Would you like to help your teachers learn to use music and movement more effectively with young children?

Songs, rhymes, and movement are vital in childrearing and early childhood development, inviting children into music, language, imaginary play, and shared human experience. How can you keep a group of young children confident, happy, and engaged throughout group music time? How can you sprinkle songs and rhymes into your daily routine more effectively? Two keys to success are: (1) a varied, age-appropriate repertoire, and (2) a skillful, flexible plan.

With a lot of singing and moving, and a little talking, Betsy Zahniser will lead you through more than 40 songs, fingerplays, and movement activities that you will enjoy using right away, and introduce you to a method to help you plan the flow of songs and activities throughout the day.

Session Description

The purpose of this session will be twofold:

1. To help new and experienced teachers expand their repertoire by learning songs and rhymes that really work with young children and are worth passing on,
2. To present and practice using a framework for planning group music times that keep children engaged and flow well from beginning to end. The framework is also useful for "sprinkling" songs and rhymes through the day to facilitate transitions, active times, quiet times, etc.

The session will be active and participatory. Attendees will be invited to do all of the songs and rhymes presented, and will be given a method for planning group music times of their own using the planning framework and "The Menu" - an organized list of songs and rhymes.

Outline for the session (1.5 to 2 hours total):

Session handout includes: Why are music and movement important in early childhood? Overview of planning framework, two sample plans, planning worksheet, and "The Menu."

Betsy will record the session and make a recording available to participants on request.

References available