Sing It Again!
Posted by Amy Erickson on 14 Dec 2009 | Posted in: Inspiration and Motivation, Teachers and Teaching
I sing a lot—not because I have a great voice (I don’t) but because my three-year-old daughter learns so much through songs. Grace and I sing about nearly everything (and I mean everything) from routine tasks like brushing our teeth to skill-based topics such as letters and numbers. I’m amazed at how quickly she catches on to new vocabulary and concepts through songs. She’s pretty proud of herself too. She’s always thrilled when she recognizes one of “our” songs on a DVD and can join in. Last night, I was in the kitchen while she was watching a DVD in the living room. She called me so excitedly that I thought something was wrong. She simply wanted me to perform “Head and Shoulders” with her!
Singing at home with Grace reminds me of the times I sang with my students at school. I wasn’t a good singer then either, but I loved to see kids’ confidence and skills flourish with the help of songs. Their smiles said it all. Isn’t it cool to see kids having such fun as they learn?
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In my 30 years teaching special education students, I have found that singing songs and reciting fingerplays are essential in helping children of any age to improve language, vocabulary and even reading. You do not need to sing well and one can always call on the help of prerecorded tapes and cds to supplement. Presently, I do early intervention with preschoolers and I use music daily to help the 3 and 4 year olds learn directions, seasonal songs and improve fine and gross motor skills. I just sing directions to the tunes of familiar songs such as “My Darling Clementine” for the days of the week or the weather. Music helps improve behavior, too. It gets and maintains attention and limits reprimanding students. Bravo to you!!
What was the name of the CD with the sight words? Please let me know Thanks
In my 39(whew!) years of Kindergarten teaching, singing has evolved as the major anchor in teaching so many concepts. Days of the week, (Addams family theme), months of the year(macarana song), planets, money, counting, all are wonderful concepts learned through the singing avenues of Dr. Jean. Now I am teaching the sight words with the help of Heidi, a wonderful CD, that teachs tough sight words. I’ll play the song, & the students will initially use the laser pointer to find them on the word wall. This transfers in reading & writing them. Music adds a joyful addition to my classroom & keeps the students engaged and learning. I am still teaching & still enjoying the adventure of teaching Kinders to read, write, and have fun in the process.
Gayle and Marilyn,
I think the song you are referring to is one by Dr. Jean. I just went to her website and it is there. The only reason I remember this is I used it during my student teaching. I taught the kindergarten students about money and my supervising teacher suggested I use the song from Dr. Jean. I love it!!!
It is wonderful to see that so many people are using the Arts in their classes. The Arts truly are the missing “R” in ecudcation. We have classes in Reading, Writing, and Arthimatic every day. In most public schools, we are lucky to get one class of Art/Music a week. So for those of you who try and incorporate it into your every day teaching - you are making a difference in the lives of the children who learn best through this avenue. Keep it up!
Julia
Tell us where you have found these songs!
I sing with my fifth graders all the time. They pretend they don’t like it, but more often they sing along. I have several books of content area songs and US history songs, which I use for fluency practice during reading center activities. I also use period music to bring them into the war eras and even the 70’s when we read “Bridge to Terabithia.”
Gayle,
I can’t remember where I came upon this money song, but I’ve used it for years and it has benefited the children as they’ve learned coin values.
Sung to the tune of “Shortnin’ Bread.”
Chorus:
I like money to buy things at the store.
Money, money, money, I always want more.
A penny’s worth one cent.
A nickel’s worth five.
A dime’s worth ten cents.
A quarter’s twenty-five.
CHORUS
Lincoln’s on one cent.
Jefferson’s on five.
Roosevelt’s on ten cents.
Washington’s on twenty-five.
CHORUS
A building’s on one cent.
A building’s on five.
A torch is on ten cents.
An eagle’s on twenty-five.
CHORUS
During my insect unit, I use a Dr. Jean song to teach the parts of an insect that is to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” This song is a hit every year, and my kids always request to sing it often. Last year, as we were planning our Mother’s Day Tea, one of my kids said, “Hey, can we sing that insect song for our Mommies at the tea?”
I use songs/poems every week to supplement my science or social studies lessons. It amazes me how at the end of a unit, the facts and details they remember from the song FAR outweigh anything they learned from books or seat activities. Plus, songs with motions help get their wiggles out while they learn!
Yes!! I sing often with my young preK’s and it’s absolutely thrilling to see how much more quickly they absorb this way. But what I love even more is hearing them sing alone during play!!
Years ago there was a song about money in one of the issues and I use to sing it with my first grade students. I stopped teaching 1st for a few years and have forgotten the words to the song. If anyone here remembers the song let me know.
Thank you