Helping Students Follow Directions Through Song

I like, in the beginning of the school year, to teach my children this simple song that teaches them how to follow directions in a song. So, I’m going to sing it for you, and I’ll do the actions as well. It goes like this: open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap; open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap. And this part is pretty funny: creep them, creep them, creep them right up to your chin; open wide your little mouth, do not put them in. It’s okay to laugh! Open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap, open, shut them, open, shut them, put them in your lap. Now, I’ll do this on many times at least three, four, maybe five times the first day of school. It gives them the chance to practice the directions of open, and shut, and then clap, and the really important one: put them in your lap. It helps the kids know when you’re ready to start a new activity when you say put your hands in your lap.