GOOD BYE SONGS

Always end the day with a song to give children a happy thought and a smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9QbZnLqeMw

It Is Time to Say Good-Bye (Tune: "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain")
(Clap your hands and stomp your feet to the beat.)
It is time to say good-bye to all my friends.
It is time to say good-bye to all my friends.
It is time to say good-bye,
Give a smile and wink your eye. (Smile and then wink.)
It is time to say good-bye to all my friends. (Wave good-bye.)
Yeehaw!!! (Fist in the air.)

Goodbye Friends (Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Goodbye friends. (Wave good-bye.)
Goodbye friends. (Children repeat each line.)
Time to go. (Point to clock.)
Time to go.
We had fun learning.
We had fun learning.
Love you so. (Cross arms as if hugging and then point to children.)
Love you so.

The More We Get Together (Traditional Tune - Sing in sign language.)
The more we get together, together, together.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

The more we learn together…

The more we play together…

The more we sing together…


3 –H Good-bye
Heigh-de-ho, heigh-de-hay,
Sure am glad you came today.
Before you go, what do you say?
Hug, handshake, or high-5 today? 

*Cut out a hand (handshake), heart (hug), and "5" (high five). Children choose the one they want to give the teacher before they leave the classroom.

Car Wash
Children form two lines facing each other and begin moving their hands in a circular motion like a car wash. One child at a time walks down the center of the car wash as friends gently touch them and say something positive about them.

Thumbs Up
Put your thumbs up if you learned something new today. (Put thumbs up.)
Clap your hands if you had fun today. (Clap hands.)
Give yourself a hug if you were a kind friend today. (Hug self.)
See you tomorrow for another special day. (Wave and smile.) 

IMPORTANT PERSON

Choose one child each day to be the "special" friend. Hold their hands as you rock back and forth and sing.

Important Person (Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie.”)
(Child’s name) is important, important, important.
(Child’s name) is important to you and to me.
At work and at play,
(She/he) does (her/his) best each day.
(Child’s name) is important to you and to me.

Compliment Circle
Have a “compliment circle” where children take turns saying something kind to the "important person." The "important person" stands in the middle of the circle and responds with, “Thank you!”


Me Box
Spray paint a shoe box gold or silver. Write "ME" on the front with glue and sprinkle with glitter. Write a note similar to the one below and tape it to the inside lid of the box. Choose one child each day to take home the box. Let them share their treasures with classmates the following day.

Dear Parents,

Your child is bringing home the "ME" box today. Please help him/her find 

special objects, photographs, or souvenirs to put in the box. Your child will 

have the opportunity to share these things with classmates tomorrow, and 

then we will return them to you.

Thanks for helping us "celebrate" your child!

*You could also use a gift bag for this activity.


ME
Have children repeat each line of this poem and make the motions.

I’ve got ten little fingers, (Hold up both hands.)
And ten little toes, (Point to feet.)
Two little eyes, (Point to eyes.)
And a mouth and a nose. (Point mouth and then nose.)
Put them all together, (Circle arms as if hugging.)
And what have you got? (Hands on hips.)
You’ve got me, baby, (Put thumbs in chest.)
And that’s a lot! (Wiggle hips.)

Hint! Send home the words so they can do it for their parents!

MORNING MANTRA

Nurture self-awareness and positive feelings with one of these morning messages.

Morning Mantra

Teacher says: Boys and girls, what is my job today?

Children respond: Your job is to teach us and to love us.

Teacher says: Boys and girls, what is your job today?

Children respond: Our job is to learn and to love each other.

*If a child is misbehaving ask, "What is your job today?  Are you doing your job?"

What Are You?
(Adapted from “The Help.”)

Teacher asks: What are you?

Children respond: I am kind. (Touch the heart.)

I am smart. (Touch the head.)

I am important. (Give self a hug.)



Hint! Make posters of these chants and hang in a prominent place in the classroom.


Tell Me Something Good with the “I” Phone
You will need a cylinder block, an index card, and tape to make your “I”phone. First, make a capitol “I” on the index card and tape it to the block. Pass the “I”phone around the class as each child holds it and says a sentence beginning with “I…” They can say what they are happy about or what they are looking forward to doing that day. Only the person with the “I”phone may talk!

*Pass around the phone at the end of the day for children to say something new they learned or something that made them feel proud.



*Let children draw pictures to contribute to a class book called “The Best Thing about Me!” or "We Are Special!"

THUMBS UP!

Positive self-talk is a simple strategy to remind children that they are important and capable. Have children start the day by repeating each line of this chant after you.

You’re the Best!
Teacher says: Thumbs up. (Stick out thumbs.)
Children repeat: Thumbs up.
Teacher says: Across the chest. (Bring across to the opposite shoulder.)
Children Repeat: Across the chest.
Teacher says: Pat on the back. (Pat self on the back.)
Children repeat: Pat on the back.
Teacher says: Cause you’re the best! (Wrap arms around self and hug.)
Children repeat: Cause you're the best!

Hint! You can easily change the words to this chant to "I'm the best!" or "We are the best!"


I Am Statements
“I am” statements are another way to encourage positive behavior. (These can be based on your school’s goals or let the children suggest statements.) Write these on a language experience chart and then begin the day by sticking up your thumbs and repeating them.

I am respectful.
I am trustworthy.
I am responsible.
I am fair.
I am caring.
I use good manners.
I use kind words.
I can do it!

My Teacher Feel about Me?
Teacher says: How does my teacher feel about me?”
Children respond: I’m as special as special can be (Sparkle fingers.)
because my teacher believes in me! (Hug self.)