SHOW ME YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE

THIS MIGHT NOT BE IN YOUR CURRICULUM, BUT IT'S 

IMPORTANT THAT CHILDREN KNOW SOME BASIC INFORMATION.  

PARENTS ALSO NEED TO KNOW THAT IN SPITE OF TECHNOLOGY, 

 THEIR CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW HIS/HER FULL NAME, 

BIRTHDAY, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER.

Driver's License
Having children make a driver's license might just be the perfect incentive to encourage them to learn their full name, birthday, and address. Use a small photo of each child and attach it to card stock with information similar to the one pictured. Older children can write in the information and younger children can dictate it to an adult.

Hint! It might be helpful to have a hand mirror so children can identify their eye color.

Here are some tips to remind parents how to help their child learn this information at home.

Full Name
Help children learn their full name “The Wheels on the Bus.”
My full name is (first) (middle) (last),
____, ____, ____,
____, ____, ____,
My full name is (first) (middle) (last),
That’s my full name.

Birthday
Birthdays can be sung to “Happy Birthday to You.”
September 24th,

September 24th,
My special birthday
Is September 24th.

Phone Number
Phone numbers can be learned by singing them to “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.”
213-297-4308
213-297-4308

Address
Addresses can be sung to “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”
874 Pine Oak Circle,
874 Pine Oak Circle,
874 Pine Oak Circle,
Cincinnati, Ohio

Zip Code
Learn zip codes by singing them to the tune of “BINGO.”
There is a zip code where I live
And I will sing it to you.
54892,
54892,
54892
Now I know my zip code.

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.

Candy, candy, ice cream cone.

Tell me the number of your telephone.

Rabbit, dog, cat, mouse,

Tell me the number on your house.

Hint! Have a “cheat sheet” with the information so you can prompt the children that don’t know.

SNIP SNAP CUT IT OUT

A friend who is a pre-K teacher always asks her children these questions at the beginning of the school year:

1. How many of you have a television in your home? How many of you have your own television in your bedroom?
2. How many of you have a computer in your home? How many of you have your own computer?
3. How many of you have your own pair of scissors?

Yep! You’re right! Most every child has a television or computer, but only a few have a pair of scissors. Many parents think scissors are dangerous, but they let their children watch violent television programs. I don’t get it? Anyway, here’s a great idea to share with parents.

Cutting and Tearing Tub
Get a plastic tub from the dollar store and fill it with junk mail, catalogs, old greeting cards, scrap paper, etc. Put a pair of children’s safety scissors in the tub and they can cut, tear, and be creative.

More! Add a hole punch or decorative scissors to the tub.

Demonstrate and Model
We have to remember that some children have never had a pair of scissors in their hands before. It’s important to take your time, model, and give explicit directions on basic tasks.

Thumbs on Top!
Remind children when they cut to think about "Tooty Ta" and put their thumbs up. Hold a sheet of paper in one hand and take "little bites" with the scissors.



Elbows In
Another trick an occupational therapist taught me was to give children two wadded up sheets of paper to hold under their arms. This will give them more control when they begin to cut. Another trick from an OT was to have the children lay on their tummies and cut.

Cutting Song (Tune: "The Caissons Song")
Cut it out! Cut it out!
With your scissors cut it out.
Snip, snap, and cut it out.

Thumbs on top,
Take small bites.
Hold your page in the other hand tight.

Cut it out! Cut it out!
With your scissors cut it out.
Snip, snap, and cut it out.

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

CHORES

It can be a "chore" to get children to do chores, but housekeeping jobs help children feel "worthy" and a valuable part of the family unit. Chores can also be a powerful way to develop "task initiation and task completion" (aka the executive function).

One teacher explained that when she had parent conferences she emphasized the importance of having children do chores and take responsibility for helping their family. There are several good website with ideas for chores children can do:

www.webmd.com/parenting/features/chores-for-children

www.focusonthefamily.com/...kids-to.../age-appropriate-chores

parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/.../age-appropriate-chores-for-children

 We often “assume” that children know how to do a task and then we get frustrated when they don’t do it correctly. That’s why it’s important to model expectations and demonstrate specific steps. Here's an activity that would be perfect for a learning center or housekeeping area.

Setting the Table
Bring in some plastic plates, utensils, and cups and demonstrate how to set the table. You might want to trace around the items on a paper placemat so the children can match one to one.

 

Training Tools
Go to the dollar store and purchase a dustpan, broom, duster, etc. Demonstrate how to use these and then invite children to help you keep the classroom clean.

Teeny Tiny Duties
Let children share the chores that they have at home. Make a list of these tasks on the board. Ask children to choose three or four that they could do to help at home and make a job chart. Tell them to hang it on the refrigerator and keep track for a week. Demonstrate how to make a check mark each day when they complete the task.

WHO KNOWS THE WRITING PROCESS?

Teachers have got to sell children on writing as well as reading. How empowering to tell a child, "YOU ARE A WRITER!" "YOU ARE AN AUTHOR!"

Here's a great chant where children can move and get their "writing groove" going!

Who Knows the Writing Process?
(Children repeat each line to this chant as you open your arms wide and clap as you step from side to side.)
Chorus:
Who knows the writing process?
I know the writing process.

First step. (Hold up one finger.)
Brainstorm. (Hands on the side of your head and shake down.)
Chorus

Second step…(Hold up 2 fingers.)
Write it down…(Pretend to write with index finger on palm.)
Chorus

Third step…(Hold up 3 fingers.)
Edit your work…(Shake finger.)
Chorus

Fourth step…(Hold up 4 fingers.)
Publish your work…(Brush hands together.)
Chorus
Oh, yeah! (Hands on hips with an attitude.)


Handy Edit
Teach children how to edit their work with this “handy” idea.
(Make a fist with your right hand to begin.)
1. If you started your sentence with a capital letter you can stick up your thumb.
2. If you read the sentence and it makes sense you can stick up your index finger.
3. If you remembered to put punctuation at the end you can stick up your pinky finger.
4. Then you can say, “I love my sentence.” (Turn your fist over and you will be making sign language for “love.”)

          

Ready for Writing Rap (Traci Wade)
1, 2…sit up, please do.
3, 4…feet flat on the floor.
5, 6…push your chair in quick.
7, 8…lay your paper straight.
9,10…write neatly then.


Writer's Wall of Fame
Here’s a simple idea that will save you time and encourage all those little “authors” and “illustrators” in your classroom. All you need is a file folder to make a display pocket for each child. Cut a 1 ¼” border around the top half of the file folder. Let children decorate it with their name and pictures. Open and laminate. Fold in half and staple to a bulletin board or tape to a wall. Children can display their own work by slipping drawings, stories, etc. in the pocket.


Chew and Write
Give children a piece of sugarless gum. Once they write their name they can open the gum and start chewing. They are allowed to chew the gum as long as they keep on writing!