From Dawna, in Indiana
Three Transitional Ideas:
*Turning the lights off briefly gets everyone’s attention
*Shouting “Freeze” and everyone freezes like a statue until I say, “Melt and be quiet."  Then they’re ready to listen for the next instruction
*Sing “Follow the yellow brick road (repeat), take your pencil, trace my lines, follow the yellow brick road…” when tracing yellow high-lighter class names, letters, numbers, shapes, etc. (for printing)

From Gina
Transitional Idea: We changed the familiar "Thumb'kin" rhyme to fit our needs and thought I would share it with you.  To excuse our children to line up we sing:
Where is (child's name)
Where is (child's name)
Here I am, Here I am (child answers)
How are you today sir (or mam) (class says)
Very well I thank you (child answers)
Go line up, go line up. (class says)
We repeat it until all children are in line and ready to go to lunch.  This works very well and the kids are really loving it.

From Amy Minhinnick in West Bloomfield, Michigan
One neat way to greet children in the morning (or to use as a transitional activity) is to sing this song:

From Jacquie Bryan
Here's a "morning song" that encourages listening skills, following directions, and requires children to respond verbally.  I use this in my classroom with terrific results.  Even the most cautious child can't resist the chance to jump around a few
times!

The tune is "Good Night Ladies"

Good Morning 'Joey'
Stand up 'Joey'
Touch your toes 'Joey' (actions can be varied in many ways)
Turn around and take a seat! (again, actions can be varied -- "jump up and down" is a favorite)

The teacher then followed the above by saying, "Good Morning Joey" to which he would respond "Good Morning Mrs. DeVito."

Here's a short little "beginning of the day" song from someone who wishes to remain anonymous for now.
"Before I sing this song, I usually ask 'Where is (child's name) today?'  That child then will wave and/or say 'Hi.'  Then we sing the song while alternately slapping our knees and clapping our hands.  I sing the song for each child."
Who has come to school today?
Susan, Susan,
Who has come to school today?
Susan has.

From Jamie Plewe, Provo, Utah
I took Stormie's "Good Morning To You" song that's to the tune of "'Happy Birthday" and turned it into a good-bye song for when children go home at the end of the day:
I sing:
Good by to you
Good by to you
Good by boys and girls
Good by to you

The children sing:
Good by to you
Good by to you
Good by Miss Jamie
Good by to you

From Lorri Thomas, Temecula, California
Here's a song I do with my pre-k class:

From Donna King, Roxboro, North Carolina
Morning Song: As part of her morning schedule, Donna sings "God Bless America" with her group--a great idea.

From Jinny Brooks, Lyman, Maine
Calendars: Each month I print out a calendar page from Greetings Workshop but any calendar page would work.  I have the students keep the sheet in their folders for the day.  They each have a calendar with their names on it.  When we talk about the weather, we then draw the weather on the day ( i.e. if it is sunny on May 14, they draw a picture of a sun, if it's rainy on May 15, they draw rain drops, cloudy, etc).  At the end of the month we do a graph.  How many sunny days in May, how many rainy, cloudy, etc.  We then graph them to see what the "big picture looks like."

From MJ, in Texas
Helpers: Teacher's Helper: Holds the flag during the pledge, helps get out crayons and such, and they choose the prayer we say before lunch.  Toy Marshall: Makes sure things are cleaned up after centers play.  Comforter: We have a bear, blanket, and a few bandaids.  This person sits by someone who is hurt, sad, etc and comforts them.  Helps with empathy.  We did a spreadsheet for our helpers so that no child feels left out and they know without a doubt their name will come up.  During Calendar time, we also discuss the concept of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

From Lauren Mulready, Special Needs Preschool Teacher, Attleboro, MA
Helper Jobs: I use "choice cards" made from pictures cut from classroom catalogues.  This way the children have a visual display of the days choices.  I put velcro on the back and use a flannel board to mount them.
Helper Tags: I put children's address, phone number, birthday, and parents' names on the back of their helper tag. This way, if they can already identify their name, I can then say: "This person is a girl who lives at 65 Something Street and her phone number is..., etc.  This way they are also learning important personal information about themselves.

From Lucinda, in California
Hi Stormie, I've learned from getting to know your website that you like things "simple."  You can't get much simpler than this: I do this song with my class to help them learn the days of the week.  While singing, someone gets to point to the days on the calendar as we sing them.

Here's an absolutely wonderful little song submitted by C. Dunn who says, "Hello Stormie, I have  a favorite song I like to sing with my class.  I'm not sure where it actually came from (how I'd love to take credit, but I can't)"