by Nancy Stewart Above all else, music time should be fun, for you and your children. If you dont look forward to it, or if children dont seem to be listening (youre spending too much time disciplining), change the way youre doing things! This sounds obvious, but we humans tend to get into a rut! Different classes respond differently to music. Some do well with the challenge of problem solving, or movement. Some need less stimulation. Some can stay with one song for a long time, making it stretch and grow with their imaginations. Others need short simple songs with lots of visual aids. Find out what your group needs, and make that the base of your technique. This may change several times during the school year, and of course changes as children grow. When you stop having fun, re-evaluate and change! Music time: Have a space where children can sit in a circle. Make sure there is enough room to wiggle! A circle taped on the floor works well, and this is helpful when you want to start singing circle games, or walk around in one direction or another. Signal the start of music time with a "theme" song. Give everyone until the songs ends to get into a circle. It works well to have an activity song next, to give everyone a chance to clap, shake, and wiggle. You might choose a music helper each day, who can sit beside you (its a good idea to always have the helper sit on the same side, to avoid arguments!). Your helper can choose a song, wear a special necklace, and help pass out instruments or help with the flannel board. This way shy children are always given a chance to shine, and you can get to know them better.
Have a plan for songs to sing, and be ready to abandon it if the songs youve
chosen arent working! Suggested Songbooks: Wee Sing
series- A Song is a Rainbow ,
by Patty
Zeitlin Your Baby Needs Music,
by Barbara Cass-Beggs. Musical Games,
Fingerplays, and Rhythmic Activities
for Early Childhood, by Marian Wirth, Verna
Stassevitch, Rita Shotwell, and Patricia Stemmler. an excellent collection of songs and singing games with
very well done instructions and pictures Suggestions for those "hard" days! There are some days when children cant seem to focus, or you dont have a lot of energy. On these days, I like to get out "books that sing". They seem to always work magic on a restless group, and generate interesting conversation. My favorites are: Old Macdonalds Farm, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, illustrated by Aliki The Farmer in the Dell, illustrated by Kathy Parkinson Lizards Song, by George Shannon ( I changed the melody to the song) Spider on the Floor, illustrated by True Kelley Mama Dont Allow , by Thacher Hurd Down By the Bay , illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott Mother Hubbards Cupboard, illustrated by Laura Rader (collection of nursery rhymes) Old Mother Hubbard and her Wonderful Dog, illustrated by James Marshall Oh A Hunting We Will Go, by John Langstaff
Recycle songs you know! |