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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Oh, happy day!


Good morning!  It's Saturday!  Yeah!  I'm home drinking my coffee and it's going to be a great day!  I have LOVED meeting so many new teachers this summer, but I'm ready to be home for a few weeks.  

This week I had the opportunity to visit Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The drive from Minneapolis over rolling hills and past cornfields reminded me of "Oh, beautiful for spacious skies..."  Is this a great country or what?  Every once in a while we need to stop and remind ourselves of all the wonderful things in America instead of focusing on the negative!

Anyway, an email from a teacher this morning asked about a song to get children to sit on the carpet.  Here are a few ideas:

Have a Seat  (“Shortnin’ Bread”)

Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody have a seat on the floor.
Not on the ceiling, not on the door.
Everybody have a seat on the floor!

Note:  If you want children to sit in a chair, then sing:
Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody have a seat on your chair.
Not on the ceiling, not in the air.
Everybody have a seat on your chair.

Sit Down Chant

 Clap your hands.  (Clap 3 times slowly.)
Stomp your feet.         (Stomp slowly 3 times.)
Put your bottom         (Children sit down quietly.)
in your seat!

Criss Cross

Criss cross     (Children sit on the floor and cross their legs.)
Be your own boss.  (Children cross their arms like a boss.  Remind them to be the “boss” of themselves.)

Secret Signals

Explain to your students that you are going to have some “secret signals” that only your class will know.  Here they are:

1 – Whenever the teacher says “one” everyone should sit down quietly.
2 – When the teacher says “two” everyone should put their hands in their laps.
3 – When the teacher says “three” everyone should smile.

You can add other signals, such as “four” line up at the door, or “five” hands by sides.

Spotlight

Keep a flashlight handy and use it to “shine” on behaviors you want the children to model.  “Spotlight on a quiet listener sitting quietly on the floor.”  “Spotlight on a good helper pushing in the chairs.”