NUMBER RHYME

After seeing our “Letter Limericks” someone emailed to see if we had something similar for helping children learn to write numerals.  This song can be sung to “Skip to My Lou,” or you can find the arrangements on my CD SING TO LEARN.

The Numeral Song

Come right down and that is all.  (Use index finger and middle finger

Come right down and that is all.     to do “invisible” writing in the air.)

Come right down and that is all

To make the numeral one.  (Hold up 1 finger.)

2 – Curve around and slide to the right…

3 – Curve in and around again…

4 – Down, over, down some more…

5 – Down, around, put on a hat…

6 – Curve in and around again…

7 – Slide to the right and slant it down…

8 – Make an “s” then close the gate…

9 – Circle around then come right down…

10 – Come right down, then make a zero…

We can sing the “Numeral Song”…

And make numerals all day long!

*Print large numerals on paper and insert in clear pocket folders.  Children can roll play dough or Wikki sticks and put it on top of the numerals.  They could also make sets out of the play dough to match the numerals.

*Use a water soluble marker to make dots of numerals.  Make the first dot green, the last dot red, and the dots in between yellow.  Put drops of glue on top of the dots.  Dry.  Children can take their finger and trace over the dots as they repeat the song.

"WORD FAMILIES" VIDEO

Chris Baker from LA has created this awesome video to go with the song. What a great teaching tool!  Thanks for sharing, Chris!

http://youtu.be/_Z753SITeq0

Word Families (Tune:  “BINGO”)

There’s a word family you should know

And “at” is its name-o.

M – a – t, mat

H – a – t, hat

C – a – t, cat

They end in “at” you know.

Fun Run Sun

Pet Jet Set

Hop Top Pop

Sit Fit Wit

Day Say Way

Cut Hut Nut

Look Cook Book

Fill Hill Will

*Make a book in the shape of a house and put a different verse on each page.

*Let children make flip books for onsets and rimes.

PART II CCSS WRITING, SPEAKING, LISTENING, LANGUAGE

Hooray!

My monthly activities for September are now up!  This has been a task of love for you from my wonderful webmaster Alex May and me!   You’ll find simple and practical activities for Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language.  Here are a few examples:

Writer’s Chant - Children repeat each line to this chant as you open your arms wide and clap while stepping from side to side.

Chorus:

Who knows the writing process?

I know the writing process.

First step.  (Hold up one finger.)

Brainstorm.  (Hands on the side of your head and shake down.)

Chorus

Second step…(Hold up 2 fingers.)

Write it down…(Pretend to write with index finger on palm.)

Chorus

Third step…(Hold up 3 fingers.)

Edit your work…(Shake finger.)

Chorus

Fourth step…(Hold up 4 fingers.)

Publish your work…(Brush hands together.)

Oh, yeah!  (Hands on hips with an attitude.)

  

Mystery Backpack – Purchase a backpack, or simply find an old one in lost and found and use it for this activity.  Put a direction card in the backpack that says, “Today your child is bringing home the mystery backpack.  Please help your child find one object that is special to her to put in the bag.  Write three clues about the object on the enclosed card.  Tomorrow we’ll read the clues to the class and see if they can guess what is in the backpack.”  The next day read the clues, and then encourage the children to ask questions about the contents of the backpack.  The anticipation will build until they “solve” the mystery.  This activity gives children a turn to feel special, and it encourages thinking skills and language development.

Questions and Statements - You will need two lunch sacks and a variety of small classroom objects for this activity.  Draw a question mark and write “Question” on one bag.  Draw a period and write “Statement” on the other bag.  Fill each bag with several objects.  Children take turns drawing an item from the bag.  If they chose the question bag, they must make up a question about the item.  If they choose the statement bag, then they make up a statement about their item.

OH, CANADA!

Oh, I fell in love last week!  I fell in love with Kelowna, British Columbia, and all the warm and enthusiastic teachers there!  Kelowna is one of the most beautiful places on this earth.  It’s nestled between the mountains on Okanagan Lake and is known for it’s orchards, vineyards, and amazing weather.  Look at these fantastic “souvenirs” I collected just for YOU!

The Booboo Whisperer  (Kim Brodie)

When a child comes to Kim in tears with a booboo, she sits them down and says, “Lemme have a chat with your booboo.”  She holds their arm or leg and pretends to have a conversation with the hurt spot.  “Now, listen here.  You need to stop hurting my friend ____.  Stop it now!”  It always calms the child and gets her to smile while the others gather around and show empathy. 

Scissor Wizards (Sandy Spoon)

Buy cheap drinking straws and let the children use these to practice cutting.  They make a “snapping” sound that the children love when they cut.  Keep the straws in a tub and they can cut and recut until they are tiny pieces that can be used for stringing on plastic lacing.

Separation Anxiety (Sandy Spoon)

Make a chart with 6-8 circles on it and hang it on the wall.  Cut out the same number of shapes – happy faces, hearts, leaves, etc.  Use a travel alarm clock and set it to go off 1 hour later.  Hide it in the room.  When it goes off, the children have to find it and then match one of the shapes on the chart.  Repeat until the end of the day.  It will help children understand the passage of time and they know they’ll see their mom or dad when the last one goes off.

Hint!  Set the last one to go off after the parents arrive to allow for a margin of tardiness on the parent’s part.

Quote

Use it up.

Wear it out.

Make it do

Or do without!

*Great advice for all of us!

Down in the Jungle  (Tune:  “Down in the Meadow by the Itty Bitty Pool”)

Down in the jungle where nobody goes

Lived a mother gorilla washing her clothes.

Wash-a washa here.

Wash-a washa there.

That’s the way she washes clothes.

High five

Wooby wooby wooby.

High five

Wooby wooby wooby.

High five

wooby wooby wooby.

That’s the way she washes clothes.

*Repeat with the father gorilla, baby, or other animals.

I’m Done Jar (Deb Rocco)

Put pictures of activities that children can do if they finish their work  (puzzle, etch-a-sketch, easel) on sticks.  Place these in a jar that says “I’m Done.”  When children finish their work they can choose a stick and do that activity.

Mind Break Jar (Deb Rocco)

Write ideas for brain breaks on popsicle sticks and place them in a jar that says “Mind Jar.”  (Switch seats, sing a song, do an exercise, etc.)

Mini Smartboards (Deb Rocco)

Use small etch-a-sketches and call them “mini smartboards.”

O “Fishally”  (Deb Rocco)

Prepare a small bag of Goldfish crackers for each student with a note that says, “You are O ‘Fishally’ in kindergarten!”

Caught You Being Good (Deb Rocco)

Write the names of students who have good behavior on small pieces of paper and place them in a special container.  At the end of the month draw a name for a special prize.

Bumspell  (Jessica Bailey)

Divide the students into two teams facing each other.  Explain the activity by telling them that they will be writing their names with their bums (aka bottoms).  Demonstrate how to do that by slowly spelling your own name with your bum.  Then show them what it looks like when you do it fast.  Tell them that they will be competing with each other to see which team can bum spell the fastest.  Each child will spell their name and then gently hip bump the next child in line.  That child then bum spells her name and hip bumps the next child.  This continues until the last child in the line has finished spelling their name.

*Hint!  You can use spelling words, word wall words, or other words for this game.

Read the Room 3D Style  (Charmaine Brade Nixon)

Collect 3D glasses from 3D movies.  Collect “magic wands,” such as pointers, rulers, novelty pencils, etc.  When students finish their assigned work they choose a magic wand and a pair of 3D glasses and walk around the room identifying letters, reading words, making sounds, finding shapes, etc.  They believe the 3D glasses help them become magic readers!!

Bottle Lid Name Puzzles (Karen Bernath)

Print the letters of a child’s name on plastic milk bottle lids to create a name puzzle.  Store the lids in a bag with a label with the child’s photo.

4 Green Jelly Beans (Karen Bernath)

1 green jelly bean           (Hold up 1 finger.)

Down in my bell bean       (Pat tummy.)

Giving me a tummy ache

What am I going to take?  (Open palms.)

All my friends are telling me   (Point finger.)

They’ve got a remedy.

Don’t eat the green ones    (Shake head.)

And jump up and down.      (Jump up and down.)

2 green jelly beans…

Don’t eat the green ones

And rub your tummy, jump up and down.  (Pat tummy and jump around.)

3 green jelly beans…

Don’t eat the green ones

And pat your head, rub your tummy, jump up and down.

4 green jelly beans…

Don’t eat the green ones

And kick your leg, pat your head, rub your tummy, and jump up and down!

Alphabet Scramble (Rhonda Middleton)

Put a set of flash cards with letters scrambled up in a pocket chart.  Tell the children you’re going to sing the alphabet and sing it with the letters scrambled.  For example:  “J, T, Q, E…”  The children will begin shouting, “A – It begins with A.”  Explain that “someone has messed up my alphabet.  Who can help me fix it?”  Call on a child to help find the A and place it in the chart.  Begin singing the song again, “A, J, T, Q…”  The children will get excited and start singing the song the correct way.  At that point take out all the letters and hand one to each child.  Sing again and let each child come up when their letter is sung. 

Crumple Balls (Linda)

Take a piece of recycled paper and write or draw something on it.  It could be a letter, color, word, shape, number, math fact, question, etc.  Children crumple their paper into a ball.  On the count of three, they throw the ball into a circle or around the room.  Each child picks up a crumpled ball and answers the question, gives a word that starts with that letter, etc.

*You can repeat the activity with the same “balls” because they’ll usually pick up a different question.

I Don’t Know 

Here’s a tip for getting a response from a child who is hesitant or typically replies, “I don’t know.”  Just say, “Well, if you did know what would you say?”  Nine out of ten times they will give you an answer.

Picture Cues 

Teach letter sounds with picture cues.  Start with pictures (for the helper of the day).  You might have a cat, ant, snake, sun, ice cream cone, and elephant.  Put a blank under each picture.  Children sound out the helper to be “Cassie.” 

*Make crossword puzzles using the helper’s name and word wall words.

Rock Solid Readers  (Cathy Richardson & Jeanette Wannop)

Children earn a polished rock (from the dollar store) for every 15 books that they read.  Young children love to collect things and you could get a “class granny” to sew little bags for collecting or purchase small bags at the dollar store.

Good-bye Handshake or Hug  (Cathy Richardson & Jeanette Wannop)

Children give the teacher a handshake or hug before they leave at the end of the day.

Standing “O”vation  (Cathy Richardson & Jeanette Wannop)

Everyone stands up and makes an “O” with their arms as they sing “ooooooo.”  This is a great way to recognize something exciting or someone’s success.

Christmas Gift (Deb Lacarte)

You will need a clear plastic glass and a Christmas ball.  Fill the glass half full with candy or small toys.  Paint the student’s name on the ball with glitter glue or fabric paint.  Put the ball on top of the candies and wrap in colored cellophane.  Attach a candy cane and to/from sticker.

*Students will come up years later and say they still put the decoration on their tree every year.

Snowman  (Cindy Garnham)

Build a snowman at circle time during those long winter months with this activity.  You will need to cut 3 circles (small, medium, large) out of white felt.  Make hats, scarves, and other items to decorate the snowman out of colored felt scraps.  Begin by singing this song to the tune of “Up on the Housetop.”

Can you guild a snowman 1, 2, 3.

A lovely little snowman, 1, 2, 3.

What does your snowman need?

Children take turns helping to dress the snowman.

Thanks for sharing these great ideas!

LETTER LIMERICKS

Letter Limericks – I know many of you are working on letter writing this time of year, so I thought Dr. Holly's “Letter Limericks” might be just the rhyme you need to put it in children's brains.

The first is a letter called A

With straight lines in every way.

Two lines point up top,

To the bottom they drop,

And another crosses the way.

The second letter is B

For baseball, baby, and beach.

Straight line down the side,

Two humps on the right—

It looks like a fat bumble bee!

After B comes C:

Cookies, celery, and cheese!

Like a smile big and wide

Turned on its side

It’s easy to make C, you see!

  

D is a letter that’s plump

Like a tummy with one round hump.

A long line straight down,

Then go out and around

For dig, dive, dip and dump!

After D comes E.

It’s shaped like a comb with three teeth.

One line down the side,

Three more to the right

For echoes, ears, eyeballs and eat!

F is the next letter to name.

It can bring with it fortune and fame.

Like E in design

Without the bottom line

But it gets along fine all the same!

After F comes G

Which is curvy and round just like C.

When you reach the end stop,

Put a straight line across

And your G will giggle with glee!

H is a letter with pride.

It has two long straight lines side by side

Then hip, hop, and higgle

Put another ‘cross the middle

And your H will have nothing to hide!

I comes after that,

Eating ice cream, and yet it’s not fat.

One line stretches down,

One lies on the ground

And one goes on top—a flat hat!

Now jump, joke, and juggle— it’s J

With lines both curvy and straight.

The curve starts up top

Then like a hook drops

And the straight line juts over the way!

The letter K has quite a kick

With a spine as straight as a stick.

From the middle about

Two arms reach out

For kangaroos, kindness, and kids!

After K comes L

It’s a letter with lots to tell.

One line heads straight down,

One sticks out on the ground

Like a chair with no legs—how swell!

M is a letter with size,

Like two mountains side by side.

Two straight lines on the end

Two others point in

Making moms, milk, and messes—oh, my!

N is like M only thinner.

It didn’t eat quite as much dinner—

For Nick and Noelle

Two lines parallel

And a diagonal one ‘cross the center.

O is entirely round—

Not a single straight line to be found.

Like a wide open mouth

Saying oops! oh! or ouch!

It makes oceans and oranges abound!

The next of the letters is P

For people and peanuts and please.

Let one straight line prop

With a loop on the top

And you’ll make lots of pumpkins and peas!

Q comes next without fail

With quarters, quick questions, and quails:

First a circle that’s fat

Then like the back of a cat

A straight line sticks out like a tail.

R is ever so clever.

It’s P and K blended together:

The top hoops about

The bottom leg kicks out—

For running and reading there’s no better!

S is a letter with style

For summer, sunshine, and smiles.

Go up and around

Then back around down

Like a snake that slithers for miles!

T is terrific and true

Standing tall as all towers do.

One straight line sits over,

The other points lower

For tigers, trees, and tickles too!

U comes right after T.

It also comes just before V—

An upside down hump

A straight line it bumps:

Unicorn, universe, unique!

V is very healthy—it’s true!

With vitamins and vegetables for you:

Two straight lines point down

And meet at the ground

For vacations and violins, too!

W is just like 2 Vs

Stuck together—like twins, you see.

With why, when, and where?

And who will be there?

W makes words work with ease!

X is the letter that’s next.

Not many words start with an X

But X marks the spot

With two straight lines that cross—

X is never quite what you expect!

The next-to-last letter is Y

For years and yes, give it a try!

Like a small V that sits

On top of a stick

Reaching for the yellow sun in the sky!

Z comes last for a reason

Bringing zeal, zap, and zest to all seasons.

One straight line slants down

Then at foot and at crown

Two other lines zip—very pleasing!

  

Invisible Writing – Practice writing letters in the air with your index finger.  Don’t forget to erase when you’re finished!

Tummy Writing – Have children lay on their tummies and extend their finger above their head.  They can practice making lines, circles, shapes, and letters.

Body Writing – How many different body parts can you use to write letters?  Try elbows, noses, toes, or chins.  You can also write on each other’s backs.

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Several months ago I reported on a book called BRAIN RULES.  John Medina wrote a second book called BRAIN RULES FOR BABIES.  The title is a little misleading because the book is full of words of wisdom for all children.

One chapter that was particularly interesting was on “The Secret of Happiness.”  Research continues to confirm that satisfying relationships with other people is the key to happiness.  These are other behaviors that can contribute to your happiness:

*doing altruistic acts (Teachers do this ALL day long!)

*making lists of things for which you are grateful (You could do this as a writing activity each morning with your class.)

*work on expressing an “attitude of gratitude”

*practice using a “forgiveness reflex” when you are slighted  (Turn the other cheek and don’t hold a grudge.)

I love quotes and this is one of my favorites:

         We can’t adjust the wind, but we can adjust our sails!

I realize that some of you are in challenging schools - some of you have difficult colleagues - some of you have demanding parents - some of you have curriculums that are boring – it’s life!  Don’t let them take away your joy!  Choose to be happier this year and to make it a happier experience for your students! 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

If you are a college football fan like we are, this is an exciting time of year.  Football gives us a distraction from the economy, storms, wars, and woes of the world.  It gives us something to cheer for and look forward to each weekend.   Football can also be a “kick off” for teaching some skills in your classroom.

College Goals – It’s never too early to plant seeds of attending college in your students.  Give them a dream and a goal!  One school I visited displayed pennants of the schools where the teachers graduated from in the front hall.  Have the children brainstorm all the colleges and universities in your area.  Talk about why it is important to go to college.  Encourage your students to think about where they would like to go to college.  Give them paper shaped like pennants to decorate with their college dream.

Math – Let children do surveys of favorite college teams.

Graph favorite teams.

Predict who will win the game.  Who was right?  Who was wrong?

Predict what the score will be.  Who was closest?

Let children choose a favorite player and write their number on a jersey.  How many math facts can they think of to equal that number?

Social Studies – Use a map of the United States and locate where games will be played.

Internet Search – Look up team mascots and colors.  Listen to college fight songs.  Do exercises to fight songs.

Team Mascots – Make puppets of team mascots.  Write poems or stories about mascots.

Art – Cut pictures of players out of the newspaper or sports magazines.  Challenge children to write creative stories about favorite players.  They could also write letters to favorite players.

Guest Readers – Invite a local high school football team and cheerleading squad to visit your school to read books.  There’s nothing more motivating to a young child than to see someone in a uniform model how “cool” it is to read!

P.S.  Vanessa from pre-kpages wrote:  "Most districts in my area have "college spirit days" every Wednesday and teachers are encouraged to wear their college t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other gear.  One less day we have to worry about what to wear!"