January 2009

 

More Name Songs

How Are You Feeling Today? – This song is similar to “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” First, teach children sign language for different feelings, such as happy, sad, sleepy, angry, and scared. (Visit aslpro.com to see a video clip of these signs.)

How are you feeling today?
How are you feeling today?
Show us the sign,
And it will be just fine.
How are you feeling today?

Children make the sign and have the opportunity to discuss their feelings.

Important Person
– Hold one child at a time in your lap as you sing this song to the tune of “Lassie and Laddie.”

Child’s name is important, important, important.
Child’s name is important to you and to me.
At work and at play
He/she does his/her best each day.
Child’s name is important to you and to me.

We Like You – Invite children to brainstorm words that describe good friends. Write words on index cards and place them in a bag. Each child chooses a word. Sing the word to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

We like you because you’re wonderful.
We like you because you’re wonderful.
We like you because you’re wonderful.
We really like you!

Hint! You could pin or tape words to children so they could strive for that adjective.

Hickety Pickety Bumblebee – This chant is great for phonological awareness. Slap your thighs and clap hands to get a beat going.

Hickety pickety bumblebee,
Who can say their name for me?
First child’s name.
Clap it. (Clap out the syllables in the child’s name.)
Whisper it. (Whisper the syllables.)
No sound. (Mouth the syllables.)
Hickety pickety bumblebee,
Who can say their name for me?
Second child’s name…etc.

Willabee Wallabee
- Here’s a good chant for rhyming. Substitute the first sound in each child’s name with a /w/.

Willabee wallabee Wohn.
An elephant sat on John.
Willabee wallabee Wue.
An elephant sat on Sue.

Bappy Birthday Bo Bou – You can also substitute the first sound in each child’s name in the traditional birthday song. It’s silly, but they love it! Nick’s name would be:

Nappy nirthday no nou.
Nappy nirthday no nou.
Nappy nirthday near Nick.
Nappy nirthday no nou.

Hello, How Are You?
Wave to friends as you sing this name song to the tune of “Skip to My Lou”:

Hello, child’s name, how are you? (Wave.)
Hello, child’s name, how are you?
Hello, child’s name, how are you?
We’re so glad to see you!

Turn to your neighbor and shake their hand… (Shake hands.)
Turn to your neighbor and give high five…(Give high five.)

I Like You! Use the catchy tune from “Shortnin’ Bread” to focus children’s attention:

I like child’s name, there’s no doubt about it.    (Point to self and then
I like child’s name, there’s no doubt about it.      a child.)
I like child’s name, there’s no doubt about it.
We are all good friends.        (Make sign language for “friend” by hooking
                                                index fingers.)

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