JUST A DOT - NOT A LOT!

Just think if you were a little kid and you had never held a bottle of glue before.  Wouldn’t it be fun to squeeze it all out?   Remind children, “We just need to use a baby dot of glue.  Not a mama dot or papa dot.  Just a tiny, little baby dot.”  (Be dramatic with this and say “baby dot” in a high little voice.)  Demonstrate how to put a dot on a sheet of paper.  “What does that look like?  A little bug?  A cookie crumb?”  Put food coloring in a bottle of glue and use it at a center for children to practice making “baby dots.” 

If you use glue sticks, you will also need to demonstrate how to use them.  “If you barely touch the page you can’t see anything.  That means nothing will stick to it. Press it gently down and then look to make sure you can see something.  That means your paper will stick.”

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.

SCISSORS AND CRAYONS AND GLUE - OH, MY!

Last week when I was in Omaha a teacher asked if I had any tips for scissor skills.  Since I’ll be in Toronto doing my Summer Camp this week, I thought it might be helpful to give you suggestions for scissors, glue, pencils, and crayons to use at the beginning of the school year.

Those of us who have been teaching for many years have seen a dramatic decrease in small motor skills.  Children just aren’t cutting, drawing, playing with play dough, stringing beads, working puzzles, or doing other manipulative activities.  We not only need to engage children in these motor skills at school, but we need to remind parents of projects their children can do at home.

Cutting Tub

Ask parents to use a shoebox or purchase a plastic tub at a dollar store.  Insert safety scissors, junk mail, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, etc. in the tub.  When parents are busy cooking dinner they can get out the tub to entertain their child.

Tummy Cutting

Have children lay on the floor and prop themselves on their elbows.  If they cut in this position, their elbow will stabilize their arm and give them greater scissor control.

 

*Wad up two sheets of paper and put one under each arm.  As children keep their arms by their sides they will be able to cut better.

(Luckily Kalina was visiting this week

and could be my model!)

Demonstrate and Model

We have to remember that some children have never had a pair of scissors in their hands before.  It’s important to take your time, model, and give explicit directions on basic tasks.

            Thumbs on top, just like “Tooty Ta”, when you cut.

            Hold the paper in one hand.

            Take little bites with your scissors with the other hand.

Scisssors Snip

(Tune:  “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” – ALL DAY LONG CD)

Cut it out!  Cut it out! 

With your scissors cut it out.

Snip, snap, and cut it out.

Thumbs on top,

Take small bites.

Hold your page in the other hand tight.

Cut it out!  Cut it out!

With your scissors cut it out.

Snip, snap, and cut it out.

BUSHELS OF IDEAS FROM THE CORNHUSKERS!

Take Home Book Boxes (Audrey Jordan)

You will need chalk board spray paint (available at Michael’s), chalk, and shoeboxes for this project.  Spray paint the boxes and put a piece of chalk inside.  Give these to the children at back to school night so they will have a special place to keep their books that they make at school.

*Insert a copy of sight words so they can practice writing them on their shoebox chalk board.

Game Pieces

Attach students’ photos to binder clips and they can be used for game pieces.

Tally Mark Alternative  (Jonathon Wright)

The photo shows another way to tally.  It teaches children the number of sides in a square, and it’s also the sign for divers.

Ice Age Sid Shuffle (Sasha Kelly & Kayleen Scranton)

Your students will LOVE this brain break!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMuJxd2Gpxo

Line Up  Trick (Peg Volzke)

Have children put their “bear in the cave” to keep their hands to themselves.  First, they put their hands behind their backs.  Make a fist with one hand – that’s the bear.  Now, put the bear in the other hand because it’s the cave.

Transition Time  (Linda Tonack)

Instead of using a clean up chime to get children’s attention, use an animated stuffed animal that plays songs and dances. 

*You might say, “You have two song cycles to clean up and report to the group area.”

*Let the helper of the day press the start button or use it as an award for good behavior.

Attendance Tally (Carol Coler)

Keep a tally chart by the calendar.  Each day when all the children are present and none are tardy, put up a tally mark.  Practice counting by 5’s daily using the attendance tally marks.

Marble Jar  (Mary Lyn Loeffler)

You will need a clear apothecary jar and several bags of marbles for this positive reinforcement activity.  When the teacher notes positive behavior, a child gets to put a marble in the jar.  When the jar is full, you get to have a party the next day.  (It takes about 6 weeks to fill the jar.)

*Children can earn marbles for individual rewards or group rewards.

*Never take marbles out of the jar until it is full and you have the party.  Then start all over again.

Harvesting Good Behavior (Tara Hamilton)

Here’s another behavior management tool where you use corn instead of marbles.  You will need a bucket of field corn, as well as a cob of corn.  Explain how farmers have to harvest the corn when it is ready.  Demonstrate how to shuck the corn and remove the kernels.  “We also can harvest our good behaviors when we are ready to be praised for doing a good job.”  Put a toy combine in the pail with the corn.  When the children do a good job, choose one student to take a scoop of corn out of the pail and put it in a clear jar.  The children can see the combine moving down in the pail as the jar fills up.  Have a party for “finishing the harvest” when the jar is full. 

*Never take corn out of the jar – only add it in.

*Tying this to farming and harvest time works well in our community as most families live on farms or small towns. 

Gem Jar  (Theodora Kyle)

Play a clean up song and after students clean up they stand at the entrance (or designated spot) and wait.  The teacher roves around and quickly looks to make sure the center is clean and hands each student two gems (fake jewels).  The students take their gems and sit down on the carpet.  The “gem collector” walks around as friends put their gems in the “gem jar.”  When the far is full, the class earns treats.

Dot-to-Dot Positive Reinforcement  (Joyce Dunklau)

To encourage a specific behavior, prepare a dot-to-dot arrangement.  When the teacher sees good behavior, draw a line from dot 1 to dot 2.  Continue until all the dots are connected and you complete the picture.  “YOU DID IT!”

*Works well with an individual or the whole class.

Compliment Board (Kalli Lemley)

To encourage kindness and appreciation for others, place a bulletin board outside the room dedicated to compliments to each other.  Vary the theme throughout the year:

“Leaf a compliment.”  (Leaves)

“Snow’s some kindness.”  (Snowflakes)

“Send a ray of sunshine.”  (Sunshines)

“Watch our friendship grow.”  (Flowers)

They can write these any time or as part of writing for the Daily 5.

Reading Board (Kalli Lemley)

Send home a sheet for children to record reading with their parents.  When they return it, they can add their name to the reading board.  Then we have a celebration at the end of the month.

“Nuts about Reading” (Nuts)

“Our Reading Shines Through”  (Sunshines)

“Watch Our Reading Grow”  (Flowers)

“Snow excited about reading”  (Snowflakes)

We’re Fact Families  (Kalli Lemley)

(Tune:  Cadence – Children repeat each line).

We’re fact families and we’re really great!

We work together and cooperate.

Use three numbers and you’ll do it right.

Switch them around and you’re out of sight.

Try it now!  (Cheerleader)

1 + 4 = 5

Switch it around now. (Cheerleader)

4 + 1 = 5

Now you take the big number and put it at the front.

Here’s what you’ve got.

5 – 4 = 1

Switch it around again. (Cheerleader)

5 – 1 = 4

We’re fact families and we’re really great.

We work together and cooperate.

O- O - O - O - OMAHA!

Oh, my!  Did I love those teachers in Omaha last week at Summer Camp!  And you're going to love these great ideas they shared!!!

Quotes  (Nancy Rutherford)

Post important quotes around your classroom (mostly for adults!)  Here’s a favorite by Langston Hughes:

            To Make Words Sing

            Is a wonderful thing –

            Because in a song

            Words last so long.

Voice Plus  (Wilma Kaps)

This is sooooo coool you will want to download it and try it today!

This is a free app that will encourage oral language and can also be used for repeated readings.  Record the children’s voice, and then let them choose the sound they would like to hear.  They can choose mouse, robot, alien, jingle bell…endless possibilities.

*This might also be good to encourage students to sing!

Happy Note  (Torey Dudley)

“Catch you being great!” 

Give peel off stickers that say, “I had a great day!”  This works well to encourage children to sing.  “Wow!  You had great expression when we sang that song.  You get a happy note to take home.”

You won’t believe all these fantastic ideas from Marsha Edwards!!!

Birthday Song  (Marsha Edwards)

(Tune:  “Old MacDonald”)

(Child’s name) has a birthday (Clap.)

Hip, hip, hip hooray.  (Clap and then put arms up.)

And on his/her cake  (Hand with palm up)

She/he has ___ candles (Hold up number of fingers for age.)

What a happy day!  (Wave arms.)

With a /wh/ /wh/ here  (Pretend to blow.}

And a /wh/ /wh/ there.

Here a /wh/

There a /wh/

Everywhere a /wh/ /wh/.

(Child’s name) has a birthday.  (Clap.)

Hip, hip, hip hooray!  (Clap and then put arms up.)

Bunny Hop Spelling (Marsha Edwards)

Bunny hop to spell CVC words.  Put feet out as you say the letters, and then hop forwards as you say the word.

Pass the Mike Recall  (Marsha Edwards)

Sit in a circle with a plastic microphone and say:

Pass the mike.

Pass the mike.

What do you have to say?

Pass the mike.

Pass the mike.

Tell what you liked today.

(Do two children at a time.)

Walking in the Hall  (Marsha Edwards)

Here we go just a walking in the hall,

Singing “doo wah ditty ditty dum ditty doo.”

Hands by our sides and we’re standing nice and tall.

Singing “doo wah ditty ditty dum ditty doo.”

We look good.  (Children repeat.)

We look fine.  (Children repeat.)

We look good, we look fine,

Standing quietly in our line.

Sssshhhh!  (Finger over lip.)

Licke ‘em (Pretend to lick hands.)

And stick ‘em.  (Slap to sides.)

1, 2  (Students repeat each line.)

3, 4 

We’re not talking.

Anymore!

5, 6

7, 8

Standing quietly  (or lining up or sitting down, etc.)

Would be great.

9, 10

Let’s begin!

Clean Up Song  (Marsha Edwards)

Tune:  Frere Jacques

Are you helping?  (Students echo each line.)

Picking up toys.  (or whatever)

We can all be helpers.

Girls and boys.

3-D Shapes  (Marsha Edwards)

Cone – ice cream cone

Sphere – scoop of ice cream

Cylinder – sprinkles on top

Cube – caramel on top

Mr. Bear (Amy O’Connor)

You will need a large stuffed bear, carry bag, journal, clothes, and accessories.  One student is chose each day to take home Mr Bear and record what they did together at home.  They can have a parent help them record it if they are non-writers.

*Often children will take photos of themselves with Mr. Bear or add clothing and accessories for him. 

*When a journal is full, add it to the class library.

Music Mingle  (Janene Harris)

This game is played like musical chairs.  Play some music and when the music stops do handshakes or cheers.

*Math Mingle – When the music stops they have to get in groups of 2, 4, etc.  If you’re not in a group you have to sit down.

*Sets – Get in a group of 2 people with long hair, 3 people with brown eyes, etc.

Love Puppets (Janene Harris)

Buy stuffed animals at garage sales and unstuff them for a quick puppet.

*Cut their mouths open to make gobble puppets.  You have to feed them things that are a particular color, start with a certain sound, etc.

*Make a “word bird” puppet to read the word wall words.

REREADS AND STATE CHANGES

How about implementing one of these strategies as you big books, words to songs, charts, and poems?

Shadow Reading – Teacher reads a line and then students repeat. 

Choral Reading – Children read together.

Make a Turn  - Divide children into groups and each section reads a different line.  (Let 

boys and girls alternate reading lines.)

Magic Word – Choose a “magic word” (high frequency word) in the text.  Every time you come to that word, the children get to clap, jump up, snap, etc.

Say What?   Read the wrong way and have children correct you by shouting out, “Say what?”

Missing Word – Omit a word and have the children fill it in.

Here are some other simple things you can do to create interest:

Sit Like a Boss – Children cross arms, lean back, and put feet up on their desk.

Backwards – Turn chairs around and face the back of the room.

Change seats – Children exchange seats with a classmate.

Tummy Time – Lay on the floor and read, write, and work.

Beach Chairs - Turn chairs over, sit on the floor, lean back, and read.  (Backpacks make a good pillow.)

Lighting – Turn off the lights or use floor lamps.

ONE MORE TIME!

Repetition is important, but you have to keep it interesting to maintain children’s attention.  You can “wake up the brain” with these playful “state changes.”  Use these strategies for choral reading, repeating poems, reading word wall words, counting, doing flash cards, and so forth.  If you go to my website, click on free activities, and scroll down you can download these little cards called “fluency cards.”  I’d suggest downloading them on cardstock and then putting them in a bag or little box called the “Voice Box.”  Let several children choose cards and then use those strategies for repeating information. 

*You can watch me demonstrate these on a new video my daughter helped me make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNuuNBzgDWw

Three Bears – Read papa bear style (with a deep voice), mama bear style (with a prissy voice), and baby bear style (with a wee voice).

Emotions – Read text with different emotions, such as happy, sad, angry, sleepy, etc.  Which one fits the text best?

Rainbow – Open hands and place on the left side of your body.  Swing up and across the body in an arc as you read each line. 

Rock and Roll – Pretend to hold guitar and dance and sing. 

Rap – Let the children teach YOU how to do this one.

Opera – Extend arms and sing words dramatically. 

Underwater – Put pointer between lips and vibrate as you read or talk.

With a cold – Hold nose and talk or read.

Robot – Stick out arms and pretend to read with a monotonous

voice 

King and Queen – Put a pretend crown on your head and read with a “royal” tone.

Martian – Make antennae with index fingers over your head.  “Beep” for the syllables in the words.

Loud and Soft – Read loud or soft.  Teacher sticks thumbs up and children read louder.  Thumbs down and children get softer. 

Fast and Slow – Read slowly like the tortoise (slow) or fast like the rabbit.

Animal Voices – “Meow” each syllable like a cat, “bark” like a dog, or make other animal sounds.

Football Player and Cheerleaders – Boys read each line with a gruff voice like a football player.  Bend over after each line and go, “Hut!  Hut!”  Girls read each line like a cheer leader and go, “Rah!  Rah!” at the end of each line.

Lip Sinc - Mouth the words. 

News - Read like a news reporter “on the street.”

Pirate - Put on hand over your eye and talk out of the side of your mouth.  Say, “Grrr!” at the end of each sentence.

Typewriter - Pretend to type with your fingers as you move eyes from left to right.  Ding, and then “return the carriage” when you get to the end of the line.

Cartoon Characters - Read like “Fred Flintstone” (bounce up and down),

Scooby Doo (Ruff!  Ruff!), Charlie Brown’s teacher, and other characters children suggest.

Teacher Style – Children pretend they are the teacher and read like YOU!

WHAT HAPPENED TO SUMMER?

Good golly, Miss Molly!  Where did summer go?  Would you believe that some schools are starting today?  August 1^st also means I’ve got new ideas on my website today.

A key to nurturing readers is a print-rich environment.  The National Early Literacy Panel (nifl.gov) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc.org) recommend immersing children in print, writing tools, signs, and books.  Creating a literate environment will also support Common Core State Standards (Reading for Information, Foundational Skills, Writing, Speaking, and Language).  My August, 2013, website article will give you ideas for planting a reading and writing “garden” in your classroom this year.  You’ll find activities for making a unique classroom alphabet, as well as functional print books and ideas for literacy centers.

You’ll also find three new videos with your special requests, strategies for repeated readings, and a back to school bash.