Sing, Sing A Song....

When in doubt, start singing! This is the advice I give any teacher who could use a little help with those stressful times of the day. Singing is universal, we've probably been doing it since the dawn of time. Singing expresses wishes, emotions, excitement, celebrations, and much more. Most importantly, in the land of preschool, it brings us all together. We were recently asked to gather up our favorite songs to be complied into a useful collection for teachers. I focused on the songs I use to transitions because, out of all the songs I could possibly sing throughout the day, these are the most beneficial. I thought I would share them with you. Enjoy!

Songs for Transitions and Rituals

Clean Up Time (to the tune of Shortenin’ Bread)

Green Room friends it’s clean up time,

Clean up time, clean up time.

Green Room friends it’s clean up time-

Let’s put our choices away.

Everybody clean up,

Clean up, clean up.

Everybody clean up,

Clean up time.

Pick up your choices,

Put them away.

Everybody cleans when we’ve

Played, played, played.

I can see that Susie is helpful,

I can see she is picking up toys.

I can see that …..

(We usually switch back and forth between the verses. I am not always fond of calling the choices ‘toys’ but that’s what has worked over all these years. You could substitute the word "toys" for what exactly the child is cleaning up (books, puzzles, blocks, etc.) Of course the most powerful verse is the “I can see...” verse where you get a chance to point out the effort of each child. It also encourages those who are not choosing to be helpful to find a way to lend a hand so their name will be sung. Those who need inspiration to help out are asked, “What are you doing to be helpful?” As soon as they start to help, I sing about them in an effort to keep them motivated. When all else fails I turn clean up time into a race and put on “I Like to Move It, Move It” and challenge the kids to help get the room cleaned before the song is over.)

Gather the Children on the Circle Rug (to the tune of Spider on the Floor by Raffi)

Find a space on the rug by a friend,

Find a space on the rug by a friend,

Find a space on the rug,

Find a space on the rug,

Find a space on the rug by a friend.

Friend Song

Friends, friends, 1,2,3

All my friends are here with me.

Carrie’s my friend, Solomon’s my friend…

(until you’ve sung all the children’s names.

As we sing the kids the children’s names we sign the first letter

of their name in sign language.)

Friends, friends, 1,2,3

All my friends are here with me. 

Weather Song (to the tune of “Oh, My Darling Clementine”)

What’s the weather,

What’s the weather?

What’s the weather like outside?

What’s the weather,

What’s the weather?

What’s the weather like outside?

(as we sing this one child goes to look out the window and return to give us the weather report.)

Days of the Week (to the tune of the Addams Family theme)

There's Sunday and there's Monday,
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday
There's Thursday and there's Friday
And then there's Saturday.
Days of the Week (clap clap)
Days of the Week (clap clap)
Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (clap clap)

Welcome Back Song (from Becky Bailey at VAECE 201, sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)

You we’re gone

And you were missed,

Where would you like your

Welcome back kiss?

(This is sung to children who have been gone for a day, on vacation, etc. They tell us where they want to be kissed and we use a stuffed animal to kiss them. We can talk about where they’ve been before or after the kiss.) 

Magic Finger (move your finger accordingly)

Magic finger in the air,

Magic finger in my hair,

Magic finger on my hips,

Magic finger on my lips. (whisper this line.)

(quiets the children and helps prepare them to listen.)

What’s For Lunch? (to the tune of I Know and Old Lady..)

I know some Greenies

Who wanted some lunch,

So they can munch and munch and crunch,

So what’s for lunch?

(We sing this once all the children are gathered in the hallway from coming indoors from outside or on the gathering rug if we’ve been indoors. After we sing this we can tell the children what’s for lunch, what their portions are, and then dismiss them to go wash their hands a few at a time.)

On Your Cot

It’s time to be on your

Cot, cot, cot,

Cot, cot, cot,

Cot, cot ,cot.

It’s time to be on your cot, cot, cot

With your choices underneath

And your body on top.

(This is sung after all the children have had time to go to the bathroom, brush teeth, and gather cot choices. “Choices” in this song refers to books, journals, puzzles, etc- not blankets and snuggle choices. This song us usually sung softly and as we turn out the lights to promote a time of quiet and rest.)

May There Always Be The Greenies (to the tune of May There Always Be Sunshine by Jim Gill)

May there always be Jimmy,

May there always be Carol,

May there always be Ethan,

May there always be ….

(As we sing this song, we are covering up each child and whispering “have a nice rest” to them. Like this: May there always be Meagan -cover up Meagan, whisper “have a nice rest” or other peaceful message with a smile, then move on to the next child…)

So there you have it, the golden words of my classroom to yours! If you have any favorites I would love to hear them. Have a good weekend!