PARTY TIME IN LAS VEGAS!

This is the day we've been waiting for!!! I TEACH K Conference starts this morning and the HAPPIES are going to make their debut this afternoon in the ESGI booth in the exhibit hall. Carolyn Kisloski and I will be there to share some of the activities, answer questions, take pictures, and maybe even sing you a song or say a rhyme. I don't have any sequins to wear and I'd break my neck if I wore stilettos, but I will have a big smile and heart ready to make a new friend!!!
           

Oh, and I'll have a little "happie" puppet for each of you!

                                   

This is also the launch of the new blog that Carolyn and I are doing. Go to happies4teachers.blog and we'll send you a "happie" idea every day.

A happie a day keeps the humbugs away!

Here's the link so you can attend the conference "virtually" with ESGI:

https://www.facebook.com/esgisoftware/


                                                        

Check out the complete set of "happies" at these locations:

http://bit.ly/Happies_Order_Page

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Monthly-HAPPIES-with-Dr-Jean-Complete-Set-of-9-Months-3242079

JULY PD 110 - POINTERS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhHOw8Q0v-g

Why? tracking left to right, details in illustrations, finger spacing

What? novelty pencils and pointers, cup

How? Collect seasonal and novelty pencils and keep them in a cup on your desk or at the reading table. Have children use these to read, find letters in their names, punctuation, nouns, verbs, vocabulary words, details in illustrations, and so forth.
                                
Pretzel Sticks - Give children pretzel sticks to follow along as they read, and then they can eat them.

Bugles - Let children insert Bugles on their index finger to “track and eat.”

Wiggly Eye - Glue a wiggly eye to a craft stick and “keep your eye on the word.”

Fake Fingernail – Glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick. Children can point to words or use it to “finger” space.

Magic Wand - Let children take a chopstick and dip one end in glue and then roll in glitter.

Witch’s Nail – Purchase Halloween fingers to use as you read.

Sticker Pointers – Place stickers at the end of craft sticks. Adapt stickers to poems or stories that you read.
                                
Drink Stirrers – Look for seasonal drink stirrers that children would enjoy using to read and track print.

Large Pointers - This pointer can be used for large group activities.  Cover a cardboard roller from a pants hanger with aluminum foil. Dip one end in glue and roll in glitter.  Taa daa!

JULY PD 109 - JUKE BOX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJx1OM0RL4

        
                      
Why? oral language, phonological awareness

What? gift bag, fun foam or cardboard, words to nursery rhymes, songs, and finger plays

How? Write “Juke Box” on the gift bag. Cut 4 ½” circles out of the foam or cardboard to make “CDs.” As you teach nursery rhymes, finger plays, or songs to your class glue the words to the CDs and place them in the bag. When you have a few extra minutes pretend to hand a child a coin as you say, “Put your quarter in the juke box and pull out a song.” That child pulls out a CD and hands it to you. Sing or say the rhyme or invite the child to lead the class. Pull out CDs as long as you have time.

HI HO! HI HO!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to workshops I go...

I'm packing my bags and getting ready for an exciting summer. I start my road trip tomorrow by flying to Las Vegas for the I Teach Kindergarten Conference. This is like a revival because teachers from all states and many foreign countries come together to learn, play, and remember why they became teachers. 

Do you see all the little "happies" that want to come with me?  I'll have one just for you at ITK!  (I think they are reproducing!)
              
However, if you can't make it to the conference, you can attend anyway because ESGI is going to have Facebook Live every day in their booth!  How cool is that?  You can meet your favorite bloggers, learn new things, and you don't even have to get dressed!

Here's the link so you can follow along with ESGI:
https://www.facebook.com/esgisoftware/

And, here's are two ways to get your own "happies" for the new school year:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Monthly-HAPPIES-with-Dr-Jean-Complete-Set-of-9-Months-3242079

 

JULY PD 108 - GIFT CARDS AND REWARD STICKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_muEZWq1ZFk

Tired of giving out candy and stickers? Here are some inexpensive rewards to use for special treats! 
                          
Reward Sticks
                                                        
What? jumbo craft sticks, Sharpie markers, plastic cup

How? Choose activities that you think would work best for your students from the list below. Write these on jumbo craft sticks with a permanent Sharpie and then put the sticks in a cup. Pretend like children are “winning” something when they draw a stick from the can.
       Give a drum roll – beat on the table or pat thighs
       Give a Beethoven – pretend to hold a violin as you strum the opening of the 5th           
       Give a toot-a-roo – pretend to hold a trumpet as you “toot toot toot toot toot tooo"

Gift Cards

What? plastic gift cards or cardboard, markers, gift bag

How? Save plastic gift cards and hotel room keys and cover them with paper. (You can also cut cardboard into 2” x 3 ½” rectangles). Write non-tangible rewards on these and place them in a small gift bag. Let children choose a “gift card” for a reward.

Hint! Adapt the rewards to the age of your students. Young children would be thrilled to choose a song or story. Older children would be more motivated to sit at the teacher’s desk or decorate a bulletin board.

*You could also let your students suggest activities that they would like for rewards.

Choose a song and lead the class.

Eat lunch with your teacher or a special friend.

Be excused from a homework assignment.

Choose an indoor game to play.

Select the book for story time.

Sit by a favorite person all day.

15 minutes of free time.

Help the teacher do a special job.

Decorate the bulletin board or door.

Sit at the teacher’s desk.

Take off your shoes.

Listen to an IPod or headset while you work.

Take a class game or book home for the night.

Chew sugar free gum.

Be first in line for lunch

Use the teacher’s stamps, pens, or markers.

Choose a board game and play it with a friend.

Hand out supplies.

Be leader of a class game.

Be excused from a written assignment.

Play games on the computer for 10 minutes.

Visit another class in the school.

Work with a friend.

Be a helper in the office, lunchroom, or in another classroom.

Read a story to the principal or another class.

Have the teacher call your parents to tell them what a great kid you are!

Take a note to the principal about what a great kid you are.

Make something at the art center.

Have your work displayed in the hall or on the classroom door.

One special wish!

*A coupon book with a few of these makes a great holiday gift for students!

JULY PD 107 - RING OF RHYMES

Here's the FB Live video I did yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBZE86bnZGQ&feature=youtu.be

Carolyn Kisloski and I are "happie" that so many of you are excited about our "Back to School Happies."  Some of you asked if it was available yet, so here's the link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-HAPPIES-with-Dr-Jean-3239672

You can also download the preview if you haven't done so yet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljR3VGVzZpWGtfSms/view?usp=sharing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICMduUwXDp0

Ring of Rhymes
If I were in charge of the world every early childhood teacher would do finger plays. Why? Finger plays nurture oral language, comprehension, small motor skills, short term memory, phonological awareness, math concepts, etcetera, etcetera. Finger plays can also be used to engage children’s attention and they are perfect for transition times.
               
What? index cards, book ring, copy of finger plays

How? Glue copies of finger plays to index cards and punch a hole in the upper left hand corner. Attach to a book ring and introduce one each week.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2010/07_Jul/pg00.html

Create a class book of finger plays by having children illustrate their favorites.

Send home copies of finger plays so parents can enjoy them with their children.

Note! Speech and language specialists emphasize the importance of doing these over and over and over again to improve fluency.

Here are five videos where you can learn how to do the finger plays. There’s really no right or wrong way to do them, so feel free to adapt motions that are comfortable to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f2d7BW3CzI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XqpPYpNCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJZGoFWzPA8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrIxnH8LXNQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC-r_pajb6I

GET "HAPPIE"!

Join me this afternoon for FACEBOOK LIVE AT FIVE and I'll tell you all about how to start your year with "happies."  Carolyn Kisloski and I are so excited and proud of what we have created to add a little more FUN to your classroom. 

I recently watched the movie "A Dog's Purpose" and I laughed and cried and cried and laughed. But, most of all, what the dog said at the end reminded me about life...and children...and being a teacher. To paraphrase, "The purpose of life is to play and have fun and live in the moment." That's what young children are designed to do and are suppose to do in order to develop into well-rounded and happy adults. I mean, if you don't have happiness when you are a child, how are you ever going to find happiness in your life? I believe with all my heart that God loves us and wants us to be happy. As educators, we can do good every day by giving children a little happiness.

Let the happies begin!!!

P.S.  If you haven't downloaded a free preview of our "Back to School Happies," check out what we're all about.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljR3VGVzZpWGtfSms/view?usp=sharing