  from the book was a video with four-year-old Eddie.  Eddie’s parents have done an outstanding job TEACHING Eddie how to use the iPad as they capture his interest in learning.  I’m afraid too often parents use technology as a baby sitter rather than a one-on-one learning opportunity.

Now, here’s the grandmother teacher in me coming out.  As wonderful and powerful as technology can be, don’t forget to turn it off and sing a song and do a finger play.  Ask children to close their eyes and make pictures in their brains as you read a story.  Imagination is the greatest tool of all!

And, here are a few hands on activities that popped in my head as I read the chapter!

Swiper

Have children hold up their index finger.  Explain that is the finger they use on the iPad to swipe.  It’s called “Swiper.”  Put your index finger behind your back and begin singing the song below to the tune of “Where Is Thumbkin?”

Where is Swiper?  

Where is Swiper?  (Children repeat each line.)

Here I am.             (Bring index finger in front of you and wiggle.)

Here I am.

Ready to swipe.      (Move finger as if swiping.)

Ready to swipe.

Yes, I can!             (Shake finger as if saying, “yes.”)

Yes, I can!

SWOOOSH!  (Make a sound as you move your finger in the air.)

*Let children draw a face on a dot sticker and attach it to their fingernail.

iPads for All

Each child in your classroom can have her own iPad with this project.  Place your iPad on the copy machine and make a color copy.  Glue the photo to the inside of a pocket folder.  Children can practice identifying letters, typing their names, spelling words, etc.

Singing Books

Use children’s photographs to increase print connections and create interest in letters and sounds.

Welcome to Our Room

(Tune:  “Good Night, Ladies”)

Hello, Jason!

Hello, Jason!

Hello, Jason!

We’re glad you’re in our room.

The Alphabet in My Mouth

(Tune:  “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”)

I’ve got A /a/ /a/ in my mouth.

I’ve got A /a/ /a/ in my mouth.

I’ve got A /a/ /a/ in my mouth,

And I can read.

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver and the other is gold.

Brian Puerling’s technology teaches something new,

But Dr. Jean has an old song for you, too!

Matt from Look at My Happy Rainbow (  http://lookatmyhappyrainbow.com/) will be the tour guide next week as we visit Chapter 3 “Rethinking Projectors.”

We hope you’ll share your ideas and comments by linking up!

WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING

The brain is so fascinating to me, and I’m always anxious to learn everything I can about it!  Krista Weber recently sent me some interesting information by Chris Biffle:

WholeBrainTeaching.com

I think Chris and I could be good friends because we’re certainly on the same page when it comes to engaging children in a meaningful.  I hope to attend one of his workshops and learn more!

WBT’s Big Seven:

1.     The Attention Getter: Class-Yes! 

         Teacher says, “Class!” and children respond, “Yes!”

2.    The Organizer:  Rehearse Classroom rules with gestures.

3.    The Whole Brain Activator:  Teach/Okay 

     Teach briefly and then clap your hands and say, 

     “Teach!”  Students turn to a neighbor and using

     gestures reteach the information.

4.    The Motivator:  The Scoreboard

      Use a Smiley/Frowny diagram on the board to keep

      students engaged.  When students are off task put a

      point under the frowny.  When they are participating

      put a point under the smiley.

5.    The Class Unifier:  Mirror

     Teacher holds up hands and says, “Mirror!” as she

      makes gestures.  Students say, “Mirror!” and mimic

      gestures.

6.    The Focuser:  Hands and Eyes

     When the teacher has something important to say she

     says, “Hands and eyes!”  Students fold their hands

     and stare intensely at the teacher.

7.    The Involver:  Switch

     Count class off in ls and 2s.  After Teach-Okay, the

     1s teach with gestures and the 2s mirror the

     gestures.  After “Switch!” is called students change

     roles.

I think it’s interesting to reflect on the biological aspects of the brain from Zull’s research with the practical applications from Biffle.  Have I bored you with all this brain research?  Well, come back tomorrow and I’ll “switch” to more fun ideas for your classroom!