Mahalo

Happy November! I love the month of November because it means it is FINALLY time to start talking about Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I love it for so many reasons. I have an excuse to eat my weight's worth in mashed potatoes while wearing stretchy pants surrounded by my favorite people (my family!) My parents and sisters live 900 miles away from me in Indiana, and I get to spend an entire week with them for the holiday. I am so grateful that I have time off work each year to make the drive up to visit them, and this year will be extra special because I am bringing along my sweet puppy, Delilah!

Another reason I love Thanksgiving is because of the cornucopia of session themes, strategies, and songs to use to celebrate everything to do with this holiday. Today, I am going to share with you a visual aid that my best friend, Stephanie (check out her blog here) created last year. I have tweaked it a bit and used stock photos so I could share it with you!

-Mahalo-

For this strategy, I use the song "Mahalo" by the great Laurie Berkner, which my kids are normally pretty familiar with. This is a beautiful Hawaiian-inspired song that teaches concepts of gratefulness as well as a new word! "Mahalo" is a Hawaiian word that means thanks or gratitude. What better time of year to focus on saying thank you? I start by singing the entire song and encouraging my students to sing or approximate the word "mahalo" once they catch on. I then go around to each student and allow them to choose four (or more) things they are grateful for. We adapt the words of the song to sing about their choices, and we all join in and sing together for the chorus.

To make this visual aid, I printed out the entire pptx (which you can download here or in pdf form here) on cardstock, cut out the pieces, and laminated the small cards. I attached the title page and chords to the outside of a file folder, and leaving the middle blank, laminated that as well. Lastly, I laminated the lyric pages separately. I attached the cards to the inside of the folder with velcro, and on one lyric page put velcro squares on each blank. I left the other lyric page blank to write in answers with some of my more advanced students.

Five Ways to Adapt this Strategy:

1. For students with emerging vocalizations, focus on having them imitate the "mmm" or "ma" sounds of the word "mahalo."

2. Try making a word wall! For some of my older/more advanced students, I have the kids list things they are personally thankful for instead of choosing from my list. I write out their answers on a whiteboard or even posterboard, and then we fill in the blanks with their words! You get some great answers this way!

3. I use this song throughout the year with the ocean drum! I like to use this instrument to promote sharing and participation among peers by having two students hold the ocean drum at the same time. The calm nature of "Mahalo" encourages gentle playing and cooperation.

4. If your students just seem to choose the pictures closest to them (and they will) don't be discouraged! If they are able, have them tell you what they chose, and sing/speak the name of each picture during the song. You may also need to reduce the number of options you present to students with visual or attention weaknesses.

5. Introduce or reinforce the ASL sign for "thank you!" This is such an easy and important sign that can be incorporated into our student's everyday communication skills.

I hope to post at least one more Thanksgiving themed post before the actual holiday, so stay tuned!

Mahalo,