NOTHING COULD BE FINER THAN TO TEACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA...

Sweet, sweet Carolina!  Love my state and LOVE my teachers!  Here are some super ideas they shared at the SDE Kindergarten Conference in Columbia on March 4^th.

Professor of the Day  (Karen Corontzes)

Have the leader of the day become the “professor.”  The professor leads the reading of the word wall words.

Addition Game  (Stephanie Fowler)

Two children play this game with a deck of cards.  The first child pulls two cards and adds them.  The second child then pulls two cards and adds them.  The child with the greater sum wins.

My Fingers Are Shaking  (Judy Province)

Sing or say this rhyme to release wiggles and help children gain self-control.

My fingers are shaking.         (Shake hands.)

I can’t make them stop.

My fingers are shaking.         (Shake hands.)

I can’t make them stop.

Oh, dear, Mama.                  (Hands on cheeks.)

Help me!  Help me!

My fingers are shaking.         (Shake hands.)

I can’t make them stop.

STOP!                             (Clap hands and put them in your lap.)

*Continue using other body parts.  End with “my whole body is shaking…”

Spelling Transition  (Jessica Lopez)

Call out a sight word like “the.”  Tap one child’s head at a time and they must say the letter that comes next.  Move around the room using other words until everyone has lined up.

Sweep Me Up!   (Sarah Neely)

Buy a mini broom/dust pan set and use googly eyes and markers to add a smiley face to the room.  Ask students to give you two words that rhyme; name a word that starts or ends with a sound; answer an addition problem, etc.  If the student answers correctly, “sweep” them up! (Brush their shoulder with the broom and pretend to put them in the dust pan.)

Music Box Challenge (Mecia Hartis)

You will need a music box for this activity.  Wind it up at the beginning of the morning.  When the class gets too loud, open it until they get quiet.  Do this every time you want their attention during the day.  If there is still music left in the box at the end of the day they get a treat.

Hey, Hey Rap for End of Day  (Emily Johnson)

Hey, hey, what do you say?                  (Clap hands and slap thighs.)

What did you learn at school today?

The helper of the day calls on friends to share what they learned at school.

100% Students Learning (Tabitha Brantly)

To get students’ attention when they are distracted tell them you need 100% students and eyes on the task.

Ask the student not focusing:  Who do I need to learn this task?

Student responds:  100%

SOUVENIRS FROM LITTLE ROCK AND MEMPHIS

When teachers share new ideas with me I get soooo excited!!!  And I can’t wait to put them on my blog so you can have something new to add a little sparkle to your day.  I feel like a parent who goes on a trip and wants to bring home a gift for their children!

Lima Bean Letters (Keta Turner)

Write letters on dry lima beans (vowels red) and add a little ghost face.  Give children several beans and challenge them to make words.  This is also a great activity for word families.

CVC Slide  (Keta Turner)

Children hold letters or wear letter vests as they go down the slide.  They say their letter sound as they go down and then make the word when they get together at the bottom of the slide.

Relax and Read  (Samantha Dawson)

Turn a chair over and the kids can lay down and read to themselves.  (They can even use their backpack as a pillow.)

Keep a Secret  (Melani Todd)

Instead of saying “catch a bubble” or “Shhh” in the hall, simply tell the children to “keep a secret” and cover their mouths.

Theater Reading  (Tamika Kemmons)

Before reading a book, find a hand props you can make with paper or real items.  Laminate these and pass them out to the children so they can play different roles.  For example, in “The Magic Hat” by Mem Fox you could make a wand, have pictures of the animals, make a wizard hat, or make a stop sign.

Zip Bags  (Erin Garrigan)

Use a zip bag as a number line.  Children can slide the tab to add, subtract, etc.

Transition Time  (Melanie Collins)

Play “A,B,C” by the Jackson Five when it’s time to clean up at centers.  The children dance back to their seats after they’ve cleaned up.  They must all be seated before the end of the song.

Teacher:           5,4,3,2, 1

Students:         I was talking; now I’m done.

Gel Baggies  (Debbie Williams)

You will need bags and two different colors of hair gel for this activity.  Fill each bag with a different color of hair gel.  As the teacher calls out vowels or consonants, the children trace them on the bags. 

For example:  consonants (trace on the orange gel)

                    vowels (trace on the blue gel)

Student Office  (Betsy Kolznak)

Easy and durable “offices” can be made by cutting science fair boards in half lengthwise.  (You can buy these boards at Dollar Tree.)  Spray paint bright colors.

Crayon Storage  (Sharon Roberts)

Use travel soap containers to hold crayons and a glue stick.

Braggin’ Rights  (Rhenee Moore and Jodi Spakes)

When children do something special you can tell them they have “braggin’ rights” and let them put their name on a “brag board.”

WACKY WEDNESDAY AND MORE!

Wacky Wednesday Tooty Ta  (Mary Palmer)

During Dr. Seuss Week do “Wacky Tooty Ta” and reverse the motions.

Example:     thumbs down

                  elbows in        

                  feet together

                  knees apart, etc.

Dry Erase Crayons  (Cindy Cook)

Did you know that children could write with dry erase crayons directly on their desk top?  No dry erase board is needed and they can erase with an old sock or dryer sheet.

*WOW!  What a great way to get children to practice writing letters, numerals, spelling words, etc.

Attention Transition  (Jessica Palmer)

Teacher says:       Pizza, pizza!

Children respond:  Yum!  Yum!  (Eyes on you.)

Class Motivation  (Jessica Palmer)

The class earns a star on the board when they are complimented by other teachers/staff.  They can also earn a star when the teacher feels they have been “star” learners.  When they earn ten stars the class gets a reward, such as 15 minutes free time, an extra recess, etc.

Rock, Paper Scissors Math  (Carrie Hollis)

Each child has a die or playing cards.  As they roll the die or turn over a card they can add the numbers, tell who has more/less, etc.

Stick Picks  (Amanda Reiff)

For calling on students fairly, use the Stick Picks app for the iPhone/iPad.

Spelling Helpers  (Angela Wood)

Every morning the helper spells his/her name with magnetic letters.  After identifying the letters and counting them spell the name with body writing.

Tall letters – reach to the sky

Middle letters – hands on hips

Tail letters – touch toes

Who Let the Letters Out?  (Holly Johnson and Patty McAlexander)

Use “Who Let the Letters Out?” to transition children from the carpet to their tables or desks.  When they hear the letter of their first name, last name, etc. they can dance to their seat.  This gives the teacher a minute to get ready for the next activity.

Silly Putty  (Jan Vaughn)

Each child has their own silly putty that they keep in their tool box with pencils, crayons, etc.  (They get one at the beginning of the year and a fresh one in January.)  If there is a visitor or if they finish their work early they can play with their silly putty.

*Make objects that start with a particular letter.

*Make sets, shapes, numbers, etc.

*Reinforce science concepts by making mammals, something that flies, etc.

MEET MY NEW FRIEND!

Saturday I was invited to speak at the Early Childhood Coalition Conference in Lake City, Florida.  Talk about WONDERFUL teachers!!!  The traveling and hotel rooms are NO fun, but I truly LOVE all of the teachers I meet!

Deborah Stewart of teachpreschool.org was a presenter and her website is as awesome as she is!   We bonded immediately because all we both want to do is make your job a little more fun and give children the best start we can!

A few new ideas for the week…

Kinder-Cake  (Keta Turner)

When you do patty cake activities, call it “kinder-cake.”  Don’t you love it?

Hands on Top  (Tangia Dickenson)

When you want the children to stop and listen say:

"Hands on top.         (Put your hands on your head.)

 Everybody stop."    (Children freeze and look at the teacher.)

Hallway Hug (Jodi Spakes)

When children see friends in the hall teach them to do the hallway hug. 

You  (Hold up index finger.)

Me  (Hold up middle finger.)

Hello (Cross middle and index finger and wiggle.)

Brownie Points  (Abby Davis)

Put a pan on the wall.  Cut out “brownies” and add magnetic tape to the back.  When the class gets a compliment from other teachers they get a “brownie point” and get to put a brownie on the pan.  When the pan is full the class gets a brownie party!

Library Song  (Stephany Ward)

Tune:  “Twinkle Little Star”

When you’re in the library (or “hall, you see”)

Quiet is the thing to be.

You must use your inside voice.

Making noise is not a choice.

When you’re in the library,

Quiet is the thing to be.

Sticker Starters  (Karen Day)

Use mailing labels to print directions, math problems, or sorts.  These make great “starters” for journals.

LOOKING FOR A POT OF GOLD?

St. Patrick’s Day is two weeks away and although I don’t have any gold for you, I do have a few “golden” ideas!

St Patrick’s Day!  March 17th

(Tune:  “Sweet Molly Malone”-  Download the book at
                       drjean.org/March, 2007)

On the 17^th of March               (Point heels on opposite feet as if                                  doing a jig.)

About when spring starts                  

The lassies and leprechauns

Come out to play.

We’ll find four-leafed clovers    (Hold up 4 fingers.)

And wear green all over,           (Move hands over clothing.)

And that’s how we’ll celebrate   (Put hand in the air as if cheering.)

St. Patrick’s Day!

The legends of old

Say there’re pots of gold          (Extend arms in a circle.)

A’ sparkling and shining             (Open and close fingers to make sparkles.)

At each rainbow’s end.

The leprechauns know               (Point to brain.)

Right where to go,

So if you see a leprechaun        (Hand over eyes as if searching for

Make him your friend!              a leprechaun.)

On the 17^th of March                       

About when spring starts

The lassies and leprechauns

Come out to play.

We’ll find four-leafed clovers

And wear green all over,

And that’s how we’ll celebrate

St. Patrick’s Day!

Hunting for Gold - Spray paint pebbles or rocks gold.  (Spread out on newspaper.  Spray with gold paint.  Dry.  Shake.  Spray the other side with gold paint.  Dry.  Shake.  Spray a third time.)  Hide the pebbles on the playground before children arrive at school.  Tell the children a leprechaun hid some gold for them.  What fun they will have hunting for the gold nuggets!

Hint!  Need a little bucket for collecting that gold?  Hole punch opposite sides of a plastic cup.  Insert a pipe cleaner handle and you’ve got a perfect “pot of gold.”

What If?  Have children write stories (or draw pictures and dictate) what they would do if they found a pot of gold.

Leprechaun Mischief – While the children are at lunch or on the playground, turn over a few chairs, put books on the floor, and mess up the classroom.  Sprinkle a little green glitter around.  Have the children write stories about what they think happened.

Catch a Leprechaun - Challenge children to design “traps” to catch a leprechaun in the block center.  Give children an empty sack out on the playground and see who can catch a leprechaun.

Green Snack – Eat foods that are green like celery, broccoli, lime jello, snap peas, edamame, etc.  You could also use green food coloring to dye cream cheese, milk, yogurt or other snacks.

Leprechaun Lunch – Purchase miniature peanut butter crackers (Ritz), cookies (Chips Ahoy), and other mini-foods.  Serve these on dessert plates with napkins cut in fourths.  Milk or juice in medicine cups makes this a perfect snack for “wee folks.”

Field Trip - Take a field trip (on the internet) to Ireland.  Find Ireland on the globe.  How could you get there?  Could you go in a car?  Why or why not?

Math Manipulatives – Spread out dry lima beans on a newspaper.  Spray paint one side gold.  Dry.  Flip over and spray paint the other side gold.  These golden nuggets are perfect for making sets, adding, and subtracting.

SINGING THE CCSS!

Take a look at my March, 2013, website post and you’ll get tons of ideas for tying music into Common Core State Standards.  You’ll even find a free download for a song called “In the Woods There Was a Tree.”  It’s a silly narrative song, but one my students always enjoyed.

Narrative songs are songs that tell a story.  The lyrics provide the opportunity for children to recall details and sequence, and they also make great class books!

1^st – Sing the song several times so the children are familiar with it.

2^nd – Who are the characters in the song?  What is the setting?  What happened first?  Next?  Then?  Last?

3^rd -  Ask the children to close their eyes as you sing and make pictures in their brains.

4^th  – Give them paper, crayons, markers, or paint to illustrate a picture from the song.

5^th – Enlarge the words to the song, cut them apart, and glue them to pages where they seem most appropriate.

6^th – Add a page for “Illustrators” where the children can sign their names.  Encourage them to “dedicate” the book and add the publisher (school, class, city, state) and copyright date.  Put their pictures together, add a front and back cover, and bind. 

*Use the book for choral singing.

*Place the book in the listening center.

*Let a different child take the book home each evening to share with their families.

*Put the book in the school library so other classes can check it out.

Standards: 

RL 1, 2, 3

RL 6

RF 4

W 3

SL 1, 2, 5

I was in Little Rock and Memphis this past week, and I’ve got some super duper ideas to share with you.  However, I need to get on the road to a conference in Lake City, Florida, so you’ll have to wait until I get home in a few days.

LET'S GO FLY A KITE!

Five Little Kites

(Download the book at drjean.org/March, 2007)

One, two, three, four, five little kites          (Hold up fingers as you count.)

Flying up in the sky                                     (Fly fingers in the air.)

Said “hi” to the clouds as they passed by,     (Pretend to wave to clouds.)

Said  “hi” to the birds, said “hi” to the sun,  (Wave.)

Said “hi” to the airplanes, oh what fun.        (Wave.)

Then “swish” went the wind,        (Move hand down in a  

And they all took a dive:              swooping motion.)

One, two, three, four, five.         (Hold up fingers

                                                 one at a time and count.)

Paper Plate Kite - Cut the inner section out of a paper plate.  Decorate the rim with markers.  Glue tissue paper streamers to one side.  Punch a hole and tie a piece of string on the other side.  Go outside and run to make your kite fly.

Kite Experiments – Let children make kites out of lunch sacks, plastic bags, and other materials.  Have them predict which one will fly best.  Experiment to see which one is best.  Why did some work better than others?

Kite Tales – Ask each child to write a story about what it would be like to be a kite.  What could you see?  What could you hear?  How would you feel?  What would you do?

Lion or Lamb?  Explain the quote, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”  Every day ask children what kind of day it is, and then let them color a “lion” or a “lamb” on the calendar.  Graph "lion" and "lamb" days and compare at the end of the month.