CUT AND GLUE

After sharing the pencil grip ideas yesterday, I found some tips to help children cut and glue.

School Glue

(Tune:  “This Old Man”)

School glue, school glue,

Just a little dot will do.

Put a dot and spread it around.

It will hold your paper down.

School glue, school glue,

Don’t use more than a dab or two.

When it dries up, it will disappear.

Your work will look good never fear.

Hint!  Remind children that most of the time they will only need to use a “baby dot.”  You’ll tell them when they need a papa dot or Goldilocks.  (Goldilocks is when you put curly cue glue all over the page.)

Cutting Song 

(Tune:  “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

Our thumb is on the top when we cut.

Our thumb is on the top when we cut.

Put your scissors in your hand

Make sure your thumb is the top man.

Our thumb is on the top when we cut.

Our thumb is always the top man.

Hold the paper with the other hand.

Just take little bites

And you’ll cut it out just right.

Our thumb is always the top man.

Hint!  Have children lay on their tummies with their elbows on the floor.  This position will give them more control when they cut.

You can also have them wad up two sheets of paper and place these under their armpits.  Keeping their elbows close to their bodies will also provide more control with the scissors.

Cutting Caboose

This is an idea from long ago when we focused more on developmental skills.  (I just can’t let some of these things die!  Surely, somebody out there will be able to do this!)  Take a large appliance box and cut one of the long sides off.  Place two chairs in the box facing each other.  Put scissors and scrap paper in the box.  Children can climb aboard, look at their friends, and cut away!

Cutting Tub

This activity is probably more doable for most of you.  Get a plastic tub and fill it with junk mail, book order forms, catalogs, wrapping paper, scrap paper, etc.  Children can take safety scissors and cut away in the tub.  You could then use the scraps for an art collage.

READY TO WRITE

Some of those little hands are just not ready to write, so here are a few tips that might help.

Warm Up – Just like you warm up before you exercise, you can warm up those fingers before writing.  Finger plays and songs with hand movements are perfect. 

*How about individual containers of play dough for each of your students?  Rolling snakes, balls, pancakes, and cutting play dough all strengthen muscles.

*Have children hold up their right hand and push their thumb with the index finger, then the middle finger, then the ring finger, and then pinkie.  Do the same activity with the left hand.  Have children squeeze their fists as tight as they can.  Open, relax, and shake.

Pencil Grip – Give each child a pom pom or cotton ball.  Explain that is the pillow.  Demonstrate how to hold it in your palm and then put pinkie and ring man to sleep on the pillow.  Now, pick up your pencil and you will get the correct grip.

*You can make a writing bracelet that will work in a similar way.  String a bead on a piece of string and tie it so it can loosely slip on and off the wrist.  Children put it on and then hold the bead with their pinkie and ring man when they write.

Silly Band – This is one of my all time favorite ideas a teacher shared for writing.  You’ve got to try it to believe it!  Give children a silly band (or rubber band) to wear on their wrist when they write.  Explain that when you ride in the car you wear a seatbelt.  Well, your pencil needs a seatbelt to help you write.  Hold the pencil and then loop the rubber band around the pencil.  It will give children so much more control over the writing instrument.

Ready To Write  - Sing this song to the tune of “Where Is Thumbkin?”     

Where is Pointer? 

On the top. 

Ready to write. 

Start at the top.

Where is Thumbkin?  

On the side. 

Ready to help

Your pencil glide.

Where is Tallman? 

On the bottom. 

Keeps the letters

Where you want ‘em.

Ready for Writing Rap 

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.

MAC AND ME

Today is Sunday.

Sunday macaroni,

All you lucky teachers,

Well, that’s O.K.

This will not be my usual “educational” blog, but this recipe for macaroni and cheese is the BEST ever!  It’s perfect for a pot-luck, tail gate, or Sunday meal with those you love.  (When you read the ingredients you will think that Dr. Jean is trying to give you a heart attack.  You’ll just need to exercise a little more and cut down on something else.  My motto is all things in moderation!)   Enjoy!

Mac and Cheese from Heaven

1 16 oz box rigatoni noodles

8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

8 oz shredded Monterey Jack

4 oz grated fresh Parmesan

2 cups heavy cream

salt and pepper 

Preheat oven to 350.  Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat.  Add the pasta and cook until tender - about 12 minutes.  Drain well in a colander without rinsing.

Put the drained pasta in a large bowl and add half the cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan.  Add the cream and stir to combine.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour the pasta mixture into a greased casserole dish.  Sprinkle remaining cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan on top.  Bake 30-45 minutes until bubbly and golden.

NURSERY RHYME PACKET

IT’S COMING SOON!

Vanessa Levin (pre-kpages.com) and I have been working on a special Nursery Rhyme packet for months and it’s almost ready!!!  Vanessa is a technical genius when it comes to creating learning materials that will capture children’s attention.  With these rhyming readers you will be able to put a book in each child’s hands.  What a gift! 

The RHYMING READERS will include:

*10 printable nursery rhyme books in both color and black and white

*10 nursery rhyme song charts in both color and black and white

*10 audio files in mp3 format so your children can read and sing along with Dr. Jean

You’ll be able to play mp3 files on your iPad, iPhone, iPod, or other phone or tablet.  You can also burn them to a CD.  More than 100 printable pages of singing, rhyming, and learning FUN for your classroom!

Stay tuned for details!  It won’t be long!

WHERE'S UGA?

This game can be adapted to any school mascot, action hero, or seasonal character.  Since I graduated from the University of Georgia, UGA was my first choice.  This is a quick, simple game that can be played with any age level or any skill that needs to be reinforced.  It’s the perfect game if you’ve got a few minutes before lunch or a few minutes at the end of the day.

WHY?         shapes, colors, letters, words, numerals, math facts, etc.

WHAT?       flash cards, picture of a favorite school mascot

HOW?         Have children sit in a circle and encourage them to identify the  

                   information on the flash cards as you place them on the floor.

Tell the children to turn around and hide their eyes. 

                   Take “UGA” and slip it under one of the flash cards.  The

children turn back around and raise their hand if they think

they know where UGA is hiding.  One at a time, have children call out a word, letter, shape, etc., and then look under that card.  The game continues until a child finds UGA.  That child may then be “it” and hide the mascot.

*Use a pocket chart to play this game.  Arrange the flash cards in the pocket chart and then hide the mascot under one of the cards as the children hide their eyes.

GOING ON A TREASURE HUNT

Here is an adaptation of the “Cool Bear Hunt” to prepare for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” next week.  Chants like this one are a perfect way to develop oral language, auditory memory, and sequencing skills.

Have the children stand and walk in place and slap their thighs as they repeat each line.

         We’re going on a treasure hunt.  (Children repeat.)

         We’re going to find a big one.  (Open arms wide.)

         With lots of gold   (Make a big arch in the air with your hands.)

         And jewels, too.     (Open up palms.)

         Look over there.     (Put one palm on your forehead and then point.)

         It’s a swamp.

         Can’t go over it.     (Arms up in the air.)

         Can’t go under it.   (Arms scoop down low.)

         Can’t go around it.  (Circle arms.)

         I guess we’ll go through it.  (Open palms and shrug shoulders.)

         Oooey gooey!        (Pretend to step in mud.)

         We’re going on a treasure hunt…

         Look over there.

         It’s a mountain…(Pretend to climb a mountain.)

         Look over there.

         It’s a jungle…(Pretend to go through vines and weeds.)

         Look over there.

         It’s a cave.

         It’s dark in here.

         Get out your flashlight.  (Pretend to click it on and look around.)

         There’s the treasure.

         Oooooooooooo!  (Pretend to open the treasure box.)

Follow up by asking the children where you went first, next, then, last.

Language Experience Chart – Write “What would you do if you found a treasure?” at the top of the chart.  Let each child dictate what they would do with a treasure.

Treasures Boxes – Provide children with art materials to create their own treasure boxes.

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY - SEPTEMBER 19

Arrgghh!  Yep!  There’s actually a “Talk Like a Pirate” day and it is officially September 19.  It’s not until next week, but I wanted to share a few ideas with you early so you could include them in your lesson plans.  (You’ll even notice that I integrated some Common Core Standards!)

Pirate Read – Reread poems and big books by talking out of the side of your mouth like a pirate.

Pirate Cheer – Put one hand over your eye to make a patch as you say, “Arrgh!  Way to go, matie!” out of the side of your mouth.

Parrot Cheer – Put your hands in your armpits to make wings and then flap them as you squawk, “You did a good job!  You did a good job!”

Pirate Maps – Cut the bottom off lunch bags and then cut down one side and you’ll have a big rectangle.  Children can draw a treasure map with markers or crayons.  Squash up the paper and roll it around in your hands to give it a vintage look.
*Older children could write stories about their treasure hunt on the back of the map.  Younger children could dictate a story.

Mustache – Cut mustaches out of construction paper and tape them under your nose.   (This would just be optional, but what little kid wouldn’t want a mustache?)

Eye Patch – Cut an oblong shape out of construction paper, fold it in half, and glue it over a 30 piece of string. 

Hunting for Coins – Write letters of the alphabet on poker chips with a permanent marker.  (You can buy poker chips at most dollar stores.)  Hide these on the playground or in the classroom.  When children find the coins they can name the letter or think of a word that starts with that sound.

(You could also write numerals or words on the poker chips.)

Sharing the Booty - Cut pirate chests out of construction paper and write numerals on them.  Let children use the poker chips to make appropriate sets.

Walk the Plank – Children can practice balancing by walking forwards and backwards on the plank.  (To make a plank put a piece of masking tape on the floor or draw a plank outside on the sidewalk with chalk.)

Pirate Snack – How about some fish crackers in an ice cream cone?  After they eat the crackers they can eat the cone.

Do I love my job or what?  Arrgghh, matie!