January
Music News
Happy New Year!
January is a time for reflection and self-care. Have some fun and choose a word to focus on for the new year. My word is "Declutter" all negative self-talk and extra stuff at home. Mark one day a month in your calendar to do something that brings you joy.
Student Engagement Tips and Tricks from Kendra Leisinger
- Repetition, repetition, repetition! The more they sing it/move it/do it, the more they will love it!
- Teacher body language. Make eye contact, change the tone of your voice (softer, higher, slower), make dramatic gestures to accompany what you are saying.
- Pacing-Keep things moving – don’t dwell on any one song, fingerplay or movement for too long.
- Don’t over-explain! Use gestures rather than words whenever possible.
- Make it a game! Find an unusual or unique hook into everyday procedures – sing the directions for making the hand turkeys! Even calling something a game will enliven the students’ mindset.
- Transitions. Lining up or moving from circle time to seats, have the students sing a song, you sing a song, everyone says a rhyme or tell the students to move like a snowflake or…
- Speed of songs and rhymes. Speak or sing more slowly than you normally would. Young children are still practicing fluency and coordination with their thinking and their speaking/singing.
- Singing range. Sing in a higher, lighter voice than you normally would. Children’s voices are by nature higher and lighter than adult voices and they will struggle or find it impossible to sound like you if you sing loudly or sing too low. Keep your singing light and quiet and they will imitate you. Beautiful sound is always the goal!
Upcoming Events
Job Alike-
- January 10
- No February meeting
- March 13
- No April meeting
- May 8