CBEBIES

2008-08-10T18:35:00.000-05:00

teaching children

2008-08-06T23:27:00.002-05:00

Music teaching tips

2008-06-29T22:54:00.001-05:00

Using music in the classroom

Using Music in the Classroom (by Devon)
Music is an amazing tool for teaching languages, especially to children. Good songs will bounce around in a learner's head long after their lesson is over. Young learners pick up vocabulary, grammatical structures, and the rhythm of the language simply by doing what they already love to do...sing.
In addition, music can serve a variety of functions in your classroom, at home, or even in the car. Music can set a mood. Music can signal a transition from one activity to another (for both the teacher and the student). Music can be a bonding experience. Here are some of the ways I use music in our classrooms here at Knock Knock English.

Play music to introduce new language

Songs are a great way to teach new language to youngsters. Even when children don't fully understand all the lyrics, they'll be excited to sing. But when you have songs with simple lyrics that kids can dance and do gestures to, the children sing and learn SO quicklyIf we are learning colors, we'll sing I See Something Blue and/or I See Something Pink.

If we are practicing counting, we'll try Five Little Monkeys or Count and Move. If we are practicing likes and dislikes, we'll sing Do You Like Broccoli Ice Cream? Whatever the theme, we use songs to help teach the vocabulary in a way you just can't do with other activities.

When you are singing and dancing, you interact with the language in so many ways. You are practicing listening comprehension, you are vocalizing, you are interpreting the language with movement... and all in a way that is fun and non-threatening to young learners.
When you use songs that can be taught through gestures, very little pre-teaching is necessary. Teachers can seat the students in a circle, teach some very simple gestures, and then play the music while everyone gestures along. Most kids will sing along right away, but even the kids who aren't ready to sing will be able to participate with gestures.

Play music to review language

Singing songs is a fantastic way to quickly and easily review language you've previously practiced in class. One of the great things about using music to learn is that people just don't forget songs they have learned. I could sing a few lyrics from a song you haven't heard in 20 years and you would likely be able to sing the next line with no problems.
In all of my classes I include a couple of songs to review language we learned in earlier classes. The children love to sing some of their old favorites and it's great to see the amount of language they've amassed. Occasionally, we'll have an all-singing, all-dancing class and sing ALL of our favorites.
Music is such a powerful learning tool. If you don't use much music in your classroom, give it a try...it will make an immediate impact. If you do use music, think of ALL the ways you can be using it to make your classroom a warmer, more effective learning environment.

Youtube videos

2008-06-29T22:51:00.001-05:00

Rock, Scissors, Paper

Hello! - Teaching Tips

ABC Song

Five Little Monkeys!

Teaching English tips

CBEBIES

teaching children

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Music teaching tips

Youtube videos