GREAT TEACHERS 107

Where’s Bear?

Write sight words on the sides of cups. Put a teddy bear counter under one of the cups. The children say a word and the teacher lifts the cup to see if the teddy bear counter is under that cup. Tally who finds the bear and count who has the most, least, etc.

        

*This activity has endless possibilities. You could use it for letters, numerals, math facts, etc. You could also hide seasonal objects or treats under the cups.


Marshmallow Mouths

To teach the kids how to walk in the halls quietly tell them to pretend to put a marshmallow in their mouths.

*Just for fun give them a real marshmallow.


Jingle Bell Club (Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.


Expert Chart (Karen Stone)
Every student can see themselves as an “expert” with this idea. Make a poster with areas of expertise, such as cutting, writing numerals, writing letters, spelling, tying shoes, etc. Children get to sign their name and put their picture on the poster where they feel they are an expert. Students must consult at least “3 experts” before asking the teacher.

Rhyming Hunt (Sara Christensen)
Chant while tapping your lap and then clapping:
We’re going on a rhyming hunt and I know what to do.
I need to listen well and rhyme a word with you.
Teacher: Cat (Teacher calls on a student to say a rhyming word.)
Student: Hat


Dance and Point 

Tape words, letters, numbers, etc. around the room. Play some music so the children can dance. When the music stops the children point to a word. The teacher calls on students to read their word.


Magic Pointer (Lana from Minneapolis)
To help children learn high frequency words, choose a magic pointer and wave it across a word as you say (with expression);
Magic pointer, magic pointer, where will it land?
I don’t know where it will land?
Point to a word for the children to read. After a few weeks, the children get to take turns with the magic pointer.


Table Captain (Jennifer Hill)
At each table there are four children, each with a nametag. On each tag is a red, blue, green, or yellow circle sticker. Each week choose a different color sticker to be “table captain.”
*Colored stickers can be used for other transition activities. For example, “Yellow stickers go to the art center.”


Envelope Assessment (Cowan Elementary)
Laminate envelopes and then cut them in half. Children can write on the laminated envelope with a dry erase marker. This can be used for formative assessment.


Pony Beads (Vonda Stamm)
Place 10 pony beads on a string (5 of each color). Use for number identification, addition, counting, etc. If the teacher calls out a math fact they can hold up the answer and hide the beads they don’t want to show in their fist.
*Students could also use these with a partner. For example, one student shows a number of beads and the partner tells the number.
Hint! I tied a black bead on both ends of the string so the beads wouldn’t fall off.

Sight Words and Sign Language (Kris Buss)
Teach sight words by using sign language. Put a picture of the sign on the back of every sight word. Use this for every word you teach. By having the signs on the back of the cards, the parents can use these at home to help their children learn.

Some old ideas, but how about a new video?

YouTube - https://bit.ly/drJHugs

Handout - https://bit.ly/drJHugsPDF

1 - 2 I CAN TIE MY SHOES!

It’s pretty amazing that children have better technical skills than many adults, but they don’t know how to tie their shoes. Believe it or not, "knows how to tie shoes" was on our checklist in the old days.

When my kids were little I got a big stuffed animal and used an apron to teach them how to tie. The apron strings were much bigger and easier to manipulate than shoestrings.

Here are two poems that might help children with this task.

1-2-3-4 – TYING SHOES
Let’s get ready to tie your shoes.
Over and under. Now, what to do? (Pull strings tight.)
1. Make a loop that looks like a tree. (Make a loop with right string.)
2. The other string is a rabbit you see. (Hold up left string.)
3. The rabbit goes around and in a hole. (Take left string around loop and stick in the hole.)
4. Pull the loops tight and there is your bow! (Take both loops and pull.)

Hint! Take a marker and color one half of the shoe string. It will be easier for children to tell which loop is the "rabbit' and which is the "hole" if they are different colors.


TYING SHOES VERSION 2
Take the 2 strings (Make loops with each string.)
And make two bunny ears.
Over and under
And a knot will appear. (Tie loops in a knot.)
Pull the ears tight
And what do you know? (Pull loops.)
You’ve tied your shoes
And there is your bow!

Hint! One teacher suggested getting a bag and sending home the shoe with a different child each night. It would be a nice reminder that children still do need to know how to tie their shoes in 2025!




SHOE SHERIFF CLUB
You’ll love this idea from Karen Hansen and Karen Aikin! When children learn to tie their shoes they get to sign their name on a poster that says “Shoe Sheriff Club.” Each day a child on the poster gets to wear a badge and be Shoe Sheriff for the day. If someone’s shoes come untied, they have to go to the Sheriff instead of bothering the teacher.

*Ashley Swedell puts shoes on table legs and if children finish their work early they can practice their tying.

Note! Janet Cantrell has children practice tying using their own leg!




Passport of Accomplishment
Make an award similar to the one below to distribute to children when they learn to tie their shoes.

JINGLE BELL CLUB AND DOLLAR STORE "STUFF"

Jingle Bell Club(Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.

Gel Stickers

Free play on windows or a mirror. These can also be used on a cookie sheet for sorting, making sets, addition, etc.


Santa Chair Cover
What a special treat to use for reading or writing!

*Children could also sit in the chair and write a letter to Santa.


A Coloring We'll Go
I am the last person in the world who would encourage coloring books over creative art, but the truth is that some kids just like to color. I was working with some child care centers years ago and I was "against" worksheets or coloring sheets. I went into a teacher’s room and to my dismay there was a group of girls sitting at a table coloring. They were chatting and have a grand time. The teacher said, “They beg to do worksheets and use coloring books.” Oh, well! So, put a holiday coloring book and crayons in a center as a reward if children finish their work early. It might entertain them and it certainly will do no harm.

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Jingle Bell Club(Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.

Here are a few more items I picked up at the dollar store.

Gel Stickers

Free play on windows or a mirror. These can also be used on a cookie sheet.


Santa Chair Cover
Those of you who do flexible seating could use this as a special treat.  

*Children could sit in the chair and write a letter to Santa.


A Coloring We'll Go
I am the last person in the world who would encourage coloring books over creative art, but the truth is that some kids just like to color. I was working with some child care centers years ago and my rules were no worksheets or coloring sheets and no screen time. I went into a teacher’s room and to my dismay there was a group of girls sitting at a table coloring. They were chatting and have a grand time. The teacher said, “They beg to do worksheets and use coloring books.” Oh, well! So, put a holiday coloring book and crayons in a center as a reward if children finish their work early. It might entertain them and it certainly will do no harm.

Science -Winter Nature Center

Materials: magnifying glass, clip board, paper, pencils, tub

Let children look at the items with a magnifying glass. Can they make a list of all the items they find in the tub?

Can they write descriptive sentences about what they find?

SHOE SHERIFF

It’s pretty amazing that children have better technical skills than many adults, but they don’t know how to tie their shoes. Believe it or not, "knows how to tie shoes" was on our checklist in the old days.

When my kids were little I got a big stuffed animal and used an apron to teach them how to tie. The apron strings were much bigger and easier to manipulate than shoestrings.

Here are two poems that might help children with this task.

1-2-3-4 – TYING SHOES
Let’s get ready to tie your shoes.
Over and under. Now, what to do? (Pull strings tight.)
1. Make a loop that looks like a tree. (Make a loop with right string.)
2. The other string is a rabbit you see. (Hold up left string.)
3. The rabbit goes around and in a hole. (Take left string around loop and stick in the hole.)
4. Pull the loops tight and there is your bow! (Take both loops and pull.)

Hint! Take a marker and color one half of the shoe string. It will be easier for children to tell which loop is the "rabbit' and which is the "hole" if they are different colors.


TYING SHOES VERSION 2
Take the 2 strings (Make loops with each string.)
And make two bunny ears.
Over and under
And a knot will appear. (Tie loops in a knot.)
Pull the ears tight
And what do you know? (Pull loops.)
You’ve tied your shoes
And there is your bow!

Hint! One teacher suggested getting a bag and sending home the shoe with a different child each night. It would be a nice reminder that children still do need to know how to tie their shoes in 2022!



SHOE SHERIFF CLUB
You’ll love this idea from Karen Hansen and Karen Aikin! When children learn to tie their shoes they get to sign their name on a poster that says “Shoe Sheriff Club.” Each day a child on the poster gets to wear a badge and be Shoe Sheriff for the day. If someone’s shoes come untied, they have to go to the Sheriff instead of bothering the teacher.

*Ashley Swedell puts shoes on table legs and if children finish their work early they can practice their tying.

Note! Janet Cantrell has children practice tying using their own leg!




Passport of Accomplishment
Make an award similar to the one below to distribute to children when they learn to tie their shoes.

TYING IS TRYING

It’s pretty amazing what children can do with devices, but many of them lack the ability to tie their shoes. Here are some ideas that you can share with your families to remind them that in 2021 children still need to be able to tie their own shoes!

Shoe Sheriff
When children learn to tie their shoes let them sign their names on the "Shoe Sheriff Club."  If a child needs help tying her shoes remind her to find someone who is a member of the "Shoe Sheriff Club" to help.


Start BIG
When my kids were little I got a big stuffed animal and used an apron to teach them how to tie. The apron strings were much bigger and easier to manipulate than shoestrings.




Here are two poems that might help children with this task:

1-2-3-4 – TYING SHOES
Let’s get ready to tie your shoes.
Over and under. Now, what to do? (Pull strings tight.)
1. Make a loop that looks like a tree. (Make a loop with right string.)
2. The other string is a rabbit you see. (Hold up left string.)
3. The rabbit goes around and in a hole. (Take left string around loop and stick in the hole.)
4. Pull the loops tight and there is your bow! (Take both loops and pull.)

Hint! Take a marker and color one half of the shoe string. It will be easier for children to tell which loop is the "rabbit' and which is the "hole" if they are different colors.

TYING SHOES VERSION 2
Take the 2 strings (Make loops with each string.)
And make two bunny ears.
Over and under
And a knot will appear. (Tie loops in a knot.)
Pull the ears tight
And what do you know? (Pull loops.)
You’ve tied your shoes
And there is your bow!


Shoes on Table Legs
This is an idea that Ashley Swedell shared with me years ago. She put shoes on table legs and if the children finished their work early they could practice tying. It might be a fun way to encourage children to practice at home as well.

                                 

Note!  Janet Cantrell has children practice tying using their own leg!

Passport of Accomplishment
Make an award similar to the one below to distribute to children when they learn to tie their shoes.
  
                                              

1 - 2 TIE MY SHOES!

It’s pretty amazing what children can do with devices, but many of them lack the ability to tie their shoes.  Here are some ideas that you can share with your families to remind them that in 2020 children still need to be able to tie their own shoes!

Start BIG

When my kids were little I got a big stuffed animal and used an apron to teach them how to tie. The apron strings were much bigger and easier to manipulate than shoestrings.

Here are two poems that might help children with this task.

1-2-3-4 – TYING SHOES
Let’s get ready to tie your shoes.
Over and under. Now, what to do? (Pull strings tight.)
1. Make a loop that looks like a tree. (Make a loop with right string.)
2. The other string is a rabbit you see. (Hold up left string.)
3. The rabbit goes around and in a hole. (Take left string around loop and stick in the hole.)
4. Pull the loops tight and there is your bow! (Take both loops and pull.)

Hint! Take a marker and color one half of the shoe string. It will be easier for children to tell which loop is the "rabbit' and which is the "hole" if they are different colors.

TYING SHOES VERSION 2
Take the 2 strings (Make loops with each string.)
And make two bunny ears.
Over and under
And a knot will appear. (Tie loops in a knot.)
Pull the ears tight
And what do you know? (Pull loops.)
You’ve tied your shoes
And there is your bow!

Shoes on Table Legs

This is an idea that Ashley Swedell shared with me years ago.  She put shoes on table legs and if the children finished their work early they could practice tying.  It might be a fun way to encourage children to practice at home as well.

Janet Cantrell has children practice tying using their own leg!

Passport of Accomplishment

Make an award similar to the one below to distribute to children when they learn to tie their shoes.

SHOE SHERIFF

It’s pretty amazing that children can manipulate an iPad better than many adults, but
they don’t know how to tie their shoes. When my kids were little I got a big stuffed animal and used an apron to teach them how to tie. The apron strings were much bigger and easier to manipulate than shoestrings.
                                     
Here are two poems that might help children with this task.

1-2-3-4 – TYING SHOES
Let’s get ready to tie your shoes.
Over and under. Now, what to do? (Pull strings tight.)
1. Make a loop that looks like a tree. (Make a loop with right string.)
2. The other string is a rabbit you see. (Hold up left string.)
3. The rabbit goes around and in a hole. (Take left string around loop and stick in the hole.)
4. Pull the loops tight and there is your bow! (Take both loops and pull.)

Hint!  Take a marker and color one half of the shoe string.  It will be easier for children to tell which loop is the "rabbit' and which is the "hole" if they are different colors.

TYING SHOES VERSION 2
Take the 2 strings (Make loops with each string.)
And make two bunny ears.
Over and under
And a knot will appear. (Tie loops in a knot.)
Pull the ears tight
And what do you know? (Pull loops.)
You’ve tied your shoes
And there is your bow!

Hint! One teacher suggested getting a bag and sending home the shoe with a different child each night. It would be a nice reminder that children still do need to know how to tie their shoes in 2018!

                             

 
















SHOE SHERIFF CLUB 
You’ll love this idea from Karen Hansen and Karen Aikin! When children learn to tie their shoes they get to sign their name on a poster that says “Shoe Sheriff Club.” Each day a child on the poster gets to wear a badge and be Shoe Sheriff for the day. If someone’s shoes come untied, they have to go to the Sheriff instead of bothering the teacher.

*Ashley Swedell puts shoes on table legs and if children finish their work early they can practice their tying.