EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAY IN MAY!

Yeah, I love to celebrate just like most children!  I thought it might be fun (kind of like dessert) to end your school year with some holidays.  Some are simple like Pack Rat Day (clean out your desk), while others might take a little planning like National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.  Take a look at this list and you're sure to find at least a handful of special days to end your year with a smile.

1 Mother Goose Day (Invite every child to say a rhyme.) 

2 Brothers and Sisters Day  (Can they do something nice for their siblings?) 

3 Great American Grump Out (Can you go all day without being grumpy?) 

4 Bird Day (Sing a song, read a book, and do an art project that relates to birds.) 

4 International Star Wars day  (May the fourth be with you!) 

5 Cinco de Mayo 

6 No Diet Day 

7 Astronomy Day (Take a night walk and look at the sky.) 

8 No Socks Day 

9 Lost Sock Memorial Day (Write a story about where lost socks go.) 
                                                         
10 Clean up Your Room Day (Clean your room for homework.) 

11 Eat What You Want Day (I try to do this every day!) 

12 Limerick Day (Read limericks to your class.) 

13 Frog Jumping Day (Have frog races on the playground.) 

14 Dance Like a Chicken Day 

15 National Chocolate Chip Day (Eat a chocolate chip cookie.) 
                    
16 Love a Tree Day (Hug a tree and draw pictures of a tree.) 
                                                                
17 Pack Rat Day (Clean out desks.) 

18 National Bike to Work Day - third Friday of month 

19 Armed Forces Day - (Third Saturday of month.)

20 Pick Strawberries Day (Or, eat strawberries.) 
                        
21 National Memo Day (Make doodle pads from scrap paper.) 

22 Buy a Musical Instrument Day (Or, play a musical instrument day.) 

23 Lucky Penny Day (Hide pennies around the room for children to find.) 
                                                                      
24 National Escargot Day 

25 Tap Dance Day 

26 International Jazz Day  (Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.)

27 Sun Screen Day (Always a good reminder!) 

28 Memorial Day 

29 Learn About Composting Day 

30 Water a Flower Day

31. Sing and Do the "Happy Dance" Day (I just made that holiday up!)
Note! I adapted these from this site: 
http://www.kidpub.com/story/long-list-random-holidays-dont-matter-811113705 

WANT TO JUMP ROPE WITH ME?

Here's my "Jump Rope Rally" video so we can jump together!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y1UBTOFEzA

Jump roping is something that will never go out of style. I always did it with my kindergarten and first grade children because I remember how much I loved it as a child. For some of the children it was easy, but other children really had to work at it. Being persistent and not giving up is a good thing to learn. Jumping rope also encourages social skills, motor skills, counting, and oral language. It’s good for the body and the brain!

Here are some chants we used to say, but you can adapt them if you don’t like the words. You could also use these on a rainy day. Just have the children get a pretend jump rope and jump along as you say the rhymes. What a perfect brain break for kids from pre-k through the primary grades.
*You can jump on two feet or alternate hopping on one foot at a time.

Bubble Gum
Bubble gum,
Bubble gum in a dish.
How many pieces
Do you wish?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5…(How high can you count?)

Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty
Thinks she’s a cutie
All she wears is bathing suities.
If you jump to 24, you will get an extra turn.
1, 2, 3…24

Cinderella
Cinderella dressed in yella.
Went upstairs to kiss her fella.
Made a mistake and kissed a snake.
How many doctors did it take?
1, 2, 3…8
                             

Engine No. 9
Engine, engine number nine
Going down the railroad line.
If the train jumps off the track
You will get your money back.
How much money will you get?
1, 2, 3, …10

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, read the news.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tie your shoes.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit down in your chair!

Blue Bells
Blue bells, cockle shells, eevie, ivy, over.
I like coffee. I like tea. I like you to jump with me.

Jump Rope Rhyme Book
It might be fun to give children copies of the rhymes and let them make a book of jump rope rhymes. They could illustrate these and use them for independent reading.
                                                 
Do you remember any jump rope rhymes from your childhood? I’m sure your students would enjoy learning them.

DO YOU KNOW THE "WH" BROTHERS?

Do you know those snoopy WH brothers? They always ask questions.
     WHO wants to know the person or thing.
     WHERE wants to know the place.
     WHEN wants to know the time.
     WHAT wants to know what’s happening.
     WHY wants to know the reason.

Here's a song to “Ten Little Indians.”
     Who, What, Where, When, Why?
     Who, What, Where, When, Why?
     Who, What, Where, When, Why?
     Those are five snoopy guys!

"WH" Sticks

Write "Who?"  "What?" "Where?" "When?" "Why?" on jumbo craft sticks and put them in a sock.  To prompt your students to listen throw the sock over your shoulder before reading the book.  After reading pass the sock around and let children pull out a stick and tell that part of a story.

                                 

WH Glove

Write "Who?"  "What?" "Where?" "When?" "Why?" on the fingers of a cloth glove.  After reading a story children insert the glove on their hand and recall the story elements.

EASY PEASY - NO MESSY ART

One thing that will never go out of style (I hope!) are crayons and paper. Here are some simple art projects that can be adapted to any age. Sometimes adults think that kids should only do an art project one time. The interesting thing is that children will enjoy doing these activities several times.

Dancing Crayons
Materials: crayons, paper, music
Directions: Hold a crayon in each hand. Put on some music, and let the crayons “dance” on the paper.
*This would work well at the listening center using a variety of music, such as classical, country, march, lullaby, etc.
                                 
Bundles
Materials: crayons, rubber bands, paper
Directions: Wrap a rubber band around 3 or 4 crayons. Children can hold the “bundle” and draw a design or picture on their
            
Dot to Dot
Materials: crayons, paper
Directions: Make a specified number of dots (six, ten, whatever) on a piece of paper. Exchange papers with a friend. Connect the dots. What does it look like? Add details to create an object or design.
                                                   
Wiggles and Squiggles
Materials: crayons, paper
Directions: Have the children close their eyes and make a design on their paper with a black crayon. When they open their eyes, ask them to create something out of their design.
Adaptations: Have children exchange papers with wiggles and squiggles with a friend.
                                
Folded Designs
Materials: paper, crayons
Directions: Have children take a sheet of paper and fold it several times. Next, open it and trace over the creases on the paper with a black crayon. Finally, fill in each section with a different color, design, or pattern.

WILD TIME FOR WILD THINGS WITH OUTDOOR PLAY

While surfing the internet I happened upon this UK website: kidsgowild.org.
Our site strives to help you as the parent be informed and motivated to get your kids into nature and go wild with fun! Also to teach them to interact and get along with other kids from all ages, not just their own. All for the betterment of their future success, and yours as a parent of course!
                           I was hooked because I’m so passionate about giving children time to PLAY. PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! Isn’t that what children are suppose to do in childhood?

Several years ago I read Richard Louv’s book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER. It reminded me that exposure to nature is essential for healthy physical and emotional development in children AND adults. (This book first came out in 2005, but you can imagine the decrease in outdoor time and increase in screen time over the past 11 years!!!!)
                                                   
This is the perfect time to get outdoors and let children explore in a less controlled environment. Educators, as well as many parents, are concerned about all the time their children spend in front of a screen. But, you can’t always give children a choice. If you say, “Do you want to go outside and go for a walk or play video games on your computer?” You know what the answer will be!

We need to engage children in outdoor activities and create opportunities where they will choose to play and “be wild”! These are some suggestions I adapted from the website that you might want to share with your parents:

Climb a tree

Roll down a really big hill

Build a tent

Hunt for stones

Watch the sun wake up

Go on a nature walk at night

Plant it, grow it, eat it

Discover what’s in a pond

Go to a park

Play in the sand

Run around in the rain

Fly a kite

Hunt for bugs

Go fishing

Cook on a campfire

Look for objects in the clouds

Make a mud pie

Swing on a rope swing
                                     
Just think how giving children 30 minutes of OUTDOOR WILD TIME every day this summer could impact their lives!!!

FOREST SCHOOLS started in Denmark in the 1980's and they have been growing across the UK.  Forest Schools are a type of outdoor education where children develop academic skills, as well as social and emotional skills in an woodland environment.  It's an interesting concept, so google it and see what you think.

WE BELIEVE IN PLAY!

I wanted to share a letter I received recently. There are so many of you out there who believe in learning through play like Phyllis and I do. This is why you and I do what we do! We keep on believing and hoping because we know this is what young children NEED and DESERVE!

Dear Jean,

I wrote to you over 2 years ago after experiencing one of your presentations. You are, hands down, my favorite teacher trainer. So imagine how EXCITED I was to see your smile on the cover of the National Conference registration form! Unfortunately, I cannot go. But I imagine thousands of teachers will go, and they NEED to hear your message and your wisdom. We all have much to learn from your many years of getting to know kids and the very best way they learn.

We all know the richness, the fun, and the learning that goes on - in short, the VALUE of play.  But for some bizarre, inexplicable reason, we are STILL ignoring research that demonstrates the importance of play in the kindergarten classroom.

                                               

We need to remind parents and administrators that K's LEARN THROUGH PLAY and that they need to allow plenty of time for play! Get that awesome kitchen center set up (I got mine from Donor's Choose)... and blocks and dress up and lots of floor puzzles! Don't forget a big writing easel and a cash register. A bin of dinosaurs is big fun, too!

                

Of course we need to teach numbers and letters and letter sounds. But all of that can be fun, too.

So I am asking you again, Dr. Jean, to please make this point to all of these teachable teachers to whom you will speak in July. More than ever before, we are taking the fun, the creativity, the thinking skills practice and the social skills practice out of K by removing play from the kindergarten classroom.

The Washington Post Answer Sheet (Valerie Strauss) posted an article that I wrote on over-testing in K. We are over-testing in all grades, of course.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/02/test-prep-for-5-year-olds-is-a-real-thing-heres-what-it-looks-like/?utm_term=.2f64987f38e4

I am so thankful for you and so thankful that you are still spreading the TRUTH, inspiring teachers and getting them psyched to move and sing and dance and TEACH! Don't stop now, Dr. Jean, we need you more than ever!

Phyllis Doerr

K Teacher

New Jersey
                                           
Here's a link where you can get 10% off your registration to the I Teach K Conference this summer:
http://www.cvent.com/events/sde-2017-national-conference/event-summary-4b4fe371d1b34e9abc2e63a06abfc517.aspx?RefID=PR10*Enter VIP code: PR10 to receive 10% off tuition.

IT'S ABOUT PLAY!

Birds do it.

Kittens do it.

Even chimpanzee

In the zoo do it.

Why can’t 

Little children

Do it, too?

I have received countless emails from frustrated teachers because they are “not allowed” to have blocks, or dramatic play, or art, or music, or recess…or play! The reality is that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy - and it makes our children dull as well!!! I have some insightful information and research on my website this month that gives credibility to play. It is not a luxury, but is essential to healthy social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Classic researchers, such as Jean Piaget, Sigmund Freud, and Lev Vygotsky emphasized the importance of play and realized that civilization and the world as we know it could not/would not exist without play. Children have a lifetime to sit in front of a computer and do worksheets. They have one chance in a lifetime to be a little child and play joyfully and spontaneously and fully!!!

PLAY is the child’s WORK and play is how young children learn best! It’s also the teachers’ work to be ADVOCATES FOR PLAY! The more you know about play, the more you can align it to standards and what is best for children.

Go to my website (drjean.org) to learn more about the types of play, stages of play, and how children develop through play.