DO SOMETHING NICE DAY

I just love the thought of DO SOMETHING NICE DAY. Our world certainly needs that right now!

Here are some ways to encourage your children to share a little kindness to the world on October 5th - or any day! 

  

Start Monday morning by explaining that it's DO SOMETHING NICE DAY.  Have your children brainstorm what that means.  Write down their comments and suggestions.  

Here are adaptions of simple activities I found on the internet.

1. Say something nice to someone.

Compliment Circle

Go around the classroom (or online) and take turns saying something kind to classmates.

2. Do a small kind act for someone. 

Kindness Kids

What is a KINDNESS KID?  

Let them draw pictures of how they can be a kindness kid.

Kindness Ticket

How can they do a kind deed at home?  

Run off blank kindness tickets for them to pass out to family members.  

*You can download these at: https://athriftymom.com/kindness-ticket-family-activity/



2. Draw a picture or write a note to someone, such as a friend, family member, neighbor, grandparent, etc.
💌

3. Call someone or send them a text or email. Tell them something that you like about them.
📱

4. Treat yourself. Do something nice for yourself!
🍨

5. Smile at someone - anyone!
😊

6. Do some cheers.
📣

7. Tell some jokes and make someone laugh.
🙃

8. Donate - collect old books, canned goods, etc.

9. Be kind to your pet.

🐾

10.  Ask every student to say one nice thing to their teacher!!!

🍎

WORLD GRATITUDE DAY

One day that we will all want to celebrate this year is WORLD GRATITUDE DAY.  Maybe we should change it to WORLD GRATITUDE MONTH!!!!  I think I need to "practice what I preach" today!

                                          

Gratitude is an emotion of expressing appreciation for what you have, rather than what you don’t have. Psychology Today reports that gratitude can be cultivated and it can increase levels of happiness when you do. Energy, optimism, and empathy are by-products of gratitude. 

Model Gratitude
Make it a habit to include things you appreciate into daily conversations.  "I am so grateful that you are in my classroom."  "I'm so grateful that the sun is shining today."  I am so grateful that we can learn together."

Brainstorm
What does it mean to be GRATEFUL? Write children’s responses using a web. What are some synonyms for GRATEFUL?



Lists
Children love to make lists, so let them make a list (draw pictures or write) of all the things they are grateful for.

ABC
Can they think of something for each letter of the alphabet that they are grateful for?

                          


Gratitude Journal
Let children make a special "gratitude journal." Encourage them to write what they are grateful for each day for a week.



Grateful Greeting
Start the day by asking each child to say something they are grateful for.

End with Something GOOD
End the day by having children say something good that happened at school that day.

P.S. Have I told you lately that I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU!!! Thanks for reading my blog!

FOSTERING EMOTIONAL LITERACY

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT BARBARA GRUENER IS MY FRIEND!  HER SEL (social emotional) IQ (intelligence) IS INCREDIBLE!  SHE HAS SOME MEANINGFUL AND INSIGHTFUL STRATEGIES TO SHARE WITH US TODAY!  THANK YOU, BARBARA!

One of our biggest roles as educators, parents, mentors, and caregivers is to help the children in our care to understand and embrace their emotions; one way that we can do that is by modeling and teaching emotional regulation, one of the five Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning as laid out by CASEL.

 

Co-regulating emotions can be a difficult albeit very important job, one that might more easily be done in person, face-to-face and heart-to-heart. Since many of us will be teaching remotely, we’ve created Emotion Pops and put them in our Virtual Classroom Survival Guide to help you foster emotional literacy in your littles learners.

Simply print the feelings faces onto card stock, cut them out, and attach them to a popsicle stick or tongue depressor to make an Emotion Pop. Glue the corresponding emotion word on the stick to help children learn to name the emotion, spell it, and use it to identify how they’re feeling.

 

TIPS For Using Emotion Pops:  

 

These Emotion Pops will be the perfect addition to your morning meeting. Hold up an Emotion Pop and ask for a thumbs up from everyone who is feeling that emotion right now. Pause between feelings to validate using statements like, "Friends, it looks like seven of us are feeling happy right now." Then move on to the next feeling, again asking for thumbs up if this is something that they are feeling, then review: "So it looks like three of us are feeling sad today. I wonder what they might need from us as their friends." Move through to another feeling and continue to acknowledge that it’s a normal part of being human that feelings, which are actually a source of energy, visit us. It’s also important that children know that feelings can and will change throughout the day. Repeat the check-in until everyone has given a thumbs up to at least one emotion. 

 

Teach students not to label feelings as good or bad, but rather to just accept them as they are. Encourage them to invite their feelings in and make friends with them. Let each feeling stay as long as it needs to. Ask students if the picture on the Pop matches the way their faces looks when that particular feeling is choosing them. Ask: How does it look on you when you’re feeling sad? Scared? Angry? Worried? Happy? Confused? Shy? Invite them to show you how that feeling looks on their face, then practice making the feelings faces together.

 

Make sure children know and understand that it's possible to have two or more feelings visit at once. To punctuate that point, use the blank Emotion Pops to encourage students to draw how their face looks and feels when that happens, like when you’re hungry and angry (hangry) at the same time. 

 

Set time aside to talk about how our bodies express the feelings. What happens to our foreheads, eyes, mouths, jaws, cheeks, arms, hands, stomachs, feet when we're angry? How about when we're sad? When we're happy? How about when we're confused, embarrassed, scared or any of the other feelings?

 

Choose a feeling to be your focus feeling of the day. Watch for people who are feeling that way. Talk about what it takes to get all the way through that feeling. Think about a show, a movie, or a story when the character felt this feeling. Was it big or small? Was it easy or difficult? Was it soft or hard? What color was it? There are no wrong answers here, so set aside ample time to explore all of their emotions.

 

Emotion Pops are especially useful right now in helping children understand how to read emotions when a part of our faces is covered. Use the sticky part at the top of a Post-It note to make a fun face covering. Ask: Can we tell how someone is feeling just by their eyes and through their body language? Encourage students to explore how their own eyes look, what happens to the muscles in their forehead and brow, how their cheeks look and feel, what their shoulders do, how their hands feel, how their stomach feels through all of the emotions, to foster emotional regulation as well as to elevate empathy.

 

Use Emotion Pops for empathy development by asking when they've seen someone else going through that feeling. Maybe it was during a read-aloud; research shows that reading fiction helps elevate empathy. Ask: What happened in the story? How was the character feeling? How could you tell? What was it like for that character when sadness (or whatever feeling you’re discussing) visited? What did that character want or need while that feeling was visiting? What do you want or need when you’re having a similar feeling?

 

When you’re back in a classroom again, you could laminate a set of the Emotion Pops and put them on an O ring in a Calming Corner so that your students have access to them as they work to understand their emotions. They could also be put onto a lanyard to make them portable for when a student who might need them travels to another part of the school for specials class, 

recess, or lunch.                         

Enjoy singing this little ditty with your songsters; encourage them to add movements and to practice their feeling face after each emotion word. 

                              

I know that you'll definitely want to check out Barbara's book and blogspot!

https://corneroncharacter.blogspot.com/p/my-book.html

 

 

VIRTUAL SCHOOL CHANT

                              Watch new Ready, Set, Go! Video

Teachers are like sales people. We SELL kids on reading, taking turns, doing their work, and so forth. There are going to be many different ways that schools operate, but we need to be as positive and resilient as we can with whatever happens.

Here's a chant that my granddaughter helped me write and record. After visiting many online classes this spring it was obvious that children (and parents) didn't know appropriate behavior. (Laying in bed with your pajamas and a sippy cup is no way to learn.) My underlying message was basically what we expect in the traditional or virtual classroom.

     1. School is FUN.

     2. You need to be prepared.

     3. You'll have friends.

     4. You need to sit up and be attentive.

     5. You're going to learn lots of new things.

VIRTUAL SCHOOL CHANT
By Dr. Jean and Kalina Karapetkova

We like to come to virtual school. (Slap thighs and step from side to side.)
Learning from home is really cool.

Gather all the supplies you need.
Are you ready? Yes, indeed!

Come on in and wave hello.
Smile to all the friends you know.

Sit up straight in your chair.
Show your teacher that you care.

When you talk, please take turns.
Look, listen, and you will learn.

Reading, writing, we are smart!
Math and science, music and art.

We share, sing, and have a great time.
When we go to school online.

https://bit.ly/drjeanVirtualChant

Here's a book that Toni Mullins (Teacher Toni) made to go with 

the chant.  You can download it at drjean.org.

  

Note!  Downloaded books will last much longer if you glue the first page to a pocket folder and then insert the other pages in clear sheet protectors.

GOOD IDEAS #3

Thanks for taking this journey with me down memory lane.  Let's see what treasures you can find today?

Kindness Sprinkles (Christin Cannan)
You “sprinkle” kindness (hands up and wiggle fingers) on the Star of the Week, Birthday Child, or for other occasions.
                                        

*VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

Put some rice in a Pringle's can and cover it with fancy paper. Write "kindness sprinkles" on the label.  Have the children repeat this chant from "The Help" each day and then shake "kindness sprinkles" on them.
          I AM KIND.  (Touch heart.)
          I AM SMART.  (Touch brain.)
          I AM IMPORTANT.  (Hug self.)

How Do You Feel?  (Bonnie Lewis)

Teacher:        How do you feel?

Children:       We feel good.  Huh!  (Children bend over slightly and flex their muscles.)

*VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
Don't forget to do lots of cheers!  You know, for some of the children you might be the most "positive" thing that happens to them every day!


                                                 
Shape Crackers (Pamela Pounds)
Send a note to parents the first week of school asking them to send crackers to help the children learn their shapes. (Ritz - circles, Club crackers - rectangles, Doritos - triangles, Wheat Thins - squares, and Town House crackers - ovals.)
*Give children two crackers and ask them to describe how they are different.
*Have children eat one half of a cracker.
*Give children a square cracker and challenge them to nibble it into a circle.
*Give children two like crackers. Ask, “Are they the same amount?” Next, have them break one of the crackers into little pieces. Ask, “Are they the same amount now?” You’ll be surprised at their response. (This is called conservation of quantity and is an experiment Piaget used to demonstrate developmental stages.
*Give children a sheet of paper. Pass out a square cracker to each child and tell the children to draw what it looks like on their paper. Next, give them a circle shaped cracker and ask them to draw it. Continue with other shapes. It’s a fun way to practice pre-writing skills.


VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
Ask parents to provide their child with a small bag of crackers for snack.  Children can take turns sharing what their cracker looks like.  Discuss the attributes of the different crackers.  Play a "show me" game where children hold up their cracker when you name the shape.  Can they draw what their cracker looks like?  Can they eat half of one cracker?


Occupation in a Bag (Megan Pope)
When studying community helpers, send home a paper bag with each student. Ask them to put in items that explain what their parents do. This is great for parents who are too busy to come in and speak about their jobs.

                      

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
Wouldn't this be a great show and tell?

GOOD IDEAS #2

Through the years when I did workshops I would invite teachers to write down their ideas so I could share them on my blog. Some of these activities are like hidden treasures! You can adapt some of them if you are doing online teaching when school starts, or you can save them for that special day when you are a real classroom family again. 

Why don't you start a folder called "My Treasure Box" and copy and paste the ones you like best?
                                              
P.S. I'm laughing at myself because after 50 years as an educator I still get pumped when I learn a new idea. My hope is that you'll be inspired every day this month with something you want to try!

Interest Inventory
In addition to saving writing samples and self portraits in a “portfolio” each month, have children complete an “interest inventory” by filling in sentences similar to the ones below:

I am good at______.

I like to _____.

I want to work on _____.

My favorite book is _____.

I wish _____.
          

Hint! Younger children could just dictate their responses to an adult.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
*Use these statements to get information about each child when you do a one-on-one online "get to know you."
*Have children fill these out with their parents to share with their "online" classmates at the beginning of the school year.

Touch and Count
Touch different body parts as you count by tens. For example, touch your head as you count 1-9. Touch your shoulders as you count 10-19. Then touch your knees as you count 20-29, and so forth.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
This is an example of ACTIVE learning that would be good online or "off"line!

Criss Cross Nursery Rhymes
This activity combines two of my favorite things – nursery rhymes and crossing the midline. Wouldn’t this be a great brain break for any age?  You can adapt all nursery rhymes to these movements:

Jack (extend right arm)
And Jill (extend left arm)
Went up (right hand on left shoulder)
A hill (left hand on right shoulder)
To fetch (right hand on right hip)
A pail (left hand on left him)
Of Wa- (right hand on left knee)
Ter (left hand on right knee)
(Clap Hands!)
Jack (extend right arm)
Fell down (extend left arm)
And broke (right hand on left shoulder)
His crown (left hand on right shoulder)
And Jill (right hand on right hip)
Came (left hand on left hip)
Tumbling (right hand on left knee)
After (left hand on right knee)
YEAH! (Thumbs up!)

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
This would be a great brain break for older kids and a fun way for younger ones to learn nursery rhymes.

MOVING THROUGH CONFLICT TO RESOLUTION

Several weeks ago a teacher asked for some help on CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Well, that's not my area of expertise, but fortunately I'm friends with Barbara Gruener and she has a brilliant mind, gentle heart, and great suggestions for you today!
 
Conflict. It’s a normal part of life for kids of all ages, but it might seem exacerbated in stressful times, like during our pandemic shelter-in-place that feels more like we’re under house arrest these past few months. And while our resolution to conflict can be as unique as the conflict itself, there are some tried-and-true strategies that can help us help our littles learn to respond rather than react when conflict strikes.

Start by showing this Sesame Street clip to help your children understand what conflict is and isn’t and that laughter is resilience skill that sometimes works as a pressure valve to release the tension that stress can cause.

Then, try one or more of these three things that have worked in classrooms and ought to easily transfer to a home setting:

The Path To Peace
Move through conflict on a Paths Of Peace Labyrinth like this, which we painted on the concrete recess slab but could easily be drawn out with chalk or set up using sticks, stones, or string. The two people in conflict enter the labyrinth side-by-side but quickly go their separate ways as they follow their side of the path to each numerical stop: 



At each number, the two problem-solving friends each:

1. State the problem. Each person gets a chance to talk about the problem from his or her point of view while the other listens.

2. State their feelings about the problem. Each person talks about how they feel about what’s happening while the other one listens to understand.

3. State the other person’s feelings about the problem. I call this the empathy stop, because it invites the participants to step into each other’s story, understand the problem from the other perspective, and feel what their friend is feeling.

4. Brainstorm any and all solutions. No judgements at this stop, so nothing is off the table. Encourage them to be as bold or silly, outrageous or practical as they can be with their suggestions for how they’d like to see the conflict resolved.

5. Choose the best option. The two people in conflict are now as physically close as they’ve been; proximity can help in deciding which action will work best for them. They may be able to negotiate and come to a peaceful resolution. They may decide to flip a coin or let the best of 3 rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors decide. Or it could be that they agree to disagree, and that’s okay, too. The process is more important than the outcome; once they’ve decided, the hope is that they exit the labyrinth in harmony armed with an agreeable plan moving forward.


The Wheel of Choices
Conflict is ‘wheelie’ fun when you front-load with this paper-plate tool. During a time when all is well and there is no conflict, invite your children to answer the questions:

Ø What do we want to do when a conflict arises?

Ø How do we want to peacefully solve our problems?

Ø How do we want to treat one another in the process?

Brainstorm ways that they have seen (or would like to see) problems get resolved. For example, say they’re fighting about who gets the first turn in the game they’re playing; would they’d be willing to let their friend or sibling go first? Or maybe they want to roll the dice to see who gets the bigger number and allow that person to decide who goes first. If they’re squabbling over who gets the last cookie, maybe they’d like to break it in half or, better yet, split it three ways to share it with the caregiver in the room.

When you’ve got their list of suggested behaviors, get a paper plate and divide it into as many pieces as you have choices to offer. Fill in the pieces of the plate with the peacekeeping-strategies for getting along that they just brainstormed. After completing their Wheel of Choices, find a brad, cut an arrow from an index card, and add a spinner to the center of the plate.

When they can’t decide what to do, remind them to go to the Wheel of Choices and choose what’s best or have a spin and let the wheel help them decide.


Order In The Court
This activity is adapted from a weekly practice that one of my teachers did with our class during my formative years; try it before conflict arises in an attempt to not only talk your children through restorative strategies but also show them how equitable decisions are made.

Set up your own courtroom and let family members take turns playing judge, lawyer, and jury. Ask them to come up with conflict scenarios that they’ve seen or can imagine, or throw some conflicts from your childhood their way, then let the roleplay begin. Invite the designated lawyer to state the case and present one (or both) sides, let the juror(s) review the details and render a verdict and let the judge decide proper restitution. Start with easy dilemmas like this:

Ø Johnny hears his neighbor’s dog barking, so he sneaks next door and sets the dog free.

Ø Sirya gets on her parents’ computer without their permission.

Ø Joaquin gets mad and tells his friend that doesn’t want them to be friends anymore.

After you’ve settled the case(s), reflect together on what happened and whether or not they think that the sentence fit the infraction. This would also be an excellent time to talk about Restorative Practices, which focus not on punishment but on natural consequences and/or affirmative actions that can right the wrongs and restore the hurt to promote healing.

Speaking of healing, many conflicts result in the need for apology and forgiveness. Model what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to apologize by showing your children how a give genuine apology and then providing opportunities for them to practice through roleplay so that when they really need it, they won’t be stuck not knowing how to fix their missteps. Try something like this: I’m sorry for {insert the result of their behavior, like hurting your feelings}; please forgive me. Help them understand not to excuse their behavior or blame it on someone or something else, but to take responsibility for what happened and work with intention to make it right. Remind them often that nobody is perfect and that it takes courage to admit and move through our mistakes. Then, instead of responding to an apology with, “That’s okay,” encourage them to say, “I forgive you.” Or “I accept your apology.” The closure that this will bring is crucial so that unresolved conflict doesn’t continue to hurt or, worse, threaten to end their friendships and relationships.

Author bio: Barbara Gruener is a nationally-recognized school counselor, speaker and character coach who has had the pleasure of working with and growing alongside of learners from every grade level during her 36 years as an educator. Author of the blog The Corner on Character and the book What’s Under Your Cape? SUPERHEROES of the Character Kind, Barbara works passionately to influence school climate change while fostering healthy habits and caring connections among school families and their stakeholders. In addition to spending time with her family and friends, Barbara loves inspiring people to savor being in the moment as they unwrap the present with gratitude and hope.

LITTLE LESSONS FOR ONLINE LEARNING PART 7

Wakey!  Wakey!

It's going to be a great day!

I can't wait to demonstrate 

these attention grabbers

on Facebook Live at ten!!

ATTENTION GRABBERS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING!

We all know that YOU HAVE TO REACH THEM BEFORE YOU CAN TEACH THEM!  However, reaching them on a screen is a new challenge.  Here are a few tips I'll demonstrate today.

Surprise Them! 
Brain Research 101 says the brain likes anything that is novel, challenging, and new. Wear a hat, silly pair of glasses, or use a strange voice.
 
Cut the top and bottom off a food box, insert the puppet on your hand, and then let the puppet pop out the box and sing a song, talk about an event, or say a rhyme.


Attention Grabbers
Teacher says:
“Hocus Pocus!” (Stick out index finger and circle around like a wand.)
Children respond:
“Everybody focus!” (Make circles around eyes like spectacles.)
*Practice this several times until it becomes automatic.

Finger Play
Do a finger play to focus those busy hands. As you end the "Finger Band" quietly and slowly it will pull them in.

The finger band is (Start with your hands behind your back
Coming to town, and wiggle them as you slowly bring
Coming to town, them in front.)
Coming to town.
The finger band is
Coming to town so early in the morning.

This is the way (Pretend to play drums.)
They play their drums…
This is the way
They twirl their hats… (Twirl hands around your head.)
This is the way (Pretend to play a horn.)
They play their horns…
(Let children suggest other instruments and motions.)

The finger band (Slowly wiggle fingers behind you
Is going away, as you lower your voice to a whisper.)
Going away, going away.
The finger band
Is going away so early in the morning.

Give Me a Clap
Lead children in a cheer or a clapping pattern.  Make it a game and challenge by saying, "Can you do this?"
 
If you can hear my voice, clap your hands one time.
In a softer voice say:
If you can hear my voice, clap your hands two times.
In a whisper voice say:
If you can hear my voice, please look at me.
Continue lowering your voice until children are focused on you.Puppet

Use callbacks

Teacher says: Hands on top.
Children respond: Everybody stop! (Put hands on head and freeze.)


Teacher says: Macaroni and cheese.
Children respond: Freeze please! (Freeze and look at the teacher.)


Teacher says: Ready?
Children respond: Spaghetti! (Stand up straight.)

Teacher: Okeedookee
Children: Artichokee

Teacher: Peanut butter
Children: Jelly

Teacher says: All set? (Snap fingers twice.)
Children respond: You bet! (Snap fingers twice.)

Teacher: Da da da da da...
Children: I'm loving it! (MacDonald's advertisement)

Teacher says: How do you feel?
Children respond: We feel good! Yeah! (Stick up thumbs.) 

Use Their Name
If you have a child floating away simply saying their name will bring them back to reality.
You can sing, "If your name is (child's name) wave to me...If your name is (child's name) smile at me..."

Do a Cheer
Pretend to make a hamburger by patting your palms together. Make a sizzling sound and say, “Is it done yet?” Turn your hand over and say, “Not yet.” Repeat twice. After the third “Is it done?” give a thumbs up and say, “Well done!” 
                                          
Give yourself sparkles (open and close fits) and a rainbow (move palms like a rainbow across your body).

You’re the Best!
(Children repeat after the teacher. You could change the words to “I’m the best!” or “We’re the best!”)
Thumbs up. (Stick out right thumb.)
Across the chest. (Bring across to the left shoulder.)
Pat on the back. (Pat self on the back.)
Cause you’re the best! (Wrap arms around self and hug.)

Play a Game 
Simon says...
Put your hands on your knees.
Wiggle your nose.
Touch your toes...

Palm Writing
Children take their "magic finger" write on the opposite palm.  They can make shapes, letters, numbers, or even write words.  Make sure they "erase" (rub palm) in between.
                                                          

P.S.  I found this idea when I was looking at some old blogs.  Wouldn't this work for your class meetings online?

Sharing Good News (Jessica Williams)
Write children’s names on craft sticks and place in a jar that says “Good News.” The teacher starts every morning by sharing her own “good news.” The children clap or cheer for her. Next, she pulls a stick and the class sings, "Tell me something good!" That child shares their good news and then the class does a cheer. The teacher pulls the second stick and they sing, "Tell me something good" and then cheer. Do three children each day and then put those who have had a turn in an envelope and start all over again when everyone 
has had a turn.                                                                  

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

When my grandson completed kindergarten I asked him if he had ever played “The Farmer in the Dell.” He didn’t know what I was talking about! “The Farmer in the Dell,” “London Bridge,” “Mulberry Bush,” "The Wheels on the Bus" and so many other songs and games are part of what I refer to as our “early childhood heritage.” If children don’t experience these things in pre-K or kindergarten, then they’ll probably never get to do them! And that’s sooooo sad!

The crazier our world gets, the more we need to remember our roots and traditions. Think of these old songs and circle games as COMFORT FOOD!

                                   

Why?
Children can experience so many things about the game of life through these “Oldies but Goodies.” Three of our leading educational theorists give insight into why games are so powerful in early childhood. Piaget observed that the more actively involved children are with people and things in their world, the more quickly they will assimilate new learning. Dewey emphasized that educational experiences are intricately interwoven with social experiences. Vygotsky also stressed the importance of social interaction to the child’s ability to construct meaning. Songs and games can provide the bridge to lead them from where they are to a higher level.

As early childhood educators, we have always been committed to the WHOLE child. What better way to facilitate social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development than with a game or song? It might look like children are “just playing” as you sing, but there’s so much more learning going on. Something as simple as “The Farmer in the Dell” can:
Build community and strengthen relationships
Foster self-confidence
Develop motor skills
Enhance oral language
Reinforce self-regulation and the executive function 

Here's a new video Alex May, my webmaster, created for "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."
Watch Mulberry Bush Video

Here's a link where you can get a free download of several "oldies but goodies."
Click to Download

The Farmer in the Dell
The farmer in the dell, (Class holds hands and forms a circle.
The farmer in the dell, One child is chosen to be the “farmer”
Heigh – ho – the derry-o, and stand in the middle.)
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife… (“Farmer” chooses a “wife” to stand in middle.)
The wife takes a child… (“Wife” chooses a “child” to stand in the middle.)
The child takes a nurse… (“Child” chooses a “nurse” to stand in the middle.)
The nurse takes a dog… (“Nurse” chooses a “dog” to stand in the middle.)
The dog takes a cat… (“Dog” chooses a “cat.”)
The cat takes a rat… (“Cat” chooses a “rat.”)
The rat takes the cheese… (“Rat” chooses the “cheese.”)
The cheese stands alone… (“Cheese” stays in the middle while the others get
back in the circle. The “cheese” becomes the
new “farmer” and the game continues.)

NOTE!  If I were in charge of the world this would be required to teach in all pre-K and K classes!!!
                           

LITTLE LESSONS FOR PARTY TIME ONLINE! PART 6

Last week Laura Buonadonna made a comment on FB about an “art show” that she did with her students on Zoom. I asked her to tell me more because it was such a clever idea. Well, I felt like I’d won the lottery with all the activities she shared.

PARTY ON!
I know in the past many of you had parties and celebrated the end of school with special memories. Don’t let COVID19 spoil your fun!!! Take a look at Laura’s activities and games because they will spark your creativity and enthusiasm! There are so many great ideas here, and I know you can’t do all of them. However, I bet you’ll find three or four that will give YOU and your kids something to celebrate this month.
                                         
P.S. I loved what Laura said about PARENT BUY IN!

I teach prek4 at Downe Township Elementary in NJ. I have 18 kiddos who have been loving our Zoom meeting. The key has been the parent buy in.

ART SHOW
The students all brought their masterpieces! They got to describe their picture and talk about what materials they used.
                     

I SPY
This is an active game we can play on Zoom. I might say, “ I Spy with my little eye something that is blue.” The kids run and find something in their home and bring it back to show.
Note! If they don’t have an object to represent that you could let them tell you what letter blue starts with.


SHOW AND TELL
Kids love to “show and tell” on Zoom. I told them that they could share the biggest item they could find because it didn't have to fit in their book bag!


BIRTHDAYS
If your kiddos have any birthdays during quarantine or over the summer you can still celebrate them. You know what those kids love so I would try to plan a theme. We always ask all the kids to make a picture for the birthday friend. The kids describe their picture and say what they love most about that friend. I would also make a list of my 5 reasons we love that student. We did a Frozen theme on Zoom at night where we all wore Frozen PJ’s or clothes and they watched me demonstrate how to make Frozen Shaving Cream bath cupcakes. I also read a Frozen bedtime story.
                                       

MUSICAL CHAIRS
I used this in one of our Birthday Zooms, but also snuck in some Math. I told them ahead of time that they would need a chair and a dry erase board or paper to write on. We played Trolls theme music as they ran around their chairs. When the music stopped I held up a number and they attempted to write it or make tally marks.


SUPERHERO YOGA
The kids dressed up like their favorite superhero. I muted them and put on some soft music. I showed them Yoga cards and then I demonstrated the moves for them to copy.


MOTHER’S DAY TEA
Our parents pick up meals once a week so I am making gift bags for them to pick up this week. On the bag I’m including our Zoom code and a poem asking them not to open it until our Zoom meeting. Inside the bag I am putting a fancy cup, tea bag, Danish, candy bracelet, bubbles, and a tea towel. (I purchased everything at the dollar store.) I painted part of a sunflower on the tea towel and I included a small cup of paint. I’m asking the kids to dress up and bring their favorite snack to the Zoom party. The moms will be able to have a snack with their child, and then each child will tell us their favorite thing about their mom. We are going to finish by having the children put their thumb print on the tea towel, and then I’ll read a Mother’s Day book.
                                        

All I can say to Laura is KISS YOUR BRAIN and KISS YOUR HEART!
                                                                                 

Here are a few other topics I've used in the past that you can adapt for your Zoom Party Room!

Sports Day
Children can wear t-shirts and hats from their favorite teams. Let tell why they like that team.


Virtual Field Trip
You can't take your kids on the bus, but you can take them on lots of exciting virtual field trips.  Just look online and decide where you want to go.
P.S.  Ask them to bring a snack in case they get hungry!


Book Party
Ask the children to bring their favorite book and share why they like it. They could also dress up like their favorite character.


Talent Show
Invite the children to think of a “talent” (song, dance, story, gymnastic stunt) they can do. Talk about the importance of being a “good audience” and clap and cheer for friends when they perform.
                                                                              

Pajama Party
Have children wear pajamas and show their favorite stuffed animal to their friends.
*I saw FB where a teacher asked them to bring their favorite blanket and stuffed animal.  How comforting!


Pet Parade
Children show their pet or a favorite stuffed animal.


Beach Party
Children could wear sunglasses, shorts, and bathing suits, etc. Talk about the fun things they are going to in the summer.
                            

Hat Day
Ask children to wear their favorite hat or challenge them to design a hat from a paper plate and art scraps.


Snack Day
Children bring their favorite snack and enjoy it as the teacher reads a book.


Joke Day
Ask children to all come up with a joke they can tell to their classmates.


Sock Hop
Children wear a pair of silly socks and dance to favorite songs from movies. Play “freeze” where they have to FREEZE when you stop the music.
                                                                

LITTLE LESSONS FOR ONLINE LEARNING PART 3

You are my BVFs (Best Virtual Friends)! It's true! I can't wait to share with you on Thursdays. I am thrilled to take your suggestions and come up with "Little Lessons" for online learning. Last week there were requests for activities for families, sight words, manners, rhyming words, subtraction, and Earth Day. Today I'll offer ideas for families, sight words, and manners. Tomorrow look for activities for helping children learn to rhyme. Next week will focus on Earth Day, recycling, the litter patrol, and more.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Talk about a GIFT! Julie Scully sent me this Scavenger Hunt book that I can SHARE with all of you! It's got so many fun activities in it that I might need to get Mr. Feldman to play with me!!!!

Here are two ways you can get your FREE copy! This is exactly what families need right now to play, learn, and have fun!!!

Click to download Scavenger Hunt

 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/20-Ready-to-Use-Scavenger-Hunt-Games-around-the-house-5393573


SIGHT WORDS

Here's a link to "MY WORD!" on my website. You'll find games, songs, and materials to make sight words taste "yummy"!

     My Word

There is also a FREE website that would be helpful to parents.

 Visit Sightwords

And if you don't know about Heidi Songs you'll definitely want to check out her clever tunes for helping children learn to readm

 Visit Heidisongs


MANNERS
 
You'll find a free link "Magic Words" to encourage children to use good manners. I also think it helps to teach children sign language for "please" and "thank you" so you can prompt them non-verbally.

Magic Words
There are two little magic words
That will open any door with ease.
One little word is, “Thanks!
And the other little word is, “Please!”

When you’d like to ask for someone’s help,
And you’re not sure where to begin.
“Please” will start you off,
and “thanks” comes at the end.
                                                         

Try this link to see download button

(Buy Now) for the two free songs.

Click the Buy Now button and follow along. You should get a screen that lets you download the songs. In addition, you should receive an email with the links.

FINGER PLAY MATH
You know how much I love finger plays for oral language, phonological awareness, small motor skills, etc.  Many of the finger plays are also perfect for introducing subtraction to little children. 

Gummy Bears
Down at the candy shop what did I see?
Five little gummy bears smiling at me.  (Hold up 5 fingers.)
Along came (child’s name) with a penny one day.
He/she bought the green one and took it away.  (Put one finger down.)

Down at the candy shop what did I see?
Four little gummy bears smiling at me.  (Hold up 4 fingers.)
Along came (child's name) with a penny one day.
He/she bought the red one and took it away.  (Put another finger down.)

Three...two...one





*Trace around a child's hand on construction paper and cut out.  Glue the palm to another sheet of paper.  Bend down one finger at a time as you sing the song. 

                                               

VIDEOS TO COMFORT CHILDREN
I'd like to think that all children have families who talk to them about what's going on in the world right now.  I'd like to think that parents are trying hard to make their children feel secure and have some family fun.  However, you and I know that isn't always the reality for our little ones.  Here's a video that Deborah Penney made to comfort her children.  I know something this sweet is like a "hug" for her students!

 

Visit with Deb and Rosie

HOME TEACHING GRID
You can order Carolyn Kisloski's "home teaching grid" for next week here:

Home Teaching Grid