SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

Here's a good-bye chant that will end your day on a positive note. Write the words on a poster and have the children chorally read before they go home.

Good-bye Friends!
See you later, alligator!
After while, crocodile!
In an hour, sunflower!
Maybe two, kangaroo!
Gotta go, buffalo!
Adios, hippos!
Chow, chow, brown cow!
See you soon, baboon!
Adieu, cockatoo!
Better swish, jellyfish.
Chop chop, lollipop.
Gotta run, skeleton!
Bye-bye, butterfly!
Better shake, rattlesnake.
Good-bye, my good friends!

Hint! Sing the song to the tune of "Down by the Bay." 

http://drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2005/05_May/seeYouLater.pdf

This chant also makes a great class book that I've made many times through the years. First, I enlarge the words and put one line on each page. I make two copies of each page since there are 15 lines and usually at least 25 children in a classroom. After singing the song several times I let each child choose an animal and illustrate it for our book. Sometimes we do a little research on the internet if they are not familiar with an animal. I encourage the children to use lots of colors and to fill in the page. I let them dedicate their book and then add the school's name as the publisher and the copyright date. The children all sign their names as “Illustrators,” and then I punch holes and bind with book rings. I use the extra pictures on the cover, “The End,” “Comments and Compliments,” etc.




Here’s a variation of "See You Later, Alligator." Donna Henry’s first grade class at Portsmouth Catholic School came up with a lot of rhymes in “Todaloo.” Why not challenge your class to come up with their own original verses?

Todaloo
Bye bye dragon fly
Toodaloo tennis shoe
Wave to me bumble bee
Give a hug ladybug
Time to bale blue whale
Catch the bus octopus
Gotta scat alley cat
Take care teddy bear
Hit the road old toad
Time to swish gold fish
Hit the course race horse
Catch a cab hermit crab
You’re a love turtledove
We had fun bubblegum
We had a laugh giraffe
Good luck rubber duck
Take a boat billy goat
Vamoose Mr. Moose
Never fear reindeer
Time to go black crow
Come again, red hen
Learned a lot tater tot
See you later, alligator
After while crocodile.

NAME GAMES

Names are very important to children. (Call them by the wrong name and they will let you know about it!) Here are some songs and chants you can use to help the children learn their classmates’ names as you nurture your “classroom family.”

Who Ate the Cookie?
Child’s name ate the cookie (Hold up name card.)
in the cookie jar.
Who me? (First child responds.)
Yes you. (Class chants.)
Couldn’t be? (First child.)
Then who? (Class chants.)
Second child’s name ate (Hold up another name.)
the cookie in the cookie jar…

*Cut out paper cookies and write the children’s names on them. Store in an empty cookie box and use as you say the chant.

*Cut out gingerbread cookies. Glue children’s faces on the head and write their names on the bodies. Add a strip of magnetic tape to the back and these can be used for signing in, the question of the day, or graphs. 

*Make cookies and glue the child’s photo to one side and print their name on the other side. Place the cookies face down on the floor. Children try to read their friends’ names and then flip over with a spatula to confirm.

Name Cheer
(Cheer each child’s name.)Give me a ‘K’.
‘K’ - I’ve got a ‘K,’ you’ve got a ‘K.’
Give me an ‘i’…Give me an ‘M’
What’s it spell? ‘Kim’ Say it again. ‘Kim’ One more time. ‘Kim’ Yeah!!!

Shakey, Shakey
(Clap hands or slap knees.)
Child’s name, child’s name sick in bed.
Called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Get up child’s name, you’re not sick.
All you need is an exercise trick.”
So hands up, and shakey, shakey, shakey.
Get down and shakey, shakey, shakey.
Turn around and shakey, shakey, shakey.
Sit down and shakey, shakey, shakey.

Hint! When doing these chants, never force children to participate. If you have a very shy child, I would ask them if they would like you to use their name. Often, they want to hear their name, but they don’t want to stand up and dance.

Little Red Box
(Tune: “Polly Wolly Doodle”)
I wish I had a little red box
To put my child’s name in. (Hold up name card.)
I’d take him/her out and go,
“How do you do?” (Pretend to shake hand.)
And put him/her back again.
*Sing “Hug, hug, hug” instead of “How do you do?” as you pretend to hug.
Cover a small box with red paper and insert the name cards. Pull out one at a time as you sing the song.


Pick It Up
Have children stand in a circle. Spread name cards in the middle on the floor. The children find their name and pick it up when you sing it in this song that goes to the tune of "If You're Happy."
If your name is child's name pick it up.
If your name is second child's name pick it up.
If your name is third child's name pick it up.
If your name is fourth child's name pick it up.

Letter Song
(Tune: “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
Use the first letter of each child’s name as you sing.
W is for Will,
W is for Will,
W is for Will,
And he’s a friend of mine.

BINGO
(Traditional Tune)
There is a friend in our class
And David is his name-o.
D – A – V – I - D
D – A – V – I - D
D – A – V – I - D
And David is his name-o.
*Hint! You may have to be creative as you use different children’s names in this song. Short names you will have to stretch out and long names try using the first five letters.

LITERACY AND READING

WHY?

In the reading center children can develop reading readiness skills through hands-on activities and games. Oral language, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and print knowledge will be nurtured in fun and meaningful ways to help children fall in love with letters, sounds, and learning to read.

The reading center (or l center) should be in a quiet area of the classroom and should have a table, chairs, and shelves for storing materials.


Storytelling/Oral language
Puppets
Flannel board
Photo puppets of children
Stuffed animals
Masks
Story books



Alphabet Knowledge
magnetic letters and cookie sheet
Alphabet blocks
Letter stamps, stickers, stamp pad
letter tiles
letter beads
sponge letters
phonics games


Print Knowledge
fly swatters, flashlights, pointers
Silly glasses
Pocket Chart
Children’s name cards with photos
Chalkboard, wipe off board, magic slate
Paper, pencils
Word/picture cards
Picture dictionary
Word puzzles



Phonological Awareness
rhyming games
Nursery rhyme books

LITERACY/READING CENTER

WHY?

In the reading center children can develop reading readiness skills through hands-on activities and games. Oral language, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and print knowledge will be nurtured in fun and meaningful ways to help children fall in love with letters, sounds, and learning to read.

                              

The reading center (or l center) should be in a quiet area of the classroom and should have a table, chairs, and shelves for storing materials.

Storytelling/Oral language

Puppets
Flannel board
Photo puppets of children
Stuffed animals
Masks
Story books

Alphabet Knowledge

magnetic letters and cookie sheet

Alphabet blocks
Letter stamps, stickers, stamp pad
letter tiles
letter beads
sponge letters
phonics games

Print Knowledge

fly swatters, flashlights, pointers
Silly glasses                                  
Pocket Chart
Children’s name cards with photos   
Chalkboard, wipe off board, magic slate
Paper, pencils
Word/picture cards
Picture dictionary
Word puzzles


Phonological Awareness

rhyming games
Nursery rhyme books

JUST FOR FUN!

Letter Pops
You will need jumbo craft sticks, magnetic letters, and craft glue to make letter pops. Glue the magnetic letters to the jumbo craft sticks and you’re all set to begin.

Children can use these to match letters on classroom print. They can also find objects in the room beginning with that sound.


Children can make words with letter pops.

They can match upper and lowercase letters.

HELLO JELLO AND SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

I've got two silly songs today that can be sung or chanted.  It's a natural way to nurture oral language and phonological awareness when you start and end your day. 

 

Hello Friends! (Better Bodies and Brains CD)

Hello, jell-o!
Hi there, grizzly bear!
How are you, caribou?
I’m fine, porcupine!
What’s up, buttercup?
Not much, coconut!
This is how our day begins.
Nice to see ya, tortilla!
Hi, hi, pumpkin pie!
How’ve you been, dolphin?
Just great, rattle snake.
What’s shakin’, little bacon?
Not a lot, tater tot!
This is how our day begins.
Bonjour, dinosaur!
Good day, blue jay!
Howdy, brownie!
Welcome, bubble gum!
Hola, cola!
Yoo hoo, tennis shoe.
This is how our day begins.
Give me five, dragon fly.
Shake a hand, rubber band.
Here’s a hug, doodlebug.
Wave to me, bumblebee.
Come on in, my friends
With a smile and song
This is how the day begins! 

Here's the newest video that my webmaster Alex May has created to go with the song:

Click to view Hello, Friends video

Picture Cards

Alex has also created two sets of cards (3" x 4" and 4" x 6") to be used for follow-up activities.  They can be printed on card stock or regular paper.

For a limited time, these cards are free for readers of my blog.

Download 3x5 cards

Download 4x6 cards

Print each set on regular paper, or for 3x5 cards, use Avery 5388 or equivalent.

For 4x6 cards, use Avery Post Card stock, 4.25 x 5.5 or equivalent.

Books

Turn these into books so the children can practice reading with their families.

Puzzles

Cut pictures into puzzles for the children to put together.  (Adapt the number of pieces to the ability of your students.)

Concentration

Make two copies of each card.  Place facedown on the floor and let children turn over two at a time as they try and match pictures.

Good-Bye Friends!

Good-bye Friends! 

(Totally Reading CD)
See you later, alligator!
After while, crocodile!
In an hour, sunflower!
Maybe two, kangaroo!
Gotta go, buffalo!
Adios, hippos!
Chow, chow, brown cow!
See you soon, baboon!
Adieu, cockatoo!
Better swish, jellyfish.
Chop chop, lollipop.
Gotta run, skeleton!
Bye-bye, butterfly!
Better shake, rattlesnake.
Good-bye, my good friends!

*This song also makes a great class book.  Let the children dedicate the book and then add the school's name as the publisher and the copyright date. The children can sign their names as “Illustrators,”  and be sure and add “The End."

Here’s a book you can download to go with the song:
http://drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2005/05_May/seeYouLater.pdf