Tuesday Teaching Tips
Whether you’re looking for a new poem, a helpful classroom management tip, or a fun activity, come join us on Facebook and check out our Tuesday Teaching Tips!
Every Tuesday we’ll share a new tip - something quick and easy that you can use right away. We’ll highlight seasonal books, share songs and rhymes and anything else you can think of!
Most of all, we’d love to hear from you! Have a great idea? A favorite poem? A great tip? Come learn new things and share your great advice! So, grab a friend and head on over to 
. Our past Teaching Tips are available here.
Do the Bunny Pokey!
Hop into spring with this fun twist on a classic favorite. The Bunny Pokey You put your bunny ears in, you put your bunny ears out, You put your bunny ears in, and you shake them all about. You do the bunny-pokey, and you hop around. That’s what it’s all about! You put your bunny paws in, you put your bunny paws out, You put your bunny paws in, and you shake them all about. You do the bunny-pokey, and you hop around. That’s what it’s all about! You put your bunny nose in, you put your bunny nose...
read moreIf Your Line is Getting Wiggly, Clap Your Hands!
The countdown to Spring Break is on, and somehow the children can smell it in the air. This time of year the line always seems to be a bit more…zig zag than usual. So, if that’s a challenge you’re facing these days, here’s a quick and easy song to get those kids back with you. To the tune of ”If You’re Happy and You Know it” If you’re ready to go to lunch (recess, library, etc.) clap your hands! If you’re ready to go to lunch clap your hands! If you’re ready and you know it, Then...
read moreRolling, Rolling, Rolling…Into a Kindergarten Transportation Unit with These Great Songs
We love songs for their ability to help set the mood for a lesson, get students back on track, practice some phonemic awareness skills and review topical vocabulary – all in just a couple of minutes of fun! Here are some great songs to get you and your kids “revved up” for a transportation unit. All of these are available from Amazon for download and each are only 99 cents – so you can be ready to roll {groan} right away! Workin’ on the Railroad, Raffi Yellow Submarine, Raffi Row, Row, Row, Raffi Bumping Up...
read moreCKA Clocks in with a Math Twist on a Familiar Rhyme
Here’s an easy twist on a traditional nursery rhyme that will help get rid of some extra energy while reviewing numbers and teaching time (with a little phonemic awareness thrown in, too). Instead of: Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock. Tick tock, tick tock, now the time is one o’clock. Cuckoo! (Lift baby into the air) Continue with two, three, four and five o’clock. Grab some number cards you already have, or write the numbers or clock faces/digital time you want to review on some construction...
read moreStar Spangled Books to Get Your Class in a Presidential Mood
Somehow we’ve blinked again and it’s February! Between Groundhog Day, Valentine’s and President’s Day, it’s a super busy month. We hope these books and activities will help you add a little patriotic flavor this month, as we get ready to honor Presidents Washington and Lincoln. Welcome Books are a great way to add non-fiction to your classroom bookshelves. Each page features a photograph rather than a traditional illustration – which helps to make distinguishing real from imaginary much easier for...
read moreQuick and Easy Valentine’s Patterns
Here’s a quick and easy way to review patterning – with a Valentine’s twist. Simply cut strips of 12″x18″ construction paper 3″ wide. Provide your students with some heart (or other shaped) foamies and some glue sticks (or white glue) and a strip of paper and you’re ready to make patterns. The more different shapes (or sizes of one shape) and colors of the foamies, the harder the activity will be. So, depending on your students, you may want to limit the number of different foamies you...
read morePhonemic Awareness with Old MacDonald
Happy Tuesday! Review those letter sounds and practice some phoneme substitution/blending with this quick and easy version of a familiar song. Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a ‘c’, E-I-E-I-O. With a /c/, /c/ here and a /c/,/c/ there, Here a /c/, there a /c/ everywhere a /c/, /c/, Old MacDonald had a farm, kee, ki, kee, ki, ko! Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had an “s”, E-I-E-I-O. With a /s/, /s/ here and a /s/,/s/ there, Here a /s/, there...
read moreI’m a Friendly Snowman
Winter weather giving your students the wiggles? Here’s a simple song that will get them up and moving while you build vocabulary. Sung to the tune of ”I’m a Little Teapot” I’m a friendly snowman big and fat. Stretch arms out to the sides. Here is my tummy and here is my hat. Point to the tummy and top of the head. I’m a happy fellow, here’s my nose. Smile and point to nose. I’m all snow from my head to my toes. Point to head and to toes. I have two bright eyes so I can see. Point...
read more5 Must Have Books for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Happy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed a restful and happy break and are ready to dive back into school! Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just around the corner. Here are five books that will help you explain this important man’s life to the smallest learners. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trudi Strain Trueit – This non-fiction book has great actual photographs rather than traditional illustrations. The text is super simple and short, making it a great jumping off point for your discussion, without being overwhelming for...
read morePipe Cleaner Snowflakes Blend Math and Fine Motor Skills with Kindergarten Art
These colorful snowflakes are a great chance to review patterns, and improve fine motor skills all while creating a winter art project any kindergartener would enjoy. Best of all, these are easy to prep – which is perfect for this busy time of year! No time to sneak this activity in before the break? No problem! These would work just as well in the new year. :) You’ll need some pipe cleaners (1.5 for each child – we used white, but silver or pale blue would work great, too), and some beads. How many beads depends...
read moreOur 31st Annual Conference
We are thrilled to announce that our 31st conference in January, was a huge success! We are so thankful to Jim Gill, Peggy Campbell Rush and all of our great presenters who made it a fabulous time. It was wonderful to see so many of you there! We hope you're planning to join us in 2014!
ART Really Teaches
