HELLO BOOK

A “Hello Book” is perfect for helping children recognize their names and create friendships.  You will need a photograph of each child, construction paper, book rings, and markers.  Glue each child’s photo on a page.  (If you don’t have photographs of the children, just let them draw a picture of themselves.)  Write “Hello child’s name.” at the top of the page.  Punch holes in the pages and put together with book rings.  Start your day by reading the book together and saying hello to each other.

*You could also use the book when you want to ask questions to the class.  Randomly turn to a page and let that child answer the question.  This will allow “thinking time” and discourage children from shouting out the answer.

*Use this book to dismiss children for learning centers, to line up, etc.  Flip through the book and hold up different pictures.  As the children see their photo, they may be dismissed.

*“Sing and read” this book to the tune of “Good Night, Ladies.” 

                  Hello, (child’s name).

                  Hello, (child’s name).

                  Hello, (child’s name).

                  How are you today?

Hint!  Bind the pages at the bottom so you can hold the book in your lap and flip down the pages as you sing.  

*Make a similar book called "Kiss Your Brain!"

Or, how about, “Got Milk?” where you paint a white mustache on each child’s photo with white out!  

My friend Vanessa Levin (pre-kpages.com) made this book for me years ago.

THAT'S THE NAME OF MY SCHOOL

Do you get tired of children saying, “Teacher, teacher!” the first few days of school.  This song will enable them to learn the name of their teacher, school, principal, as well as their community, city, state, and country.

Take photographs of yourself, the principal, the school, your community, and so forth.  Glue pictures to construction paper and write a verse similar to those below on each page.  Sing the words to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.”

The name of my school is (school’s name), (school’s name), (school’s name).

                   The name of my school is (school’s name).

                   That’s the name of my school.

                   The name of my teacher is (teacher’s name), (teacher’s name),

(teacher’s name)…

The name of my principal is…

The name of my librarian is…

The name of my P.E. teacher is…

Hint!  Include social studies concepts so children learn the name of your mayor, governor, the President, your continent, etc.

RULES RAP

Here's a fun way to introduce rules to your students.
Rules Rap

(Children repeat each line after the teacher.)

Chorus:

The rules, the rules, the rules of the classroom.  (Bend over and rap.)

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.)

Work together, don’t fight, or you’ll get in trouble.        

Chorus

YEAH!  (Rapper hands.)

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!)  

DAILY SCHEDULE

This is a book that will help children feel comfortable as they learn the daily routine in your classroom.  Even if children can’t read the words, the pictures will provide them with clues about what to do.  Read the book each morning to prepare children and to capture their interest in activities you have planned.  Have children refer to the book to “see what we should do next.”  You could also send the book home with one child each evening to share with their families.

First, take pictures of the children engaged in your daily activities and routines.  Glue pictures to construction paper and write captions similar to the ones suggested.  (Adapt to the age level of your students and your curriculum.)   Put the pages together and bind with a spiral binder or book rings.

Welcome to Marshall School

1.  Put away your backpack and get ready for a great day!

2.  We start our day with circle time and a song!

     We talk, do the calendar, and learn together.

3.  Next, we do literacy centers.  We read, write, listen, and play! 

4.  Time to go outside for P.E.  We need to exercise our bodies as well as our brains. 

5.  Next comes math!  We count, add, subtract, measure, graph, and think! 

6.  Time for lunch.  I’m hungry!  How about you? 

7.  Story time is always special.  Books are friends that we love to visit again and again.

8.  Then it’s time for learning centers.  Do you want to play in the blocks, housekeeping, art, science, math, computers, table toys, library, or sand table? 

9.  Let’s recall and review our day.  Don’t forget your backpacks! 

10.  Good-bye, friends!  See you tomorrow!

Schedule Cards Take photos of the different events in your school day and glue them to index cards.  Attach a piece of magnetic tape to the back.  Each day arrange the cards on the magnetic board so students can “see” the routine.  

*One teacher said she put magnetic tape on the front of the card as well.  As they completed activities they would flip the pictures over.  This helped children with their sense of time and was a visual way to understand when they would go home.

WHO IS MY TEACHER?

Make a brochure about yourself, your school, and fun activities you have planned for the year and mail it to the children before school begins (or just give it to them the first day).  To make a brochure, fold a sheet of paper into thirds.  On the front section write “Welcome to your name’s Classroom!”  On the left section place a picture of yourself and write some personal information about your family, pets, experience, etc.  On the inside write “We’ll have a great year together…learning to read, experimenting in science, learning math, working on the computer, cooking, taking field trips, singing, creating in art,” and so forth.

All About Me -  Make a book about yourself to read to the children the first day of school.  Include a photograph of yourself as a child, family photos, pictures of pets, favorite foods, hobbies, why you enjoy teaching, etc.  Let one child take the book hom each evening to share with their families.  (What a simple way to build a partnership with your parents!)

Hint!  You might even ask each parent to make a similar book about his child to place in your classroom library.

AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE!

Glue a small mirror to the inside of a box.  Explain to your class that something amazing and incredible is in the box.  It’s so unique and special there’s only one like it in the whole world!  Pass the box around and look at their expressions when they see their reflection in the mirror.

 Super Star Chant
(Insert the name of your school to this cadence.  Children repeat each line.)

(School), (School) is the best!           (Slap thighs or clap hands to the beat.)
(School)  is better than all the rest!
We can read and we can write

And our letters are out of sight.

We can count and we can add
And that makes our teacher glad!

We make new friends and follow rules.

Getting along is really cool.

We can learn and we can play
And we prove it everyday!

(School), (School) is the best!
(School)  is better than all the rest!
We are super, yes we are.

Look out world, here comes a star.

We Can’t All Be Stars, But We Can All Twinkle!  Make a bulletin board with that saying.  Ask children what it means to them.  What is special about them?  Give each child a star and have them draw their picture (or use a photo) in the center.   On the five points of the star write positive words about them.  Add their stars to the bulletin board.

NAME CARDS

Name cards are something you’ll definitely want to make for your classroom when school starts.

Why?       name recognition; reading skills; print connections; classroom management                                

What?         sentence strips cut in 8” sections; photos of children, stickers,

                   markers, box or basket

How?           Write each child’s name on a card and glue their picture on

the right as shown.  Store the name cards in a box or basket. 

Use the name cards in the activities below:

Hint!            As children become familiar with their names, let them

choose a symbol or sticker to replace their photo.  During the

next stage, write each child’s name using a different color for

the first letter in their name.  Finally, just use cards with the

children’s names.

When?         Use name cards for a variety of activities throughout the school year.

Transitions:   Pull names to line up, answer questions, go to centers, etc.

Sign In:        Place name cards by a large sheet of paper.  Each day

when children come to school they can find their card and

write their name on the chart.

Helpers:      Choose names for special jobs, to sit by the teacher, etc.

Writing Center:  Keep cards in the writing center so children can use their friends’ names to write stories, notes, etc.

Word Wall:   Attach Velcro to the back of cards and use for interactive activities on the word wall.

Mystery  Name:    Choose one child’s name each day and place it in an envelope.  Give clues about the consonants and vowels in the name.  For example, “This person’s name has one vowel and it is in the middle.”  Write an “a” on the envelope. “Whose name could it be?  This name has a /t/ sound at the end.”  Write a “t” on the envelope.  “Anybody guess whose name this might be?  There is a /p/ at the beginning of this name.”  Write a “P” on the envelope.  “Stand up if this is your name.”  Pull the name card from the envelope to verify.

Grouping:    Pull two names at a time for partner activities.  You could also choose name cards for small group activities.

Seating:      Place cards on the rug before circle time.  Children find their name and sit in that spot.  (The cards can be used in a similar manner for snack or table activities.)

Little Red Box - Cover a small box with red paper and put name cards in the box.  Pull one name at a time out of the red box and sing to this song to the tune of "Polly Wolly Doodle."

I wish I had a little red box

To put my child’s name  in.

I’d take him/her out and go kiss, kiss, kiss,  (smack in the air)

And put him back again.

…Continue singing each child’s name.