Happy Monday/Educational Tip
Educator’s Tip
Happy Monday!
For some of you who do not know, I am a doctor of Education. I have been in education for over 20 years! I would like to share some teaching tips for future parents, already parents , or students who are going to be educators. Most of the time, I will share the ideas during the school year. Here is one! ;o
Alphabet Circle: combination of verbal/bodily kinesthetic multiple intelligences
Sidewalk chalk is a MUST (Crayola ®, you can give me my gratuity later…LOL)
1. Make a Circular alphabet with chalk. BIG so everyone can see and walk on it.
2. Sing the Alphabet while you…
A. Hop over the letters
B. Ride a tricycle (like Carter if you are teaching at home/pre-school)
C. Bounce a ball
D. Design your own game
Carter sings the alphabet...Sophie our daschund looks on
Haven's Ideals by Haven Caylor-Brown 
I love this! I teach Kindergarten and my students already love sidewalk chalk. This activity provides me with an activity that I can do with them using something they already love while learning letters and positions. Thank you!
Great, Lindsey. I am not sure what will happen this autumn, but Wal-Mart placed all it’s sidewalk chalk on CLEARANCE at the end of September! Good time to stock up! ;o)
This is a very creative and fun idea. I work with three year olds who have a major fascination with sidewalk chalk and the ABC song. With your tip, I can combine the best of both worlds and teach them letter recognition. This should also work well with ESL students. Thanks for the idea!
The tropical pastels are pretty, but I prefer the traditional, bold colors, Talisha! ;o)
This is such a cute idea. I work with pre k students and they love side walk chalk and playing games. With this activity I could have students spell out sight words by hopping or bouncing a ball to the correct letters. What a great tip! Thanks!
Glad you like it, Courtney!
I love this idea. I babysit all the time and have worked in a daycare and I haven’t met a child who doesn’t like chalk. This is a great way to teach children the alphabet along with letter recognition. I will definitely be using this when I start teaching next year. Thanks 🙂
Excellent, Jessica.
I really liked this idea as well! I know that when I was younger chalk was a regular occurrence when playing outside so I feel that this is a great way to get children to learn! I really enjoyed the visual picture of the alphabet circle as I am a visual learner. 🙂 It is very important to keep learning fun so that kids will want to learn. This activity does just that! Thanks for the great idea! I will hopefully be using this activity in the near future!
I know Carter and Ammon love our alphabet circle!
I love this idea! I am currently student teaching and could use this with my students. I am student teaching in an elementary CDC classroom. One of the skills that I am working on is reading readiness. The students are working on the alphabet and this would be a perfect way for students to use all of the energy that they have in a way that helps them learn. If I get the opportunity, I will try this activity with my students.
Tell me how it goes, Camaiya.
My grandchildren would love this! This idea could be adapted for older children, also. I sometimes do something similar for my third graders to show rounding of numbers to the hundred’s place in a kinesthetic way. I have a long roll of plastic that I have written a number line with 0..50..100..150..200..etc. Up to 1,000. When I call out a number, they stand on the approximate spot on the number line. Then it’s easy for them to round the number up or down.
Wonderful idea for math lessons, Donna!
I love this idea!! My kindergarteners love chalk and this will be a perfect activity to do during recess. The kids will be playing and they will have no idea that they are learning at the same time!! Love it! Thanks! Looking forward to more fun and useful tips!
Good, Blair. My #1 goal for my own children is to learn and enjoy at the same time.
This idea is great for kindergartners. I feel like you could use the same idea using sidewalk chalk to practice all sort of skills like beginning and ending sounds, and even math facts. I’m looking forward to trying this when the weather gets nicer! Having kids move while they learn is key!
Hey, Sarah. Yes, Sarah, good weather is a must!!