ASL

I know you probably get tired of hearing me promote ASL, but now more than ever it can be a powerful way to engage children and activate their senses. I’m excited that Mariela Andersen has interpreted some of my favorite videos. 

ASL – Dinosaur Boogie

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLDino


ASL – Wiggle Willie

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLWiggle


ASL – Alphardy

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLAlph


ASL – Macarena to 100

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLMac100


ASL – Today Is Sunday

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLSunday

Mariela Andersen

"Being able to provide equal access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children through ASL means the world to me! I am so thankful to be able to support them in their most natural language. I hope that anybody who lives or works with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children chooses to learn sign language to be able to connect with them on a deeper level." 

Google "Mariela Andersen" to learn more about her and her books.

IT'S KINDERGARTEN DAY!

Froebel started the first kindergarten in Germany in 1837, and his birthday was April 21. Kindergarten originated to help children adapt to learning and social interactions in a fun way. Froebel believed in self-directed play, singing, dancing, blocks…a “garden” where children could grow! He’d probably roll over in his grave now if he saw what was going on!!

As I write this I am remembering my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Myers. I LOVED her! I mean, I worshipped her! She was a fairy godmother and the center of my world. She seemed ancient to me at the time, but I’m probably way older now than she was when she taught me. Thank goodness for hair dye and make up!!!

I remember playing “The Farmer in the Dell” and other circle games. I also remember the finger play “Here are grandma’s glasses…” We had sugar cookies with a hole in the middle that we would put on our finger as we ate and we also had orange kool-aid. (Oh, my goodness! The sugar police would get Mrs. Myers for sure!!!) My favorite activity was painting. I especially liked to paint princesses. Back in those days the only princess I knew about was Cinderella, but I longed to be like her. One day as I was at the easel I painted a stripe down my leg. It looked so good I painted another…and another…and another…until my legs had beautiful stripes all over them. Mrs. Myers could have squelched my creativity right then and there, but she just laughed and said, “Don’t do it again.”  Fortunately, my mother had a sense of humor as well!

Another memory I have is learning to tie my shoes. I wore corrective saddle oxfords I feared would come untied at school and then what would I do? Everyone would know that I couldn’t tie shoes!!! Well, one day they came untied and Mrs. Myers said, “You’re a smart girl. Now, you just sit down and figure it out.” And you know what? I did!!!! She knew when to coddle and when to push.

And incredible as it may seem, although all I did was PLAY in kindergarten, I can actually read and write!!

Note! Although I’m focusing on “kindergarten” today, this message holds for all early childhood teachers from preschool through first grade.

WHAT’S THE POINT? By Dr. Jean

If you cover every objective in the curriculum, but don’t have time to play outside or take field trips—
What’s the point of kindergarten?

If you do every page in the workbook, but don’t have time to laugh, do show and tell, or sing a song—
What’s the point of kindergarten?

If you know all your letters and sounds and numbers and sight words, but don’t know how to be a friend or share—
What’s the point of kindergarten?

If you score high on the standardized test, but don’t like school—
What’s the point of kindergarten?

If you master every skill and have 2 hours of screen time, but don’t have time to play in the block center or housekeeping or do puzzles—
What’s the point of kindergarten?

If teachers are so overwhelmed by the demands, expectations, and assessments they are given that they don’t have time to hug, smile, read, cheer, cherish, and look in the eyes of those wonderful little children in their classroom---
Then what’s the point of being a kindergarten teacher?

But we know that five is a magical time, and children only have one chance in a lifetime to be five. SHUT YOUR DOOR and hold hands, sing, dance, paint, tell stories, make believe, play outside, and continue to give children happy memories! And only you can do that because YOU are a kindergarten teacher and YOU are SPECIAL and AMAZING just like the children you teach!

Love always, Dr. Jean

KINDERGARTEN DAY TREATS!!!

Here are some new videos and ideas from Alex May (webmaster)!

YouTube - Silent

https://bit.ly/drJKnockSock

PDF Download

https://bit.ly/drJPuppetTheatre

YouTube - Narrated

https://bit.ly/drJKnockNarrated

PUMPKIN PUMPKIN

It's going to be exciting the next ten days as the Great Pumpkin spirit amps up in your classroom.  My webmaster has created a free playlist of seasonal videos to help you have more fun:

 https://bit.ly/drJSeasonal

I was looking through some old blogs and found this idea. It's so simple and could be adapted to any holiday or any skills. You'll also find an idea for a MAGIC PUMPKIN that Carolyn Kisloski shared a few years ago.

Here’s a game that you can make with a pumpkin, gift bag, or other seasonal container. It’s great for practicing skills, listening, and following directions. Keep it on your desk and you can use it whenever you have a few extra minutes.

Take index cards and write simple one or two step directions on them. For example: “Touch the flag and then walk to the trash can.” “Go under the teacher’s desk and then knock on the door.” “Balance on one foot and say a nursery rhyme.” “Go to the front of the room and tell a joke.” Place the cards in a plastic pumpkin. Let children take turns selecting cards and following the directions.

Hint! You will have to read the directions to younger students.

*Let older students write their own directions to use for the game.

Just think about skills your students need to master and an action and you're ready to get going. For example:

Clap and count by ten’s to 100.

Touch your nose and spell the word SHE.

Point to the word ‘THE’ in the room and then jump two times.

Touch something that is a sphere and then tiptoe and touch something that is a circle.

Turn around and count backwards from 10.

Walk to the front of the room and act out an adjective.

March and touch a noun.

Walk to the back of the room and tell the day of the week, the month and the year.

Gallop as you count by 5's to 100.

Skip around the room as you say the months in the year.

PUMPKIN TALES

Today I've got two of my all time favorite stories for you.  I've even got a video where you can watch me tell these stories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JetOeIrEnAU&t=52s

Pumpkin House Cut and Tell Story

Note!  I must have told this story thousands of times over the past 50 years. The wonderful thing is that it's "old" to me, but most of the teachers and children have never heard it before. You'll need to practice a few times before doing it for your class, but I guarantee you'll hear, "Do it again! Do it again!"

Materials: orange paper, scissors
Directions: Place the orange paper and scissors in your lap. As you tell the story cut out the different parts with the scissors. At end of the story, the children will be delighted with the pumpkin house!
Hint! You can also tear out the paper with your fingers.

Once there was a little old lady who lived in a funny orange house near name of your school. Her house was shaped like half a circle with the chimney at the bottom.

This little lady had a cat named child’s name in your room. This cat had a long, curved tail, so the old lady had a special door cut just for the cat’s tail.

The little lady always wore a pointed hat. She had a special door built for herself, too, so her hat would not fall off every time she went in and out the door.

The little lady had two pet birds. Their names were child’sname and child’s name. She had a window cut just for them so they could fly in and out and in and out.

It was getting close to Halloween, so all the children inteacher’s name classroom went to her house and knocked on her door. The little lady came to the door and said, “Close your eyes.” SURPRISE! It’s a jack-o-lantern!

Here's a link so you can download the directions.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljYUVocVhRRTFHVGs/view?usp=sharing


Pumpkin Man Tell and Draw Story
Materials: large sheet of paper, marker 

Directions: Explain that you will need everyone to help you tell this story. Demonstrate the movements below. When you say the words in the story, then the children should make the motions.


“Knock” – pretend to knock on a door

“Rock” – move body back and forth

“Spin” – twirl hands around each other

“Come In” – make motion with hand


Draw the body parts on the paper as you come to them in the story.

Once there was a little old lady who would just sit all day and rock and spin and wait for somebody to come in.
 One day as she sat there rocking and spinning she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called. In came two big, black boots. (Draw boots on the board.) “I can’t talk to you big, black boots,” said the little old lady. So she just sat there and she'd rock and spin until she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called. And in came two bony legs. (Draw two skinny legs coming out of the boots.) “I can’t talk to two bony legs,” said the little old lady.
 So she just sat there and rock and spin until she heard a knock at the door.


“Come in,” she called. And in came a funny body. (Draw a pear shaped body on top of the legs.) “I can’t talk to a funny body,” said the little old lady.
 So she just sat there and rock and spin until she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called. And in came two wiggly arms. (Draw wiggly arms coming off the body.) “I can’t talk to wiggly arms,” said the little old lady.
 So she just sat there and rock and spin until she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called. And in came two big hands. (Draw hands at the end of the arms.) “I can’t talk to two big hands,” said the little old lady.
 So she just sat there and rock and spin until she heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called. And in came a big pumpkin head. (Draw a pumpkin head on the figure.) “Well, I can talk to a pumpkin man,” said the little old lady. And she did! 



Adaptations: End by singing “Do You Know the Pumpkin Man?” to the tune of “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”



Here are some videos that you might want to include in your October plans this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBWyLjFi9xI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ZZzsLw_m4

JINGLE BELLS AND RING IN THE NEW YEAR

Jingle Bells
Chorus:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, (Pretend to hold bells and shake.)
Jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh. Hey! (Fist in the air.)
Jingle bells, jingle bells, (Pretend to jingle bells.)
Jingle all the way.
What fun it is to ride and sing
In a one horse open sleigh.

Dashing through the snow, (Pretend to hold reins and drive
In a one horse open sleigh sleigh.)
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way. (Hand on stomach and laugh.)
Bells on bobtail ring, (Pretend to drive sleigh.)
Making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight. (Chorus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI2yyHD1ejY

               

Here’s a book to go with the song:
www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2007/12_Dec/pg00.html


Sleigh Riding – Have children sit on the floor facing the same directions. Demonstrate how to hold the person’s waist in front of you. As you sing the song sway forwards and backwards to the beat as if riding a sleigh.


Jingle Bells – Let children thread several jingle bells on a pipe cleaner. Twist the ends together to make a bracelet children can shake as you sing.


Jingle Bell Painting - You will need an empty cheese ball container or similar cylinder shape with a lid. Cut a piece of paper so you can roll it and put it in the cylinder. Take two jingle bells. Drop one in red paint and the other in green paint. Use a spoon to transfer the bells to the can. Put on the lid, then shake up the can as you sing “Jingle Bells.” Take out the paper and you’ll have a jingle bell painting!
                                            

And if you like my "Banana Dance," then here's a holiday version just for you!!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2-WXpB7Gm8

Ring in the New Year (Tune: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”)
Let’s all do a little ringing, (Shake hands as if ringing bells.)
Let’s all do a little ringing,
Let’s all do a little ringing
It’s a Happy New Year!

Let’s all do a little clapping… (Clap hands.)

Let’s all do a little dancing… (Dance around.)

Let’s all do a little smiling… (Smile.)

When is your birthday?
When is your birthday?
When is your birthday?
Stand up and cheer.

(Say months of the year.)
January, February, March…
(Children stand up on their birthday month.)

Let’s all be a little kinder… (Pat friends on the back.)
For a Happy New Year!

*Download this book at drjean.org.

MEET ROBERTO ROBOTO!

                                                http://bit.ly/drjeanHandsOnMyHead


My Hands on My Head
My hands on my head, (Point to head.)
Que esta aqui?
This is my cabeza my mamacita.
Cabeza, cabeza, la, la, la, la.
That’s what I learned in my school. Si, si! (Snap fingers.)

Eyes –ojos (Point to eyes.)

Ears – orejas (Point to ears.)

Nose – nariz (Point to nose.)

Mouth – boca (Point to mouth.) Stomach – estomago (Point to stomach.) Feet – pies (Point to feet.)

Activities:

Trace around children’s bodies on large sheets of butcher paper.

Label parts in English and Spanish.

Adapt this song to French, German, or other languages.

MORE TO COME!
My Amazing Webmaster ALEX MAY has created this new video for the song.  Although I recorded this song quite a while ago, I hope that your students will enjoy meeting Roberto Robot as they sing along with the animated video.  Plus, you'll find a link in the description on YouTube that allows you to download a free printable and some activities. 

Alex and I are excited about creating more videos with Roberto and nursery rhymes! 

OCTOBER VIDEOS

 Here are some videos that you might want to include in your plans this month.

http://bit.ly/drjean-Scarecrow

http://bit.ly/drjeanMyMonster

http://bit.ly/drjeanJokes

 

http://bit.ly/drjeanHadAPumpkin

http://bit.ly/drjeanPumpkinCards

 

 

http://bit.ly/drjeanHallowMedley

http://bit.ly/drjean5Pumpkins

A LITTLE LOVE FOR ASL!

I know you probably get tired of hearing me promote ASL, but now more than ever it can be a powerful way to engage children and activate their senses. I’m excited that Mariela Andersen has interpreted some of my favorite videos. You'll find the links on my website  http://drjean.org/

ASL – Dinosaur Boogie

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLDino

 

ASL – Wiggle Willie

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLWiggle

 

ASL – Alphardy

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLAlph

ASL – Macarena to 100

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLMac100

ASL – Today is Sunday

http://bit.ly/drjeanASLSunday

Mariela Andersen

"Being able to provide equal access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children through ASL means the world to me! I am so thankful to be able to support them in their most natural language. I hope that anybody who lives or works with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children chooses to learn sign language to be able to connect with them on a deeper level." 

Check out her YouTube channel to view more of her interpretations. Click here.

ZOOM MYSTERY GUEST!

I've really enjoyed visiting some of your online classes and singing and dancing with your children. I wish I had time to do more! Here are a few special videos that will be "almost" as good as having me in person.

                                          

Tell your kids that Dr. Jean loves them!!!

https://bit.ly/drjeanTootyScat

https://bit.ly/drjeanStoryTimeBearHunt




https://bit.ly/drjeanBingoStory

HUMPTY DUMPTY - JUST FOR KIDS!

I'd love to come to each of your classrooms in person, but that's not possible. However, I have started doing some short videos of songs, rhymes, and stories "Just for Kids." Here's my latest one about Humpty Dumpty.

http://bit.ly/drjean_humpty

Here's the new verse for the end of the rhyme:

     Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
     Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
     All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
     Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
     So the good children got out some tape and some glue
     And they fiddled and faddled until he looked like new.
     Then they carefully placed him back on the wall
     And said, "Humpty Dumpty, please don't fall!"

Rhyme On
Challenge children to fill in the word that rhymes in these additional verses.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a peg.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his leg.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a bed.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his head.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a rose.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his nose.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a pin.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his chin.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a boulder.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his shoulder.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a pie.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his eye.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a deer.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his ear.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the land.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his hand.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the sea.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his knee.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a drum.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his thumb.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a tack.
Humpty Dumpty fell on his back.

Humpty Dumpty said to his friend,
“I’m very tired so this is THE END.”