CUT IT OUT!

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.

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.

NIP IT IN THE BUD!

Do you remember Deputy Barney Fife from Mayberry RFD? One of his favorite sayings was “nip it in the bud.” That’s something to take to heart as the school year starts. Take your time to each rules and routines and the rest of your year will go much smoother.

Rules help children feel secure and know what behavior is expected of them. Choose a few simple rules and state them in a positive way. You can get a free download of this “Rules Rap” from my website this month.

Rules Rap
Chorus:
The rules, the rules, the rules of the classroom. (Snap fingers.)
The rules, the rules, the rules of the classroom.

Follow, follow, follow directions, (Point index fingers.)
Follow, follow, follow directions. Chorus

Feet and hands, feet and hands, (Point to feet and hands.)
Feet and hands to yourself. Chorus

Small voices inside, tall voices on the playground.
(Quiet voice, then loud voice.)
Small voices inside, tall voices on the playground.   Chorus

Work together, don’t fight, or you’ll get in trouble.
(Clasp hands, then hold nose.)
Work together, don’t fight, or you’ll get in trouble. Chorus
YEAH!
                               
After teaching the class the “Rules Rap” discuss why rules are important. Say, “I know everyone in our class has a good rule to share with us.” Give each child a sheet of paper to draw a rule. Older students can write the rule and younger students can dictate the rule. Put their rules together, make a cover, and bind to make a book. Explain that when adults agree to do something they sign a contract. “Everyone made these rules. Are you all going to obey these rules? (Of course, they’ll agree!) Then I’m going to let you put your thumb on an ink pad and stamp your thumbprint on our book to show that you will abide by these rules.”

When children are doing something they shouldn’t be doing take the book and point to a page as you say, “Look, it says _______ in the book. Show me the right thing to do.” (Most of them can’t read anyway, so you can turn to any page in the book!)

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I've been getting emails that say, "Where are you going, Dr. Jean?" Well, I've got an exciting new seminar called DR. JEAN'S ACTIVE LEARNING ADVENTURE that will satisfy academic requirements as well as add a whole lotta FUN to your curriculum. I hope you can join me at one of these locations. 

November 2 - Madison, WI

November 9 - Philadelphia, PA

November 16 - Cleveland, OH

December 3 - Concord, CA

December 4 - Rancho Cordova, CA

December 11 - West Orange, NJ

February 5 - St. Louis, MO

February 22 - Baton Rouge, LA

March 3 - Augusta, GA

March 7 - Memphis, TN

April 21 - Austin, TX

April 29 - Birmingham, AL

May 2 -  Arlington, VA
                    
*Go to sde.com for details.

Charleston
If you live in Charleston I'll be doing "Transition Tips and Tricks" on the afternoon of September 22 at Christ Church Day School in Mt. Pleasant. (Contact Ellen at enietert@christch.org for details.) All of the proceeds from this will go to the Amahoro Children's School in Rwanada. Jane Bond is a retired teacher who raised the money to build this school. She also uses her own money to pay for the teachers, night watchman, cook, supplies.... Jane shows us how one person really can make a huge difference in the lives of others and we are lucky to share our blessings through her.

Here's a video of her children singing "Rise and Shine." Oh, how I'd love to sing with those precious children!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axkpiuw0OFw

PHONO FUN

Phono Fun

Got cha!  Sometimes I like to make up words like poet  ee cummings.  I’m actually going to be sharing some ideas for phonological awareness that you could integrate into your reading meeting.

Choose a rime (aka word family) from the poem of the week.  As children identify rhyming words from the poem write them on the board.  Circle the letters that are the same in each word.  Can they add other words to the list? 

Sing this song to the tune of “Bingo.”  For example, if you did Jack and Jill you could sing:

         There is a word family you should know

         And “ill” is it’s name-o.

         J – I – L – L   Jill

         H – I – L – L  hill

         W – I – L – L  will

         They end in “ill” you know.

*Write the word family in a large house and encourage the children to add rhyming words throughout the week.

Rhyme Ball

You will need a ball, beanbag, or other object to toss for this game.  Children sit or stand in a circle.  The teacher says a word and then tosses the ball to a child.  As the child catches the ball, she must say a word that rhymes.

Syllabication – Clap, snap, hop or make other movements to words in the rhyme.

Instruments           

Have children beat out syllables with instruments. 

*You could also use cardboard rollers, straws, pencils, etc. like drum sticks to tap out rhythms and syllables.

Sound Sack - Sound Sack

Take a small sack and fill it with common objects or small toys.  Capture children’s interest with this song to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot.”

            What’s in the sound sack, who can tell?

            Maybe it’s a book or maybe it’s a shell?

            What’s in the sound sack, who can say?

            Blend the sounds, you’ll know right away!

Choose and object and stretch out the sounds.  When children can blend the sounds and say the word, remove It from the sack and place it on the floor.  Before putting each item back in the bag, segment the sounds again.            

DO YOU GET IT NOW?

Here are a few other tips that might help you integrate music, movement, and FUN into your academic schedule. "Life is lived between the bread and the butter" - and it's all those "little things" that make your school day meaningful and joyful for you and your "little things"!

6th Keep a simple game handy for when you’ve got five extra minutes during the day. (I’ve got lots of these on my website as well.)

*Kids vs. The Teacher and Johnny Jump Up are two of my favorites.

7th Read, read, read! Keep a stack of books handy and squeeze in a story whenever you can. It doesn’t have to “teach” anything or “fit” in with your standards. You can read it JUST BECAUSE!!! (And, if an administrator or supervisor gives you a hard time about this you just tell them to call Dr. Jean!!!!)

8th Make a “juke box” from a gift bag. Make CDs for the jukebox by cutting 4” circles out of poster board or fun foam. Glue words to rhymes, finger plays, or songs on them and put them in the bag. When you have a few extra minutes pretend to give a child a quarter as you say, “Put the quarter in the juke box and pull out a song.” That child can then help you lead the class in the song or rhyme.
                           
9th Create “tubs of fun” for children who finish their work early or for other “in between” times. Each week put skill games, puzzles, play dough, card games, or other quiet activities in a tub for each table. Rotate these every week so they’ll have something new to do.

Hint! One team of teachers said they each created 4 tubs for their own class each month and then rotated them with another class.

10th End your day on a positive note with a song and some cheers. Give the children something to look forward to the next day at school.

Somebody once said, “Great teachers are not born. They are made by the teacher next door.” That is so true! One of your best resources might be right down the hall. We’re teachers and we all love to help! Just ask!

I JUST DON'T GET IT????

Several teachers at my workshops have asked, “How do you fit it all in? How do you make it work?” That’s one of the reasons I wanted to give you the free download for the monthly music mix to start your year. (Go to drjean.org if you haven’t downloaded it.) Each class and curriculum and age level is different, but I’m going to suggest ten tips that might be useful to you. 

1st Instead of asking the children sit down and be quiet for morning meeting, have them stand up and start your day with a song. You’ll get blood going to the brain and release wiggles.

*Connect personally and physically by greeting each child with one of my handshakes.
   
*Do the Pledge and review the rules with the “Rules Rap.”

2nd When the children sit down read the morning message and review the day’s activities and goals.

*Pass around the “I” phone” so each child can say something they are looking forward to doing that day. 
            
*Choose a “supervisor” to wear the visor with a focus skill.

                               

*Create a “reading calendar” where you can focus on a word family, sight words, letters, or a poem each day. (I’m working on a blog about this that I'll have up in a week or so.)

3rd Be prepared with brain breaks so the children can move every 15 or 20 minutes. In between guided reading groups do an alphabet song, wiggle song, patty cake, or another brain break. (I’ve got TONS of these on my website.)

4th When you want to focus the children’s attention try using a finger play or attention grabber. (I’ve got free YouTube videos with both of these.)

*Take a finger play each week and glue it on an index card. Keep it in your pocket or put it on a book ring and practice it over and over. Yes, doing rhymes repeatedly is good for children’s short-term memory as well as oral language.  
                             
5th Turn transitions into teachable times with “Letter Bears.” (Check out the blog I did on those on July 25, 2015.)

Hint! Think about making seasonal cutouts for each month with specific skills you want the children to master that month.

Okeedookee! Five tips is plenty for today. Come back tomorrow for a few more ideas.

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH A SONG!

How about 15 free song downloads to start your year? Yes, indeed, it's Christmas in August on my website (drjean.org) starting today. I've got 15 songs to make you smile and have a happy day. 

Rise and Shine to start each day.

The Rules Rap to encourage positive behavior.

Days of the Week for a calendar song.

Over in the Meadow to connect numbers and sets.

Twelve Days of School to count.

Nursery Rhyme Rap for phonological awareness.

Alphardy for alphabet knowledge and phonics.

Five Senses for science.

The Cool Bear Hunt for sequencing.

Silly Willy for a brain break.

The Wheels on the Bus for fun.

I Like to Come to School for a positive attitude.

Super Star Chant for creating a classroom community.

Gray Squirrel just because it's a sweet song I remember singing with my children.

It's Time to Say Good-Bye to send them out the door on a positive note.

You'll also find links for books you can download to go with the songs.

Happy, happy back to school!