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Thursday, December 6, 2012

HELLO - GOODBYE


I don’t know why you say goodbye I say hello.  Hello, hello…

I received an email last week from someone asking for a goodbye song.  I thought it was really cool that their administrator asked them to do an opening song and an ending song each day in their classroom.  I aim to please, so today you’ll find a few “Hello” activities and tomorrow I’ll share some “Goodbye” songs.

Brain research would suggest choosing one song to start your day and one song to end your day.  Use the same songs for a month so they will become “indicator” activities in the brain.  Indicator activities let your students know in a positive way when it is time to learn and turn on the brain and when it is time to bring closure to the day.

Hello!  How Are You?  (“Skip to My Lou”)
Hello, how are you?                                      (Wave hand.)
Hello, how are you?
Hello, how are you?
How are you this morning?

I am fine, and I hope you are, too.           (Point to self, then a child.)
I am fine, and I hope you are, too.  
I am fine, and I hope you are, too.
I hope you are too, this morning.

Turn to your neighbor and shake their hand.         (Shake hands.)
Turn to your neighbor and shake their hand.        
Turn to your neighbor and shake their hand,
Shake their hand this morning.

Hello, Neighbor!   (“Good Night, Ladies”)
Hello, neighbor.                  (Wave to partner.)
What do you say?                  (Give high five.)
It’s going to be a                  (Slap thighs, clap hands,
Happy day.                           clap hands in the air with partner.)
Greet your neighbor.         (Shake hands.)
Boogie on down.                  (Hands on hips and wiggle.)
Give a bump,                           (Bump thighs.)
And turn around.                  (Wave hands in air and turn around.)

Shake a Hand   (Tune:  “Buffalo Gal”)
Everybody shake a hand, shake a hand, shake a hand.  (Walk around and
Everybody shake a hand and walk around the room.      shake hands.)

Give high 5.  (High five.)
Hug a hand.  (Palms together, wrap thumbs around, and squeeze.)
Knuckle bump.  (Make fists and bump knuckles.)
Boogey down.  (Wiggle down and up with a friend.)
Smile and wink and walk back to your seat.  (Smile and wink.)

Morning Rock
Begin this pattern:  stomp, stomp, clap ~ stomp, stomp, clap, etc.
(It’s similar to the beat of “We Will Rock You.”)
Teacher’s name class is super.  (Stomp, stomp, clap.)
We think first child’s name is super.  (Stomp, stomp, clap.)
We think second child’s name is super.  (Stomp, stomp, clap.)
We think third child’s name is super. (Stomp, stomp, clap.)
And so on using each child’s name in the room.

Compliment Circle
Children sit in a circle and the teacher beings by giving a child a compliment.  The first child then passes on a compliment to another friend and so on until everyone has had a turn giving and receiving a compliment.
*Let children toss a sponge ball or bean bag around as they compliment each other.
Hint!  Give a “hand hug.”  Teacher squeezes the first child’s hand, then they continue to pass the “hand hug” around the circle until it gets back to the teacher.
*You can also “pass” a smile around the room.

Starting Line-Up
Have the class form two lines facing each other.  One at a time, announce a child like they announce players at a football game.  (For example:  “Starting line-up for Ms. James’s room is Daniel Wong.  He has brown hair and enjoys soccer.  Let’s hear it for Daniel!”)  That child runs through the middle of the lines as everyone gives them a high five, a pat on the back, and an encouraging word. 
Hint!  Older children could write their own descriptions for this activity.

Morning Mantra
         What is my job today?                                    (Teacher asks.)
         Your job is to teach us and to love us.         (Children respond.)
         What is your job today?                           (Teacher asks.)
         Our job is to learn and to love each other.         (Children respond.)

Turn on Your Brain
Start the day by having your students “turn on their brains.”  They turn on the left side (twist by left forehead), the right side (twist by right forehead), the left ear, the right ear, the left eye, and the right eye.  They don’t have to turn on their mouths because they stay “on” all the time.  Now they are ready to learn!!!