Directions:   Teach your students this song to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star.”  Encourage them to be polite and reinforce using kind words.

                        Two little magic words
                        Will open doors with ease.
                        One little word is, “Thanks!”
                        The other little word is, “Please!”
                        Two little magic words
                        “Thank you” and “please.”
                       
•Role-play when to say, “please,” “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” and “excuse me.”

•Use puppets do demonstrate common courtesies.

•Role-play how to answer the telephone and take a message.

•Teach children sign language and use as prompts:

                        Please           palm open on chest and circle around
                        Thank you     fingers on chin and then down to palm
                        Sorry              make fist and rub on chest in circular motion

•Sing and sign this song to thank school helpers and volunteers.  It goes to the tune of “Happy Birthday.”

                        We   (Make “w” and circle around.)
                        Say (Index fingers by lips and move out.)
                        Thank you  (Fingertips on chin and extend out.)
                        To.  (Touch index fingertips.)
                        You.    (Point.)
                        (Repeat twice)
                        We say thank you 
                        For helping  (Open left palm and place right fist on it and                                                         bring up.)
                        We say thank you to you!

It’s important to give children time to talk, but it’s also important for them to learn when it’s time to listen.  Here are some tricks to focus children’s attention.

Tootsie Roll
Tootsie roll,                          (Roll hands around each other.)
Lollipop.                               (Pretend to lick a lollipop.)
We’ve been talking,        (Open and shut fingers.)
Now let’s stop!                   (Make sign language sign for “stop.”)

Hocus Pocus
Teacher says: 
“Hocus Pocus!”        (Stick out index finger and circle around like a magic wand.)
Children respond: 
“Everybody focus!”  (Children make circles around eyes like spectacles.)

H-A-P-P-Y
Teacher says:          Is everybody happy?
Children repeat:    Yes, ma’m.  H –a- p – p – y.  Happy!  (Clap on letters.)

Give Me a Clap (Tune:  “Addams Family”)
Give me a clap.    (Clap twice.)
Give me a clap.   (Clap twice.)
Give me a clap, give me a clap,
Give me a clap.    (Clap twice.)
Give me a snap.    (Snap twice.)
Give me a snap.    (Snap twice.)
Now fold your hands and put them down
Into your lap.           (Model putting your hands in your lap.)

How Does My Teacher Feel About Me?
Teacher says:       “How does my teacher feel about me?”
Children respond:  “I’m as special as special can be because my teacher believes in me!”

Magic Clap
Explain to the children that you have a magic signal that only your class will know about.  Every time you clap your hands, you want them to repeat the clap and look at you.

Bubbles
Blow bubbles and challenge children to be sitting quietly before they pop.

Do you remember playing “Marco Polo” in the swimming pool with your friends?  It’s a good example of a call back that you can use in your classroom to focus the children’s attention. Whenever the teacher says something, the students respond. Call backs are a “gentle” way to say “pay attention and look at me!” 

Here are a few that teachers have shared with me. I’ve actually used many of them when I volunteer in schools, and they really do work. It might be helpful to introduce one each Monday and use it throughout the week.
                              
Teacher says: Criss cross.
Children respond: Be your own boss. (Cross arms and sit up straight.)

•Glue the label from a can of applesauce to a sheet of paper and tape it to a stick.  When you hold it up children sit criss cross applesauce.

Teacher says: All set? (Snap fingers twice.)
Children respond: You bet! (Snap fingers twice.)
•If they are not ready they respond “not yet.” Keep saying “All set?” until the entire class is responding “You bet!”

Teacher says: Hands on top.
Children respond: Everybody stop! (Put hands on head and freeze.)

Teacher says: Macaroni and cheese.
Children respond: Freeze please! (Freeze and look at the teacher.)

Teacher says: Ready?
Children respond: Spaghetti! (Stand up straight.)

Teacher says:  Ba da da da daa.
Children respond:  I’m loving it!

Line Up Tip
Teacher says: Locket. (Pretend to lock lips.)
Children respond: Pocket. (Pretend to put the key in their pocket.)

Teacher says: Hips (Put one hand on your hip.)
Children respond: And lips. (Put index finger on lips.)

Teacher says: Standing straight?
Children respond: Check!
Teacher says: Hands to self?
Children respond: Check!
Teacher says: Mouth closed?
Children respond: Check!
Teacher says: Ready for the hall?
Children respond: Check!

It’s also fun to play the “Marco Polo” game with pairs of words as you wait for children to get ready to go home, clean the room, and so forth.

Teacher: Marco
Children: Polo

Teacher: Okeedookee
Children: Artichokee

Teacher:  See you later alligator
Children:  After while crocodile

Go Together (Children call back words that go together.)
Teacher: Peanut butter
Children: Jelly

Teacher: Mickey Mouse
Children: Minnie Mouse

Teacher:  Shoes
Children:  Socks

Opposite Game  (Teacher says a word and children say the opposite.)
Teacher says:  I say happy.
Children respond:  We say sad.
Teacher says:  I say up.
Children respond:  We say down.

•Challenge children to create their own call backs.

Sign language is multi-sensory and engaging and can be a “quiet” classroom management strategy.

Pay Attention         palms pointing towards face and shake

Look                           make “L” with fingers by eyes
Listen                         make “L” with fingers by ears
Learn                         make “L” with fingers by head

Stand                        2 fingers standing on palm
Sit                               2 fingers sitting on other hand

Wait                          hands to side and wiggle fingers

Stop                           chop hand on palm
Talking                       index fingers pointing out from mouth
Now                           thumbs and pinkies out and pull hands down

Restroom                 make “r” and wiggle

Water                                   make “w” with fingers and place near your mouth

Yes                             wiggle fist up and down
No                              index and middle finger down to thumb

Me too!                     pinky and thumb out and point to chest

More                          fingertips touching

Understand             wiggle index finger near brain
Don’t Understand – shake head “no” as you wiggle index finger

Wonderful               palms open down and then up

Please                       palm open on chest and circle around

Thank you                 fingers on chin and then down to palm

I love you!                thumb, pointer, pinky fingers up

Help                           fist on palm and then lift

Finger plays are perfect for engaging children’s attention throughout the day.  They also develop oral language, auditory memory, eye-hand coordination, small motor skills, phonological awareness, and children’s imagination.  These finger plays are free, fun, and GREEN!  Can’t get much better than that!

Choose one new finger play each week to introduce to your class.
•Write it on a poster or large tablet. 
•Make a copy and glue it on an index card.  Punch a hole and save it on a book ring and soon you’ll have a “ring of rhymes.”
            •Create a class book of finger plays by having children illustrate their favorites.
            •Send home copies of finger plays so parents can enjoy them with their children.

Practice saying the rhyme to yourself so it will be familiar when you teach it to your students.  Let your eyes, facial expression, body language, and enthusiasm capture your children’s interest.  Say the rhyme several times so children will feel more confident and comfortable saying it.   Children LOVE exaggeration, so vary how you say the rhymes.  You could do pirate style (talk out of the side of your mouth), monster style (talk with a loud, deep voice), mouse style (talk with a high squeaky voice), or take on the persona of a character in the rhyme, like the alligator or daddy duck.   Remember, if you’re enjoying yourself, the children will probably reflect your happiness!

•Here is a link to my YouTube Playlist so you can actually watch me demonstrate the finger plays.  You can view one of my favorites below. It is just right for this time of year. Jack O'Happy is several episodes into the video.

Jack O’ Happy
This is Jack o’ Happy.                    (Hands around head and smile.)
This is Jack o’ Sad.                         (Make a sad face.)
This is Jack o’ Spooky.                  (Make a spooky face.)
This is Jack o’ Mad.                       (Make an angry face.)
This is Jack in pieces small,         (Open palms.)
But in a pie he’s best of all!        (Circle arms like a pie.)

Click to download a printable Jack O'Happy book.