COMPREHENSION - THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!

Comprehension is the reason for reading…Good readers are 

both purposeful and active. (National Institute for Literacy.)

Good readers are always looking for information and trying to make connections. Check out these tips for improving comprehension skills.

Those Snoopy 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.

Schema
Demonstrate how to make the sign for “connection” by linking thumb and index fingers on both hands. Explain that when you connect what is in a book to what is in your brain you make a schema. Tell children as you read a book to them they can let you know when they create a schema by making that sign.

TESTING! TESTING!

If I were in charge of the world you wouldn't be allowed to test little children! Unfortunately, I'm not in charge of the world, and even young children are experiencing "test anxiety" this time of year. How ridiculous for a four or five year old to be worried about a test! Bless their hearts...and bless your hearts.

Nevertheless, here are some activities that might help children relax and focus before a test. They might also be a good break between tests.

Deep Breathing

Inhale slowly as you count to 8. Exhale slowly as you count backwards from 8 to 1. Breath in hot chocolate. Breath out and blow the candles out on a birthday cake. 

Tighten~Relax 

Tighten up your body as tight as you can and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Then relax and let it all go. Repeat several times.

*Starting with the toes, call out one body part at a time for children to squeeze and then relax. For example, toes, feet, knees, legs, hips, back, fingers, arms, shoulders, necks, faces, and then a whole body SQUEEZE!

Rag Dolls and Soldiers

When the teacher calls out “rag dolls” everyone flops over like a rag doll. When the teacher says, “soldiers,” everyone stands up tall and stiff. Continue calling out “rag dolls” and “soldiers” faster and faster.



“Eye” Exercise

Demonstrate how to hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your head. Look at the right index finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger.
                                                    


Balancing Act 

Ask children to stand. How long can they balance on their right foot? How long can they balance on their left foot? Can they balance on their right toes? Left toes? Can they balance on their right foot and extend their left leg in the air? Can they balance on one foot with their eyes closed?

Hint! Classical music is lovely for balancing activities.

Vacation 

Tell your class to give their mouth and their eyes a “vacation” by closing their eyes and mouths. Next, ask them to practice breathing through their noses. You’ll be amazed at how this brings down their energy level and helps them focus.


Silly Dance 

Play some catch music for the children to do the silly dance. When you stop the music they have to "freeze." Continue playing and stopping the music as the children dance and freeze.


Hint! The "finger neurobics" that K.J. demonstrated several years ago would also be an excellent way to calm children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4lXUhRfMU

Here are some fun songs where the kids can KISS THEIR BRAINS no matter if they got the answer right or wrong on the test!!

https://bit.ly/drjeanKYBstreams

SKILL BAGS

This is a super idea for a center, independent practice, or partner project. It can easily be adapted to different skill levels and age groups. Today's blog will focus on sight words, but think how meaningful it could be for letters, numbers, shapes, vocabulary words, and other skills that the children are expected to master.

Note!  This would also be a perfect tool to send home for parents to help their children.


Word Bag
Put flash cards with vocabulary words, sight words, spelling words, etc. in a zip bag. Add different multi-sensory materials similar to those below. Children can take the bag and choose any material they like to reproduce the words.

*Wikki sticks
*magnetic letters
*colored pencils for rainbow words
*alphabet stickers
*alphabet blocks
*dry erase board
*play dough

Mini Portfolio (Sherry Hull and Karen Guynes)
Cut the bottom of a lunch bag as shown. Fold the bag in half to fit under the flap. Add a Velcro dot and children can store words, math flash cards, and other things they are working on in the pocket.

Mystery Word
Choose a word each day as a “mystery word." Write it on the board and then tape a sheet of paper over it so the children have to “take a peek” as they enter the classroom. At morning meeting discuss the meaning of the word. Can they dramatize the word? Can they use it in sentences?

Hint!  Play a game where you give clues about sight words. For example: “I start with “L” and rhyme with “book.”

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE TECHNIQUES

You're on your way to the finish line, but there are still a few skills that need to be reinforced. Here are some activities where all children will be engaged and the teacher can quickly see who has mastered a skill and who needs additional work.

Yes/No 
Each child has two index cards. One says “yes” and the other says “no.” As you ask questions, children respond by holding up the card with their response. For example: “Our state is Arizona.” “Fish has the short a sound.” “Blue and glue rhyme.” "7 minus 3 is 5."

 

*Cut an envelope in half. Write “yes” on one side and “no” on the other.

*Older children can play "teacher" and take turns asking classmates questions.

Wipe Off Boards 
As the teacher asks questions, the children write the answer (letters, words, numerals, etc.) on wipe off boards and hold them up. Erase with a sock and you’re ready to go again.



Hint! Plastic plates or laminated white card stock are great substitutes for white boards.


Cell Phone
Run off a phone pattern on heavy paper. Children can “design” their own cover on the back. As you call out numbers or letters they tap them on their phone.

*Use phones to practice learning phone numbers.

*Have children spell out sight words on their phones.

*Let children make up their own games they can play with a partner.

*Hole punch the corner so they can take “photos.”


Zip It
Write letters, words, numbers, etc. on the left side of a sheet of paper as shown and insert the paper in a zip bag. Call out a question, and children “zip” to the correct answer and then hold up their bag.

              

*If you write numerals horizontally you can use it like a number line.

LITTER PATROL

A great way to celebrate Earth Week and to be on the "green team" is to keep the earth beautiful by picking up trash. There's nothing more frustrating to me than to see trash along the road, but maybe we can improve things in the future by getting our students to join the LITTER PATROL!

Litter Patrol
Here I go. (Stand up as you begin clapping and snapping.)
I'm on the litter patrol.
I'm going to work all day to put the trash away.
The planet earth, you see, is my habitat.
I'm going to clean it up.
Well how about that?

Join me now.
Here we go.
We're on the litter patrol.
We're going to work all day to put the trash away.
The planet earth, you see, is our habitat.
We're going to clean it up.
Well, how about that?

All by yourself.
Here we go.
We're on the...


Litter Bags
All you'll need is an empty cereal box or cardboard food box and string to make a litter bag.
1. Cut the tops off the boxes.
2. Punch a hole in each short side.

3. Tie on a piece of string. Use these to collect trash or place these in your car.

*You can also make a litter bag by rolling down the top of a lunch bag and attaching a string for a handle.




Pick Up Your Trash Game
Children will love playing “Pick Up Your Trash!” Each child will need a scrap piece of paper that they can wad up into a ball. Divide the class into two teams and have them stand on opposite sides of the room. When the teacher calls, “Pick up your trash,” the teams start throwing their paper balls at each other. The object is to pick up trash (paper balls) and throw it back at the opposite side as quickly as possible. When the teacher says, “Freeze!” everyone must stop and gather the balls on their side into a pile. Count and see how many each side has. The side with the least amount wins. The great part about this game is that you can keep on playing as long as you want.

 

*You can also play it out on the playground.


Trash Snack
How about a “trash snack”? You will need ice cream cones, Gold Fish crackers, Cheerios, pretzel sticks, and peanuts. Take 4 lunch sacks and put a different item in each sack. Write “old tires” on the sack with Cheerios, write "dead fish" on the sack with the crackers, “sticks” on the sack with pretzel sticks, and “stones” on the sack with peanuts. Take a large bowl and make up a story about collecting trash. As you name the different items, invite different children to dump the contents in the bowl. Stir with a large spoon and then serve the “trash” in trashcans (ice cream cones). The cool thing about this snack is that there is NO trash when the children have finished eating!

                                     

Hint! Substitute raisins for peanuts if you have students with food allergies. You can also use sunflower seeds or other snack foods.

NATIONAL KINDERGARTEN DAY

THE WORLD KEEPS CHANGING, 

BUT CHILDREN ARE THE SAME! 

THEY WANT TO BE LOVED, 

THEY WANT TO PLAY AND HAVE FUN, 

AND THEY WANT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES!

How many times have you heard me say that? Today is National Kindergarten Day and a perfect time to reflect on our own childhoods and kindergarten experiences. Do you remember wearing a mask and sitting in front of a computer? It just breaks my heart when I see pictures and hear your stories about what it's been like to teach during the pandemic. I wrote the poem below several years ago out of frustration for the "rigor" and "academic push" that had eroded our precious "kinder gardens." We need to make it our theme song in the future because we are going to have to give children OVERDOSES of PLAY and HANDS-ON and SONGS and FINGER PLAYS and HUGS.

My kindergarten class in 1953. Can you tell which one is me?

They’ve Taken Away Our Song
By Jean Feldman

We used to sing and play outside.
We’d hold hands and we’d dance.
Now we have to sit still and take tests.
They’ve taken away our song.

We used to build with blocks.
We’d finger paint and do puzzles.
Now we do worksheets.
They’ve taken away our song.

We used to dig in the sand,
Play circle games and play pretend.
Now we sit in front of a big screen.
They’ve taken away our song.

We used to cook and go on field trips.
We had show and tell and rest time.
Now we have to stay on task.
They’ve taken away our song.

Our teacher used to have time
To sing us rhymes and tell us stories.
Now our teacher has to collect data.
They’ve taken away our song.

Give children back their song,
Laugh, and love, and play,
So when they’re all grown up
They’ll remember kindergarten in a special way.


Kindergarten Bill of Rights by Jean Feldman

• Kindergarten children have the right to the pursuit of happiness.

• Kindergarten children have the right to wooden blocks and a housekeeping center.

• Kindergarten children have the right to play dough and puzzles.

• Kindergarten children have the right to hold hands with their friends and play games.

• Kindergarten children have the right to free play outside.

• Kindergarten children have the right to sing and dance and be silly.

• Kindergarten children have the right to explore with paint, crayons, markers, glue, scissors and to make a mess!!!

• Kindergarten children have the right to have books read to them … many, many books.

• Kindergarten children have the right to go on field trips.

• Kindergarten children have a right to a quiet time every day so their brains can process information.

• Kindergarten children have the right to think school is the most wonderful place in their world.

• Kindergarten children have the right to think that they are capable and worthy.

• Kindergarten children have the right to hopes and dreams.

*Kindergarten children have the right to smiles and hugs and love, love, love!

My kinderoos back in the 1980's.

Every day was like giving a birthday party!

We had songs, games, snacks, stories, recess, and FUN!

We didn't know what check lists and standards were!

RECYCLE ME, PLEASE!

How about a free song download and flip book about recycling?

  

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2015/04_Apr_css/index.html

Brainstorm
Have children brainstorm all the ways they can reduce, reuse, and recycle materials.

Recycled Products
Have children to look around their homes and make a list of recycled materials. Have them practice identifying the “recycle logo” so they can help conserve materials.

RECYCLE ME, PLEASE!
You know all those cardboard food boxes you throw away? Well, here's a great opportunity to give them a second life, teach your children to recycle, and make some cool materials for your classroom. Send a note asking families to save their cardboard food boxes for a week and then let the fun begin!

Cardboard Castle – Let children use masking tape to create a castle or other play sculpture.

               

What's for Breakfast? Book - Each child chooses the front of their favorite cereal box. They can write original sentences or fill in the blank "(Child's name) likes (cereal)."

                                   

Puzzles – Cut box fronts into puzzle shapes. Store in zip bags. For younger children use two like boxes. Cut one up and let them place the pieces on the second box.

                                                  

Fronts and Backs – Cut front and back panels off of boxes. Mix them up and then ask the children to match up the ones that go together.

                                                                       


*Play a memory game where you place the fronts and backs face down on the floor. Children try to match up pairs.

Stencils and Templates – Cut geometric shapes out of box fronts. Children can trace these with colored pencils, crayons, or markers.

*Cut seasonal shapes or objects that relate to a unit of study for the children to trace.

Sewing Cards – Punch holes around the sides of boxes. Children can sew these with yarn, string, or old shoelaces.

                      

Weaving – Cut notches around the sides of boxes and let children weave through these with yarn.

Fractions – Give each child the front panel off a box. Can you cut it in half? Fourths? Eights?

                                           

Math – Have children sort the boxes by product, size, etc. Graph favorite cereals, cookies, crackers, etc.