GRATEFUL

Some of you are cooking, some of you are traveling, some of you are sleeping, but I hope you all take a moment today to pause and...

     Make a list of your blessings. 

     Call someone who has done something nice for you.

     Write an email or send a card to someone you appreciate.

     Acknowledge the positive traits of others around you instead of their negative traits.

     Think of all the people who have done you good and forgive those who have hurt you.

     Do a little act of kindness today and every day.

Several weeks ago my exercise instructor said her church gave everybody a twenty dollar bill and told them to give it to a random person who looked like they needed a little love.  As they handed the $20 they were to smile and say, "You are special and God loves you."  I thought it was such a great idea I've given away five $20 in the past two weeks.  One went to a convenience store clerk, another to a housekeeper, a tired looking fast food server... I've been blessed more than the people I've given the money to.  And, it's not the money.  It's an acknowledgment that I recognize you and appreciate you.  Somebody cares.

I appreciate each of YOU!  Thank you for caring for children every day!

TURN LOCKDOWNS INTO SONGFESTS!

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!  That's certainly what my friend Kelly did when they had a lockdown.  I want to share her email because it's a testimony to how teachers really are super heroes every day.

On Friday we were told we were on lockdown. Shortly after that we were evacuated to another school for the afternoon because of a bomb threat at the high school, which is across the street from my building. I gathered up my babies, threw a snack into my emergency bag and grabbed my song sticks.

A couple years ago I started making “song sticks”. I simply wrote the names of the songs on a popsicle stick as I taught them to the students. It’s a way to help me remember which songs I’ve taught and an easy way to think of the next song to sing. When we were leaving the building on Friday, I knew I was going to have to come up with something to keep my babies entertained. I grabbed my song sticks because I knew I would draw a blank on which songs to sing. We sang for a solid hour! Other classes joined in with us. My kids didn’t know anything was wrong. They just thought we were having a grand adventure.

It’s a crazy world we live in, but being able to share in a song kept everyone calm and happy.

Sincerely,

Kelly Paquette

ONCE UPON AN IDEA...

Would you believe that every once and a while I run out of ideas? It's true! It might be that I'm just in a holiday mood, but I'm plumb out of things to say. But, don't worry, I've hunted through blogs from days long ago and I've found some "treasures" just for you! I am so thankful there are still teachers who believe in childhood and hands-on learning just like me. Thank you for joining me as we go down memory lane.

Todally Awesome Cheer
Squat down like a frog and say, “Todally.”
Jump up with arms in the air and say, “Awesome!”

McDonald’s Cheer (Michelle Sanders)
Ba, da, ba, ba, ba.
I’m loving it! (Arms overhead like the golden arches.)

Give Me a Toe
Instead of having children give you a high five, ask them to “give me a toe” as you touch feet.

Golf Tee Writing
This is a great idea to develop small muscles and writing skills. Children spread play dough to make a pancake and then write on it with a golf tee.

Extravaganza!
A teacher said that she called everything an “extravaganza” and it motivated the children. “Oh, we’re going to have a math extravaganza after lunch!” “Tomorrow we are going to have a silent reading extravaganza.”

Matching Game (Bobby Verostko)
Ask parents to save colorful gallon lid covers from milk or juice. Make duplicate copies of children’s faces and laminate. Cut to fit inside the lids and glue. Children love seeing their faces and matching them up.
    
*Make similar matching games with stickers for different holidays.

GOOD-BYE HANDSHAKE

I know that many of you greet the children each morning with a handshake, but how about ending the day with a handshake? Make a list of favorite handshakes and picture clues by your door. As children exit they point to a picture and then give you the handshake.

4-H Good Bye – Children can choose one of these “H’s.”
High Five - 5 (High five.)
Hand (Shake hands.)
Hug - Heart (Hug.)
Hollywood kiss - Lips (Air kiss on left and right.)

*Or, they can also choose a home run, which is all four!

If you end your day with a handshake and a song, it will be like "dessert"!

It Is Time to Say Good-Bye  Tune:  "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain"

(Clap your hands and stomp your feet to the beat.)

     It is time to say good-bye to all my friends.

     It is time to say good-bye to all my friends.

     It is time to say good-bye,

     Give a smile and wink your eye. (Smile and then wink.)

     It is time to say good-bye to all my friends. (Wave good-bye.)

     Yeehaw!!!  (Fist in the air.)

OLDEN DAYS

The world certainly has changed since I was a little girl!  Many children today don't know what a rotary phone, typewriter, record player, or camera look like.  These things are often referred to in literature and movies so it would be meaningful to talk about how they were used when their grandparents were kids.  (A note to parents might help you find one of these.)  What do we use now instead of these tools?  

*Encourage children to "interview" their grandparents about how life was different when they were children.


            

Photo Op
Cut 4" off the top of a lunch bag as shown. Decorate the front to look like a camera, punch holes, and tie on yarn for a handle. Take children on a nature walk and let them take pictures of things they are thankful for. When you return to the classroom give them 4" squares so they can draw and illustrate what they liked best.

Over the River and Through the Woods
Do you remember this traditional song about the "olden days"?  I love the second verse that my daughter wrote about how we travel now.

Over the River

(Traditional Tune:  Happy Everything CD)

Over the river and through the woods       (Pretend to hold reins of a sleigh

To grandmother’s house we go.                  and drive as you bounce up and down.)

The horse knows the way                           (Put hands behind back and nod

To carry the sleigh                                        like a horse.)

Through the white and drifted snow.                 

Over the river and through the woods,        (Pretend to drive sleigh.)

Oh, how the wind does blow.                        (Wrap arms around self and shiver.)

It stings your toes and bites your nose        (Touch nose and point to toes.)

As over the ground we go.

Through the country and cities far               (Pretend to drive a car.)

In sun or wind or rain.

We might go by train                                    (Pull down on train whistle.)

We might take a plane.                                (Fly hand like a plane in the air.)

Or maybe a bus or car.                                (Hold out right hand, then left.)

Through low valleys and mountains high    (Look down low and then up.)

Now, grandmother’s house I spy.                  (Hand over eyes.)

Hurrah, for the fun!                                       (One fist in the air.)

Is the turkey done?                                   

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!                        (Cheer with other fist.)

Comparisons – Use a Venn diagram to compare what it would be like to visit grandmother a long time ago and how we visit now.  How are things the same?  How are they different?

Graphs – Make a graph of how they will travel to their Thanksgiving dinner.  Car?  Plane?  Train?  Bus?  Boat?  Stay at home!

Family Celebrations – Holidays are a good time to talk about diversity.  Not all families celebrate Thanksgiving, but most families do celebrate something.  Ask children to bring in photos of celebrations they have in their home.  Put their pictures together to make a class book.

THANKFUL WRITING

Do you need a few more activities to do this week?  These books are a "timely" way to nurture nonfiction writing and gratitude!

Thankful Journal
Make a special journal for each child to use during the month of November. Several times a week ask them to draw, list, or write sentences about things they are grateful for.  You can use napkins, paper plates, or a fork as shown.

Thankful Board
Designate a bulletin board or poster in the hall as your “thankful board.” Children can attach sticky notes or draw pictures of things they are thankful for throughout the month.

Thankful for Friends
Jane Lake shared this idea with me several years ago.  Fold 3 sheets of paper in half and staple.  Children use one of the prompts below on each page of their book.

     1. A good friend is…
     2. I’m a good friend when…
     3. What friends like to do together…
     4. Symbols of friendship…
     5. Names of my friends…
                                                        


Thankful Song 

(Tune: “Are You Sleeping?”  Children repeat each line.)
I am thankful.
I am thankful.
Every day.
Every day.
For my friends and family.
For my friends and family.
Thanks I say!
Thanks I say!

BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON?

November 16 is Button Day…for real! Here are some thoughts on how to integrate buttons into your lesson plans any day. And, don't forget to read Eric Litwin's PETE THE CAT AND HIS FOUR GROOVY BUTTONS!

                              
Hint! I bought my bag of buttons at Walmart, but you could ask parents to send in extra buttons they don’t want for a learning activity. (That might be a good homework assignment.)

Math
*Have children count the number of buttons they have on. Who has the most? Who has zero? Tally how many in the entire class.

*Have children form groups with friends who have the same number of buttons.

*Use the buttons children bring in for math activities. Let them sort the buttons. What was their sorting rule? Can they sort them another way? 

               
         

*Write numerals on cups and have children make appropriate sets in the cups using the buttons.

                                    

*Make patterns with buttons and use buttons for addition and subtraction.

                                     

Crafts
*Let children choose one button and glue it in the middle of a sheet of construction paper. Can they create a picture incorporating the button?

                     

*Give children pipe cleaners or dental floss and let the string buttons to make necklaces and bracelets. (You’ll probably have to limit the number of buttons each child can use.) 

*Make cardboard picture frames and let children glue on buttons. Insert their photo for a perfect gift for mom or dad.

                              

Game
*Play “Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?” This is really a silly game, but my kids loved it. Choose one child to be “it” and hide a button. Choose 3 or 4 other children to leave the classroom and stand in the hall. The rest of the students cup their hands together as if they are holding something. “It” walks around the room and places the button in one friend’s cupped hands. The children in the hall are then called back to the classroom and everyone chants, “Button, button, who’s got the button?” The students from the hall walk around opening hands until someone finds the button. They become the new “it” and the game continues.

*Let children make up their own game using buttons.

*Demonstrate how to sew on a button. Now, that’s a novel idea! I bet some of your kids have never seen someone use a needle and thread.