Liven Up Literacy -

HAPPY READING DANCE –

When that “Ah ha” moment occurs, celebrate the magic with your students as you dance and sing this song to the tune of “The Noble Duke of York.”

I’m H-A-P-P-Y,
And I can tell you why.
Child’s name can read.
What a magic thing!
I’m H-A-P-P-Y!

A NEW ALPHABET SONG -

Start saying the letters of the alphabet.
Each time you come to a letter with a tail, you stop and sing the chorus below.

A B C D E F-G G?
Hang your bottom down, G,
Hang your bottom down.    (Wiggle down to the ground.)
Hi-Ho- down you go
Hang your bottom down.
H I J – J?
Hang your bottom…
K L M N O P – P?
Hang your bottom down…
Q – Q?
Hang your bottom down…
R S T U V W X Y – Y?
Hang your bottom…

BODY SPELLING -

Spell out children’s names, high frequency words, or spelling words with this technique.

Tall letters (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) - touch your head
Tummy letters (a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z) – touch your tummy
Toe letters (g, j, p, q, y) – touch your feet

H – touch head
O – touch tummy
P – touch feet

Clap as you say the word “hop.”

READ, WRITE, QUIET BOXES –

Each child will need a pencil box or an empty cereal box for this activity. Put several blank books, cut up books (starfall.com), pencil, etc. in the boxes. After lunch children get out their boxes and can write or read quietly. They can swap books with their classmates or read with a friend. This is a great way to store books that you make and read throughout the year. Children will have something special to take home with them over holidays or summer break.

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WORD BOTTLE –

Write words, letters, etc. on 1” x 2” pieces of poster board. Place the strips in a plastic bottle filled with beads. Children shake the bottle and read or write the words that appear as they shake the bottle around.

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