WHERE IS DR. JEAN?

Where is Dr. Jean?
Where is Dr. Jean?
Here I am!
Here I am!
And here is where that I will be -
Hope that you'll come and see me
Look and see -
Where I'll be.


Las Vegas , NV. January 31, 2017
Salt Lake City, UT February 2nd, 2017
College Park, GA February 15, 2017
Omaha, NE March 1, 2017
Cincinnati, OH March 13,20147
Murfreesboro, TN April 18, 2017
Aloca/Knoxville, TN April 19, 2017
Grand Rapids, MI April 25, 2017

Go to sde.com for details and to register.

One of the best things about doing workshops is learning new ideas from other teachers. Last week when I was in Pleasanton, TX, Nadine Barrow shared this idea. She posts words and environmental print on the inside of her door. Students have to read two of the words before exiting the classroom. Perfect for print knowledge/environmental print!!!

                   

VOCABULARY PARADE

This is a perfect way to integrate vocabulary and give your students something to look forward to this week. On Monday explain that you will have a “vocabulary parade” on Friday. They will each need to think of a special word that describes them. (You can call these “Fancy Nancy” words or ask them to get their parents to help them think of a big, new word!)

Encourage them to come up with their word by Thursday, and then use their word as a writing activity. Have them write their word, the definition, use it in a sentence, and then illustrate it.

On Friday give them a long strip of paper or a sentence strip. After writing their word they get to decorate it with markers, glitter, etc. Pin the words on them and let them parade around the room to music. One at a time children pretend they are on the “runway” and model their words. As they model they tell their classmates their word, the definition, and why they chose it.
                                 
Holiday Words
This is another great way to extend vocabulary. (K.J.’s third grade teacher Mr. D used this strategy and it was amazing how K.J. connected with the words.) Each day announce what holiday it is and tie in a vocabulary word with the holiday. (There are several websites where you can find random holidays for each day.) For example, on “National Milkshake Day” you could teach the word “savor” or “scrumptious.”

We’re Great! (Just for Fun CD)
We’re great, but no one knows it.
No one knows it so far.
Some day they’ll realize how wonderful we are!
They’ll look at us, and point at us, and then they’ll shout, “Hurray!”
Let’s cheer how we’re wonderful beginning with A.
A- We’re awesome.
B- We’re brave.
C- We’re creative.
D- We’re dynamic
E- We’re enthusiastic
F- We’re fantastic.
G- We’re gifted
H- We’re honest
I- We’re imaginative
J- We’re joyful.
K- We’re kind.
L- We’re lovable
M- We’re magnificent.
N- We’re nice.
O- We’re outgoing
P- We’re polite.
Q- We’re quick.
R- We’re responsible
S- We’re special.
T- We’re terrific.
U- We’re unique.
V- We’re valuable.
W- We’re wonderful.
X- We’re excellent.
Y- We’re youthful
Z- We’re zany!
                   
*Give each child a letter to illustrate.  Put their pictures together to make a class book.

Hint!  One teacher said her class sang this song for their end of the year program.  Each child held up a letter and said the word.

ONE "PLAYFUL" LITTLE THING

                                     

I am so excited to share this “little” idea with you! Several weeks ago a facebook friend mentioned GLOBAL SCHOOL PLAY DAY (http://www.globalschoolplayday.com). How had I not heard about it before? Oh, what a day this would be in your school! Almost as good as a global birthday! Let’s give children a break from “rigor” and “instructional time” and give them the opportunity to do what is becoming a lost art – PLAY!  

One of my favorite quotes from the Little Prince is: “All grown-ups were once children, but very few of them remember it.” Oh, for a day to just let children PLAY and be children!

Can’t we give them one day – just ONE day – that will give them a happy memory about school?

How do you make this happen? Personally, I would get my families and parent organizations involved. Administrators might listen to them more than to you or me.

Note!  Even if your school won't do it for a full day, couldn't they at least let the kids play the last hour of the day?

Here are some other tips I learned from the globalschoolplayday.com website:

1. EDUCATE Remind parents and administrators about the benefits of play. (There are some good videos on the GSPD website.)

2. GET SOCIAL Use social media to encourage other schools to get involved. #GSPD2017.

3. CALL FOR TOYS Tell your students they can bring anything they want to school to play with on February 1st. (No electronic devices or toys with batteries!)

4. PLAY! NO SCREENS - NO STRUCTURE - ALL DAY LONG – INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
     Don't organize
     Don't tell them how to play
     Don't interfere

5. SHARE AND REFLECT Share pictures, ideas, and reflections after the event. Encourage students to talk to their parents about the day and continue to PLAY at home.

                                        

Come on everybody!  Let's all PLAY on February 1st!

PARTICIPATION STORIES

Young children love to get up in front of the classmates and “perform.” Here’s a story you can tell multiple times so everyone in the room can have a turn.

THE GREAT, BIG, ENORMOUS TURNIP

Directions: Select children to play the different characters in the story. You will need: grandpa, grandma, granddaughter, dog, cat, mouse.  Have them act the story out as you read it. The remainder of the class can join in on the chorus.
                                       
Once there was a grandpa who planted a wonderful vegetable garden. He grew corn, beans, peas, tomatoes, carrots, and many, many vegetables. But his prize plant was his turnips. He grew the biggest turnips in the whole county!

One fine summer morning he decided to pull up one of those turnips for dinner. So he looked around until he found a great, big, enormous turnips. He grabbed on to the stem and…

CHORUS: 

     He pulled and pulled left. (Pretend to pull left.)
     He pulled and pulled right. (Pretend to pull right.)
     He pulled and pulled (Pull from the front.)
     With strength and might,
     But he couldn’t pull up the turnip.(Shake head.)

So grandpa went and got grandma. Grandpa pulled the turnip, grandma pulled grandpa and….CHORUS (Adapt to “They pulled…”)

So grandma went and got the granddaughter. Grandpa pulled the turnip, grandma pulled grandpa, the granddaughter pulled grandma and…CHORUS.

So the granddaughter went and got the dog. Grandpa pulled the turnip, grandma pulled grandpa, the granddaughter pulled grandma, the dog pulled the granddaughter and…CHORUS.

So the dog went and got the cat. Grandpa pulled the turnip, grandma pulled grandpa, the granddaughter pulled grandma, the dog pulled the granddaughter, the cat pulled the dog and…CHORUS.

Just then a little mouse happened to walk by. “What ya’ doin’?” asked the mouse. “We’re trying to pull up this great, big, enormous turnip,” they all said. “Can I help you?” asked the mouse. “Oh, you’re too small,” they all replied. “Well, let me try. I think I can help you do it,” said the mouse.

So grandpa pulled the turnip, grandma pulled grandpa, the granddaughter pulled grandma, the dog pulled the granddaughter, the cat pulled the dog, the mouse pulled the cat and…

They pulled and pulled left.
They pulled and pulled right.
They pulled and pulled
With strength and might,
And POP!
Up came the turnip.

And the little mouse said, “I told you so!”

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljTGNGd1c1S1hwaVU/view?usp=sharing

THE WIGGLE FAMILY

Directions: Assign children to be the different characters below. (Two or three children can be each character.) Instruct them to stand up, wiggle, and then sit back down whenever their name is mentioned in the story.

Mama      Sister      Baby      Cat      Grandma
Papa       Brother    Dog       GrandpaHint! When telling the story, pause slightly after saying each character's name. You’ll have to do this story multiple times before they “catch on.”

One day Mama Wiggle said, "It’s such a beautiful day. Why don't we all get in the van and go to Grandma and Grandpa Wiggle's house. We’ll take a picnic lunch and have a great time!" Papa got the van ready while Sister packed a picnic lunch. Mother got the baby, and Brother got the cat and dog. Soon Mother, Father, and Baby were in the front of the van, and Sister and Brother, the cat and the dog were in the back of the van and they were on their way to Grandma and Grandpa Wiggle’s house.

"Oh, no," said Sister, "I forgot the picnic lunch!"

So Mama told Papa to stop the van. They turned around and drove back to their house to get the picnic lunch. Sister ran back to the house while the others sat in the van. Just then the dog started barking and scared the cat who jumped out of the van. Brother had to chase the cat and bring her back to the van. The Baby got so upset, he just cried and cried. Finally, Mama, Papa, Sister, Brother, Baby, the dog, and cat were all back in the van and were on their way to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

When they arrived at Grandma and Grandpa’s house everyone was so happy! The cat and dog jumped out of the van first, followed by Brother and Sister. Mother, Father, and Baby got out of the van last.

They spread a blanket under a large tree and put out the picnic lunch. And, oh, what a feast it was! They had sandwiches, and fried chicken, and cupcakes and fruit. After lunch Grandpa, Grandma, Mother, Father, and the Baby fell asleep and took a nap. Brother and Sister chased the cat and dog around and played hide and go seek.

It started to get dark, so Grandpa and Grandma gave Mother, Father, Baby, Sister and Brother a big hug good-bye. They all hopped in the van with the cat and the dog and set off towards their home.

What a special day it had been!
                                  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljTGNGd1c1S1hwaVU/view?usp=sharing

CUT AND TELL STORIES

I usually save this story for springtime or a unit on birds, but the children will enjoy it any time of year.
                                  
BABY BIRD
Materials: construction paper, scissors, marker

Directions: Begin this story with a sheet of paper, scissors, and marker in your lap. Follow the directions as you tell the story. (You can either cut the paper or tear it.)

It was springtime and mother and father bird decided to build a nest. Who can tell me some of the things they might have used to make their nest?
(Fold the paper in half and cut accordingly.)
Mother bird sat on the nest and laid a beautiful egg.
(Open the nest to reveal the egg shape.)
Now, mother bird could not leave the egg. She had to sit on it and keep it warm and safe. Even when it rained and the wind blew hard, mother bird had to sit there and protect her egg. Fortunately, two little bugs who lived in the tree made friends with mother bird and  kept her company. This is one little bug. His name was _____.
(Use a child’s name in the class.)
(Draw a little dot for the bug.)
This is the other little bug. Her name was _____,
(Use another child’s name in the class.)
(Draw another little dot on the opposite side.)
One day as mother bird was sitting on the egg, she heard a little cracking sound. She looked down and saw a little crack in her egg.
(Cut a little slit on the fold slanted toward the eyes.)
Then she heard a great, big cracking sound.
(Cut around the eye and slit as shown stopping before you get to the end of the egg.)
And guess what mother bird saw coming out of the big crack in her egg? She saw her baby bird!
(Open the egg and bend up the beak as shown.)
      
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljOGhrSnJKWVVfekU/view?usp=sharing

Hint! You can also cut this story out of a paper plate.

A HEART FOR YOU
Materials:  red construction paper and scissors

Child’s name wanted to make some special valentines for her friends. So she got some red paper and folded it in half and tired to cut out a heart.
(Let the scraps fall to the ground.)

She opened it up and didn’t like the way it looked so she tried to trim it down a little bit. (Again, let the scraps fall to the ground as you cut out a smaller heart.)

“No, that’s not quite right,” she said. “Let me try again.”

Continue cutting smaller and smaller hearts until there’s only a tiny heart left. “Oh, dear, what can I do now?” Then she looked down on the floor and one by one picked up her scraps. “Oh, goodie! Now I have enough hearts for all my friends!”
                                    

RAINHAT STORY
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljM1VPUU1RLXh2X2s/view?usp=sharing
`

                                    
Note! This paper folding activity can also be found in the book Curious George Takes a Job.

TELL AND DRAW STORIES

I’ve been telling this story for over four decades, and it never fails to capture children’s attention. You can draw it on a white board, poster, or a sheet of paper. Of course, the children will say, “Do it again!”
                                            
One day my dog Bingo disappeared. I went to the park to see if I could find him.

When I got there I accidentally stepped on a pile of bumblebees. They came out and swarmed all around me.

I wanted to get away from them so I jumped in a pond of water. But they were still there.

I ran to the top of a hill.

When I got to the top of the hill I saw two doors with two doorknobs. I knocked on the doors, but nobody was there.

I ran down one side of the hill.

And then I ran down the other side of the hill.

Has anybody seen my dog?
          https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jlja1pwNjBaOUpBeGc/view?usp=sharing

Hint! Use your dog’s name in the story.
*Children will love this story so much they will want to learn to retell it and draw a dog.
*This is the perfect time to sing about the farmer’s dog.

Here Kitty, Kitty
This isn’t quite as cute as “Bingo,” but it’s worth a “tell.”  (Yeah, I know it's a weird looking cat, but the children don't seem to mind.)
                                 
Here is Timmy’s house. It’s made with the letter T.

It has two rooms.

Each room has a chimney and a window.

Growing outside the door is tall grass.

Here’s his friend Suzie’s house. It’s made with the letter S.

One day Timmy went to Suzie’s house to borrow some milk.

Suzie took Timmy down in the basement to get the milk.

They slipped and spilled the milk, so they went back down in the basement and got more.

Timmy took a shortcut home. He went down one valley and up a hill.

Then he went down another valley and up another hill.

He gave the milk to his special pet when he got home.

Can you guess what it was?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljcTdGR0EzeDhCV00/view?usp=sharing

FILE FOLDER STORIES

I love these file folder stories. They are easy to make and can be used year after year. Scat the Cat is probably my all time favorite, and it’s a great way to reinforce rhymes, sequence, and self-esteem.

SCAT THE CAT
Materials: file folder, scissors, construction paper (2 black, 1 blue, 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green)
                                  
Directions: Use the cat pattern to cut a cat shape from the front of the file folder. Cut construction paper into 8” x 10” rectangles and insert inside the file folder in this order: black, blue, red, yellow, green, black. Tape the sides of the file folder and decorate the front with markers if you desire.

Hint! Glue the words of the story below to the back of the file folder to help you tell it.

Once there was a little black cat. (Hold up the file folder showing the black cat.) He was a magic cat because he could change his colors (snap fingers) just like that. All he had to say was:
CHORUS: 

     I’m Scat the Cat. (Children join in on the chorus.)
     I’m sassy and fat.
     And I can change my colors
     Just like that! (Snap fingers.)
      
One day Scat decided he was tired of being black. He wanted to be a new color so he said: CHORUS. (Remove the black sheet of paper to make the cat blue.) And he changed blue! Scat went down to the pond to look at himself in the water. Unfortunately, he fell in and he couldn’t swim. Timmy Turtle came along and helped Scat get back on shore.

Scat decided he didn’t want to be blue any more, so he said: CHORUS. (Remove the blue sheet of paper to make the cat red.) And he changed red. He went walking down the street and everybody started laughing at him. “Whoever heard of a red cat!” they said.

Scat decided he didn’t want to be red any more, so he said: CHORUS. (Remove the red sheet of paper to make the cat yellow.) And he changed yellow. Scat went walking in the woods and who did he run into but his cousin Leo the lion. “Grrrrrr!” roared Leo. “I’m the only cat who can be yellow.”

Scat decided he better not be yellow any more and he quickly said: CHORUS. (Remove the yellow sheet of paper to make the cat green.) Scat wanted to play with his brothers and sisters in the grass. He tried to play with them, but he was green like the grass and they couldn’t see him.

Scat decided he didn’t want to be blue, or red, or yellow, or green, so he said: CHORUS. (Remove the green sheet of paper to make the cat black.) Scat knew that being himself was the best thing to be. And do you know what? Being yourself is the best thing you can be, too. Because there’s nobody else exactly like you. And I like you just the way you are!

*Encourage the children to identify the rhyming words in the story.
*Have children discuss what makes them unique and special.
*Review the sequence of the story.  Make a story bracelet by adding colored beads to the pipe cleaner as the children retell the story.
                 
*Make felt cats and place in storytelling center with a flannel board so children can practice telling the story.
                                            

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljUHg3eU1ZZkxGQ2c/view?usp=sharing



LETTER MONSTER
This story is similar to “Scat the Cat” using alphabet letters. Trace around the monster pattern on the front of the file folder and cut it out. Write the alphabet letters in bold on paper. Place inside the file folder. Glue the story to the back of the folder. Remove one sheet of paper at a time as you tell the story.
                                  
Note! You know how I milk something for all it’s worth, so you’ll also find words for Number Monster and Word Monster.

Letter Monster wanted to read.
He thought if he ate letters, it was all he would need!
            
On Monday he ate A B C D E F.
Then he closed his eyes to get some sleep, but the pointy part of the “A”
kept poking his tummy and he couldn’t sleep a wink all night long.

On Tuesday he chomped G H I J K .
Then he closed his eyes to get some sleep, but “H” and “I” got together and made a word and he couldn’t sleep a wink all night long. “Hi! Hi! Hi!”

On Wednesday he nibbled on L M N O P.
Then he closed his eyes to get some sleep, but “O” kept rolling back and
forth in his tummy and he couldn’t sleep a wink all night long.

On Thursday he feasted on Q R S T U V.
Then he closed his eyes to get some sleep, but “S” kept playing snake
and going “SSSSSS” in his tummy, and he couldn’t sleep a wink all night long.

On Friday he swallowed W X Y Z.
Then he closed his eyes to get some sleep and he dreamed sweet “zzzzz’s” all night long.

Sweet dreams letter monster!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljQXh1T2hpTXI4LXc/view?usp=sharing

Number Monster
Number monster wanted to count
So he could always know the amount.
On Monday he ate one, two, three, four.
But he wanted to count some more.
Tuesday he ate five, six, seven, eight.
Learning to count is really great.
Wednesday he feasted on nine and ten.
He could hardly wait to eat again.
Thursday eleven, twelve, thirteen went down.
Then he took a walk into town.
Friday there were fourteen, fifteen, sixteen.
Those were the largest numbers he’d seen.
Saturday seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen went in his tummy.
Oh, those numbers are so yummy!
Sunday twenty was all he could do.
He said, “I’m stuffed with numbers, it’s true!”

The Word Monster  (Adaptation by Mary Richards)
The Word Monster wanted to read.
He thought if he ate words, it was all he would need!
On Monday he ate will.
“Mmmm…but I am hungry still.”
On Tuesday he chomped who.
“I like eating words, I do, I do!”
On Wednesday he nibbled on play.
“More words, more words is what I say!”
On Thursday he feasted on friend.
“I hope these yummy words never end!”
On Friday he gobbled make.
“I’m almost finished with what I can take.”
On Saturday he swallowed night.
“These words are so good, give me one more bite!”
On Sunday he slowly ate said.
Then he fell asleep in his warm cozy bed.
Now, Word Monster has all he needs.
Let’s see if you can help him read.

Word Monster’s Game - Write random words to be displayed in his tummy. Say this rhyme to play the game:
“Now let’s play Word Monster’s game.
How many words can you name?”