Transitions: Finger Plays/Action Rhymes

It is important that children focus their attention and settle down before they are expected to listen. Songs, finger plays and action rhymes just do the right job! Here are a few of them to help you with your students' transitions.


Song - This is the Way (Tune: Mulberry Bush)


This is the way we get ready to listen,
Ready to listen, ready to listen.
This is the way we get ready to listen,
To listen to our story.


Song - Come and Listen (Tune: Are You Sleeping)


Come and listen,
Come and listen,
To my song, to my song.
Happy children singing,
Happy children singing,
Sing along, sing along.


Finger play/Action Rhyme - I Wiggle My Fingers


(Do actions with what you are singing)


I wiggle my fingers,
I wiggle my toes.
I wiggle my shoulders,
I wiggle my nose.
Now no more wiggles are left in me.
So I can sit still as I can be.


Finger play/Action Rhyme - Everybody Do This 


(Tap different parts of body as you sing)


Everybody do this, (tap your head)
Do this, do this.
Everybody do this,
Just like me.

Everybody do this, (tap your nose)

Do this, do this.

Everybody do this,

Just like me.

Everybody do this, (tap your shoulders)

Do this, do this.

Everybody do this,

Just like me.

Everybody shh, shh, (whisper)
Shh, shh.
Everybody shh, shh,
Just like me.


Finger play/Action Rhyme - Open Them, Shut Them


(Use your hands to do the actions)


Open them, (open hands)
Shut them, (close hands in a fist)
Open them,
Shut them.


Give them a little clap. (clap hands)


Open them,
Shut them,
Open them,
Shut them.


And fold them in your lap. (fold hands in lap)

The following is a list of books that help with transitions and focus on listening.


Daydreamers by Eloise Greenfield
Fancy that! by Pamela Allen
Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox
The Mystery Beast of Ostergeest by Steven Kellogg
The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor
The Snail's Spell by Joanne Ryder
Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin, Jr.

Play Dough Recipe

I have used this exact recipe every single week while I was teaching at a Readiness Centre for families. My mom has begun to use it every other day as well as she teaches at a daycare. I also gave this recipe to many parents and they loved the clarity of it and how well it comes out. Pictures to come soon!




Ingredients:


1 cup flour
1 cup coloured water (add food colouring to the water)*
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar**
1 tbsp. vegetable oil


Steps:


Mix all ingredients together in a heavy bottomed pot, so it will not scorch.


Cook on the stove pot at medium-high heat, stirring until it clumps together. (This happens very quickly!)


Remove from heat. Dump the play dough out of the pot onto the countertop. Knead as it cools.


You do not need to store it in the refrigerator. You can put it into a container and it is good to know. If it is still very warm, you can also put a paper towel inside the container to soak up the moisture (though I rarely need to do this).


* For a very vibrant colour, you can use the Wilton paste food colouring made for cake decorating which can be found at the Bulk Barn or Michael's.


**Cream of tartar can be found in bulk at the Bulk Barn for a cheaper price than from any grocery store.

The English Language

English is not my first language. I have heard some people say English is an easy language. My family and I beg to differ. I learned English through a lot of repetition. There are times when my family and I are sitting around and happen to come up with the topic on languages. We always talk about the spelling of certain words and which words cause confusion in their meaning. Here are some of the things we end up getting a good laugh from. These are also the same things a lot of students ask in class when they are learning grammar and spelling in English.


A word we use many times during the day: 'understand'. It's two words made into one that gives a totally different meaning. For a child, the word understand maybe be broken down into the two different words and he/she may think "stand under what?" Should the opposite of understand be 'oversit'?


So here it goes. Some things I have come across through personal experience as well as found on the internet. Have a good laugh!


1. If you pull off the wings from a FLY, does it become a WALK instead? ... or a SWIM?...


2. Instead of a personality, does a dog have a DOGALITY? and a cat has a CATALITY?...


3. Why are tall buildings called FLATS?


4. Why do CAREGIVER and CARETAKER mean the same thing?


5. Why doesn't a BUTTERFLY fly with butter?


6. Why does the word FUNERAL begin with FUN?


7. Why doesn't LIPSTICK do what it is supposed to?


8. Why do we drive on PARKWAYS and park on DRIVEWAYS?


9. Why isn't BUT and PUT pronounced the same?


10. The homes that are stuck together, why are they called APARTments?


English is not AS easy as we think it to be. But with repetition and "understanding" it is not so bad! Improving your English can be done through reading books, reading on the Internet, doing riddles, crossword puzzles and word searches. I have also heard of people who have learned the basics of speaking English through television and the news! Keep your ears, eyes and mouth open if you want to improve your language speaking skills! Happy learning :)

Intro!

This is my first blog and my first post! As it takes me a while to figure out how everything works, I just want to give everyone a little bit of introduction about my blog and of course, myself.


I am a teacher and an early childhood educator. I love to help people so I will be posting ideas, lesson plans, activities and more. I also love reading, listening to world wide music, meeting new people and doing any sort of logic puzzles.


Follow my blog if you have any questions and would like to know more about what I will be posting. I will be sure to follow yours as well! Happy blogging!