1. A November Poem for Your Poetry (“I Can Read”) Notebooks
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November
no green grass
no blue skies
no bare feet going by
no birds
no bees
no leaves on trees
November
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After children have a memorable sense of this rhyme, use it to model and engage them in interactive writing using the words “yes” and “no.” Let them practice on their white boards. Teach children to
chant and fingerspell
“yes” ( spells yes) and “no” ( spells
no). To learn ASL for “yes” and “no,” see
Michigan State University ASL (American Sign Language) Browser.
Download November and other large print (copyright-secured) poems, songs, and rhymes for Poetry (“I Can Read”) Notebooks.
Thank you to Jennifer Foster and Jeff James for November posters.
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2. Gratitude is a Yearlong Theme |
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Friendship, kindness, responsibility, and gratitude are yearlong curriculum themes in many of our classrooms. “Thank you” is a caring phrase that builds healthy relationships and positive attitudes
about friends and life inside and outside of the classroom.
Consider opportunities for children to share appreciation:
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Teach children in pairs to turn and look at their classmates and talk (eye-to-eye and knee-to-knee) about an idea, a feeling, or curriculum theme. Model polite communication and invite the children to practice.
Teach them to end the brief dialog with “Jeremy, thank you for sharing…” and “Thank you for sharing too, Ryan!”
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Teach children American Sign Language for “thank you” (with a smile on their faces
 ). They can sign “Thank you”
to visitors and to each other. Again, see the ASL Browser for Sign Language Instruction:
Michigan State University ASL (American Sign Language) Browser
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Teach children to read, write, and spell “Thank you”. A memorable spelling song for “thank” uses the old folk melody, What Do We Do With a Drunken Sailor? Sing the letters
“t-h-a-n-k”four times – once with each line of the song – and watch the children quickly learn to spell, write, and read “thank”! They will know “you” from our M-O-M Spells Mom
song that teaches Mom, Dad, you and me. (Listen to the free audio from the Music is Magic CD with Nellie Edge and Tom Hunter:
Download Free Audio 1.5 MB) See
Sign Language  Video Clip
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Children can surprise parents with “thank-you” notes.
After children have practiced writing “thank you” repeatedly for fluency building, give them 3″ x 8½″ strips of paper to make several “thank you” notes to take home in an envelope. A child
can hide them under pillows, by the phone, in Dad’s shoes, etc. (Thank you, Patti Peck, for this delightful literacy gift idea.)
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Look for opportunities within the classroom for children to establish eye contact and practice saying “thank you” to each other: When someone passes them snacks, pushes chairs in, or holds the door
open, etc.
Three wonderful books on gratitude: Thank you!
These delightful books invite children to have "grand conversations" about all the things they are thankful for:
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Thank You, World, by Alice B. McGinty (Dial Books, 2007). Publisher description: “The joys of childhood are the same the whole world over. In this compelling book of celebratory rhyme and glowing
pictures, eight very different kids from eight different countries all go about their day and experience the same moments of happiness: greeting the sun in the morning, swinging on a swing, flying a kite, being tucked in by Mommy at
bedtime. Uplifting and visually rich, this book reminds us that the world isn’t as large as it seems and that life’s greatest pleasures are the simple ones.”
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Giving Thanks, by Jonathan London (Candlewick Press, 2003). A young boy learns to show gratitude for all the beauty he sees from his father, who thanks the sky and animals and
trees. Like his Indian friends, this father believes that things of nature are a gift that requires something be given back – a thank you. The Booklist review says it, “…fosters respect for the natural
world through a relatively simple text and illustrations and express the beauty and dignity of nature.” And we agree!
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Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Marks (Harper Collins, 2004). This warm, joyful book celebrates the many things children are thankful for – from Thanksgiving turkey and pie to hopscotch and fall
leaves. Sharing this simple book is a wonderful way to foster a spirit of gratitude. The message inspires children to think about the many things they have to say “Thank you” for. As an extra bonus, the print
is clear and large enough to engage early readers.
November Themes
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The story of Thanksgiving and a study of the gifts of the Native Americans to the pilgrims and the Native American view of the natural world provide an opportunity to create rich November curriculum themes including foods and
nutrition. Wise kindergarten teacher Joanie Cuttler involved families in creating a “Thankful Feast for Native Americans,” held in the classroom for families. Before the feast, the children performed songs and
dances. (Always, there are celebrations of language…)
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3. Talking Friendship Circles: Friends Build Speaking
and Listening Skills |
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Talking Friendship Circles provide a safe environment with maximum opportunity for each child to repeatedly practice speaking and listening.
Talking questions:
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Tell about something you’re good at.
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What’s your favorite kindergarten activity and why?
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What are you wondering about butterflies?
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What was your favorite part of the story?
The rotating circle structure allows half of the class to talk while the other half listens.
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This is a great way for children to review and cement new science concepts.
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Children expand their social skills and have an opportunity to talk to every other child in the classroom.
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Talking develops dendrite connections in the brain.
Organizational Tips:
Form two straight lines of children. Show the first line how to sit in a circle facing out; they become “the inner circle.” Then walk the other children over to form “the outer circle,” with each child facing
one student on the inner circle. The students on the inner circle get to talk for thirty seconds while the outer circle students listen. At the bell, the inner circle rotates (scoots) clockwise one person.
They greet their new listening friend and talk again. Rotate four or five times and then switch roles, with the outer circle becoming the talkers and movers.
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Children build friendships and develop confidence in speaking to each other.
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Learning increases when children have a chance to talk about new concepts!
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It is helpful for the shyer child to be on the listening side first.
From Celebrate Language and Accelerate Literacy: High Expectations • Joyful Learning • Proven Strategies by Nellie Edge. (Nellie Edge Resources, Inc., 2009)
Purchase at our Online Bookstore. |
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4.Building Reading Stamina: Start with Song Picture Books! |
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Familiar song picture books with their memorable rhythm and rhyme build English Language skills while simultaneously enhancing basic reading skills: phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonics. Perhaps even
more important, group singing of well-loved songs builds a culture of success around even our hardest-to-accelerate child. That is why so many of our kindergarten colleagues start the year with “books that sing and rhyme.”
“Kindergarten teachers have always known that kids have to believe they can read before they can actually do it…”
— Regie Routman, from Reading Essentials
To read more see:
Also see ASL Video Clip:
I Love the Mountains
See the
Online Bookstore for Nellie Edge Read and Sing Big Books™
Children choose these books again and again for their independent “Read-to-Self Time,” building confidence, stamina, and that joyful feeling of “I can read!” |
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5. Bookstore: Featuring "Heart Word” Stamps and Free Postage |
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6. Salem Kindergarten Cadre News
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Kindergarten Friendly-Handwriting, Small Motor Development and Multisensory ABC and Phonics Immersion
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Held in Kathie Bridge’s Kindergarten at Pringle Elementary School, 5500 Reed Lane SE, Salem, Oregon.
School phone number is (503) 399-3178.
Kathie Bridges will share research on fine and large motor development and how that relates to success in handwriting and learning to read. You will get to use Kathie’s fine motor literacy centers.
Nellie Edge will highlight songs and chants and her action-research on Kindergarten- Friendly Handwriting and Multisensory ABC and Phonics Immersion.
Thank you for being teachers who honor childhood and reach for excellence in early literacy.
Smiles!
Nellie Edge |
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