PENCIL POWER

Kindergarten teachers always whisper, “Remind the pre-K teachers to teach their children to hold their pencils correctly.”  First grade teachers whisper, “Remind the kindergarten teachers to show their children how to hold their pencils the right way.”  And so it goes…  I don’t have all the answers, but here are some suggestions that might do the trick.

Pompom

Give children a pompom or cotton ball to hold in their hand when they write.  Demonstrate how to put pinky and ring man to “sleep” on the pompom before picking up the pencil.

Bird’s  Beak

Point the pencil away from you.  Make a bird’s beak by opening and closing your index finger and thumb.  Use your beak to pick up the point of the pencil and then flip it back.

Writing Bracelet

String a bead or jingle bell to a piece of yarn or string to make a bracelet.  Make it loose enough so it can slide easily on and off a child’s wrist.  While writing the child wears the bracelet and holds the bead in her hand.

Silly Band

Have the child put a silly band or rubber band around their wrist and pick up the pencil.  Explain that when you go in the car you have to wear a seatbelt.  When you write you have to put a seat belt on the pencil (slide the band around the pencil).  Mom and dad are in the front (pointer and thumb) and the kids are in the back (middle, ring, and pinky). 

Pencil Grip

(Tune:  “Where Is Thumbkin?”  ALL DAY LONG CD)

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.

A COLORING WE'LL GO!

One of the sweetest memories I have as a child was getting a box of NEW crayons!  There was always a lot of “hope” in those sharp, new crayons.  I was never a great artist, but my joy was just the same as children in 2013!

A Coloring We’ll Go

(Tune:  “A Hunting We Will Go” – ALL DAY LONG CD)

A coloring we’ll go.

A coloring we’ll go.

Hi ho, it’s fun you know,

A coloring we’ll go.

Use straight and curvy lines.

Use straight and curvy lines.

With yellow, purple, green, and orange,

We’ll make our picture fine.           (Chorus)

The details we will draw.

The details we will draw.

Imagine all the little things.

The details we will draw.                (Chorus)

We’ll fill in the page.

We’ll fill in the page.

Use as many colors

As you are in age.

A coloring we’ll go.

A coloring we’ll go.

We’ll put them in the box and close the top

When we’re through, you know.

*A good rule of thumb for encouraging children to use many colors in their drawings is to ask them to use as many colors as they are in age.  If they are four years old they should use at least 4 different crayons; if they are five years old they should use five colors, etc.

*As you read books to the class, explain the illustrator’s name.  Have children notice details in illustrations.  Why is it important to add details?  Remind them when they draw pictures they are illustrators, too, and they should add lots of details to make their pictures more interesting.

*Encourage children to close their eyes and think about what they want to draw before they begin coloring.  “Get a picture in your brain and then you’ll know what you want your picture to look like.  It’s like telling a story with your crayons.”

*Keep a box for “lost crayons” on a shelf so children have a place to put crayons that get misplaced.

*Use mint tins to store crayons when boxes fall apart.

Color Box

(Tune:  “Happy Birthday” MOVE IT!  LEARN IT! CD)

Here’s a crayon for you.  (Pretend to hold a present in your hand.)

It’s a blue one for you.        (Hold up a blue crayon.)

B – l – u – e.

Here’s blue for you.

Red, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, black, white.

*Have children take their box of crayons and hold up the appropriate color as you sing.

*Let children walk around the room and touch objects that are the color you are singing about.

*Have children stand up when the color that they are wearing is sung in the song.

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.