MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g. taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.2: With guidance and support, demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation: Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Attends to language during conversations, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
Literacy Knowledge/Phonological Awareness: Identifies and discriminates between separate syllables in words.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 12: Listen to, recite, sing, and dramatize a variety of age-appropriate literature.
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 8: Listen to, identify, and manipulate language sounds to develop auditory discrimination and phonemic awareness.
Greeting Song: “Clap a Friend’s Name” #1
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Name Recognition, Phonological Awareness
Have children sit together in a circle. Recite and act out the chant “Clap a Friend’s Name.” Tell children you are going to say a name very slowly so children can hear the different parts in the name.
- Say, Listen as I say Jonathan’s name slowly. Jon-a-than.
- Then have children clap the syllables with you as you repeat the name.
- Sing and clap one more time and have children count how many claps. Ask, How many times did we clap? Three! There are three parts in Jonathan’s name.
- Continue around the circle until you have clapped each child’s name.
Clap a Friend’s Name
Clap a friend’s name
Follow me.
One clap, two claps,
Or maybe three.
Copy, copy, copy me!
Social Emotional Tip: Help children build their concept of self as they say their names and the group acknowledges them by counting the syllables in their name.