I am searching for a poem or rhyme that I can teach my first graders for entering the hallway quietly. We could say this together before entering the hallway for restroom breaks, drinks, etc... I used to know one but cannot remember it completely.
We say
When we're standing straight and tall, our hands are at our sides. Eyes look ahead, mouths closed we are ready for the hall.
It works really well if you remember to do it consistently.
My eyes are looking forward,
I'm standing straight and tall.
I put my finger on my lip,
I'm ready for the hall!
I also remind my students (still in second grade too) to put marshmallows on their feet. They know that I don't want to hear crunchy, burnt marshmallows!
I had to think for a minute. . . my mind went blank!
My hands are straight beside my side
I'm standing very tall
I'm quietly looking straight ahead
I'm ready for the hall.
Year before last, one of my students asked if we could add "Zip, zip, zip!" as in zipping your lips to make sure there would be no talking in the hall, so we added that to the end!
I've turned my saying into a poster and we say it everytime we are about to leave the room, it's an acrostic poem...The first letter of each line spells out halls. The kids love it.
Hands at sides.
Always walk.
Look forward.
Lips sealed.
Stay in line.
The best piece of advice I have for you is pick something and do it all the time. Make it work and don't worry about changing it up so much. My class always does best when I rely on our first routine. Other strategies don't work quite as well.
We use the My hands are hanging by my sides" song,
Also, We are waiting, We are waiting, for our friends, for our friends, to be quiet, to be quiet, quiet now, quiet now. (To the tune of Frere Jacque)
The "5 Second Test" is a big hit with my class. Sometimes I do this after the song or by itself. I tell the class that before we go into the hall, I have to test them to see if they can be quiet for 5 seconds.
When everyone is quiet, I hold one closed fist up in the air. All of the students do the same thing (make sure everyone does this before starting.) Next, if the class is quiet, I start to put one finger up at a time until I am at an open hand. The students have to watch my hand and do it at the same time. If students talk during this time, we start again. After the 5 seconds of quiet, they are ready to go in the hallway. Later in the year, I mix it up by doing funny things with the test--making fingers go up and down, wiggle around, open and shut quickly. They have to copy exactly what I do.
I put my hands up on my head
On my shoulders, Knees, and toes,
Way behind my back they go
Quickly in the air they fly
Now lets count them,
12345678910.
Down by my side they go again!
Yes, true, it is quite hard. Apparently our children will be taught more in a fun way, but we have to come up with one. I did have one a few year ago, but I have forgotton it now. Good luck with finding one.
that I have collected thru the years. They are in color print and ready to be printed for small posters. As part of our jobs, one job is to choose the line up/hallway song/poem for the day.
Here is the one I use. It is a little long, but the children learn it quickly.
Everytime I walk in line
I stand so straight and tall
I keep my arms down by my side
they do not move at all
My head is facing forward
My eyes look straight ahead
My lips are closed
I am listening to what is said.
No one will hear me
I will be so quiet
That's how I walk in line!
These ideas are FABULOUS!!! I'm going back down from 4th to 2nd grade this year and needed some fun ideas for the little ones. I don't know that I could have gotten most of my 4th graders to do some of these, but for a 2nd grader, perfect!
Calling all Kindergarten teachers out there... please e-mail me your suggestions... scherazades at yah00. I am just starting out and can use all the help and good advice I can get.
08-01-2006, 12:49 PM
Simple View
