Song Lyrics

After reading all of the amazing feedback about Patricia's Music and Movement workshop last night, I thought it would complement her training by sharing this post all about Song Lyrics!!

Sometimes we have so many songs that we want to sing with the children, but we just can't remember how they go!  

An easy way to help you keep track of all of those songs in Spanish while also promoting a PRINT RICH ENVIRONMENT for the children, is to hang the lyrics up in your circle time area!!  Here are some different ways of doing it in some of our Pine Village classrooms!!  

Alicia in Brighton (Preschool Teacher)

Alicia sometimes likes to type up her song lyrics and add an image, and sometimes she will hand write them.  She almost always places it in a page protector so it'll be easy to re-use for the next year.     This would be GREAT to add to a CURRICULUM BOX.  :-)

Marilyn y Julissa - JP Revere Street (Toddler Teachers)

Marilyn and Julissa also type up the lyrics to songs and add images.  They laminated the song so it can also be used year after year.  

Llenifer - JP Centre Street (Toddler Teacher)

Here's another way to highlight the songs that you do with the children!  Print out the words and add the images to a poster board!  It will be easy to bring it out and sing the song with the children!

Jenna in the South End - (Pre-K Teacher)

Jenna writes all of her songs on a flip chart.  It makes it easy to keep track of all of the songs that she sings with the children, and it also creates an amazing print-rich environment!!  

Check  out some of the examples!

Be Inspired every day!!

Jacie

Daily Routine Charts

We all know the importance of having a daily routine that is predictable in the classroom.  Sometimes we think we have the routine down, but the children are still unsure of what is coming next.  By having an interactive visual aid  displaying what the Daily Routine is the classroom, the children will know the sequence of events each day and it will help with the classroom management!

Here are some samples that I have seen in some of the PVP classrooms!  I'm sure that there are more out there that I am missing, so please let me know so I can add photos to this entry!! 

JP CENTRE- PRESCHOOL (MARISOL y SECIA)

This is a Lakeshore Chart that they translated into Spanish!!  I love that the arrow can be moved down easily as the day progresses!

NEEDHAM - PRESCHOOL (MADELYN y EMILY)

This daily routine chart has a clothespin that you can move to the different parts of the day to follow the daily sequence!!

NEEDHAM - TODDLERS (CARMENZA Y MARIA)

NEEDHAM - PRESCHOOL -(GALA)

SOUTH END

PORTER SQUARE -PRE-K (ELIANA)

On this daily schedule chart, Eliana adds a checkmark with her dry erase marker so the children know what has been accomplished throughout the day.

JOB CHARTS

Job Charts are an excellent way to give children responsibility for their classroom.  

One important concept in Conscious Discipline that is part of Encouragement is that of the School Family.

One of the structures used to create a positive school family is the job chart.

There are a number of benefits of a job chart. First, and foremost, having a meaningful job creates a sense of being a contributing member of the school family. The job chart also provides structure for each child’s day. Children experience mastery as they learn different jobs. The job chart also provides a way for each child to be “special” and gain recognition for “doing”. It develops a sense of responsibility, as well as self-esteem.

You can do a simple job chart in all of the classrooms...even a toddler room!!

SAMPLE JOBS:

- Line leader

- Caboose

- Fish Feeder/Veterinarian

- Clean up Reminder

- Door Holder

-  Snack Helper = Hand out Plates at Snack

- Light Keeper - Turn off the Lights when Leave the Room

- Weather Watcher 

- Calendar Helper

- Pointer Person (use a pointer at circle time for vocabulary etc...)

- Shoe Helper = get the basket of outdoor shoes and hands them out

- Colchonetas Helper 

- Trash Collector

Conscious Discipline suggests additional jobs for older children such as “"Well Wisher." When a student is absent, the "Well Wisher" writes the absent student's name in a Well Wishes heart and sends well wishes to that student. The "Well Wisher" might also draw a picture for the absent child and leave the drawing in their cubby. Another job would be the classroom greeter. This person would greet visitors with a smile and a warm welcome.

If you want to use the Conscious Discpline Jobs...here is a link that you can use to print out the jobs from Boardmaker.

http://www.boardmakershare.com/Activity/3313/preschool-student-jobs-conscious-discilpine%20%29

Conscious Discipline Jobs

Here are a few samples of Job Charts that I have seen in some of the schools!!

Needham - Madelyn and Emily's Preschool Class

The teachers hand write in the names of the children on the job chart each day.  There is a picture of each job and one of the jobs is to pick the names of the children's job.  (SEE VIDEO).  Even the teachers have a job.  :-)

Click on the link to see the Job Chart in ACTION!!!

Madelyn's Job Chart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsaQJ5WRnTA&feature=plcp

SOUTH END - Jenna's Pre-K

Jenna uses clothespins with the children's names on it and just rotates the clothespins down each day.

JP REVERE - Elba and Janette's Pre-K

Elba and Jannette use the Conscious Discpline Jobs with pictures of the children that go in each pocket of the pocket chart!  

Newton - Britni and Katie's Pre-K

Britni and Katie have this "Responsibilidades del salon" in their classroom.  They use popsicle sticks with the children's names on them to rotate the jobs.  

Porter Square - Eliana's Pre-K

Eliana uses this pocket chart to distribute the jobs in her classroom.  There is a popsicle stick with the names of the children on it to rotate the jobs.  

Other samples that I found online!

It's a great time of year to start implementing a job chart in  your classroom!!  It can help with your classroom management and the children will love being the little "helpers!!"  

Jacie

Sensory Table Ideas

It is a new requirement to change the sensory table at least once a week at Pine Village this year, and I am so pleased to see so much creativity in the classrooms!  Here are just a sampling of the pictures of some of the cool sensory table ideas that I have seen just in September and Octuber!!  As you continue to change out your sensory tables, it may be helpful to store the items in shoeboxes, or ziploc bags and keep all of the sensory table materials together in one spot for easy access.  HAVE FUN!

MAGNETIC HUNT

Pompoms, magnetic wands, cut up pipe cleaners (LOVE THAT) and tinsel.  

The children can find the hidden magnetic items!!  

Good ol' Fashioned Sand and Shovels 

Potato Flakes, letters and assorted toys

Flour and rollers and cups

Bathing the Dolls in Soap and Water

JELLO

ICE

Dried Elbow Macaroni and shovels and scoops

DRIED PASTA AND LETTERS

FALL STUFF

Ears of corn and magnifying glasses

Fall Leaves, pumpkins and gourds

Finding things hiding in HAY

SHREDDED PAPER and TOYS

PAPER PIECES FROM RECYCLING CENTER

COLORED CORNSTARCH AND WATER = GOOP

DRIED WAGON WHEEL PASTA AND CARS

SENSORY POOLS

The sensory "table" can also be a sensory "pool" with big blocks or balls!