Songs and Singing Games:
Learning Language through Music and Movement
Join us for an exploration of the rich repertoire of early-childhood music, rhymes, counting-out chants, finger plays and traditional circle and playground games. Participants will learn by doing and will take back to their children lots of new ways to introduce rhythm and music into activities. The links between music and language, self-expression and literacy skills will be explored. Singing games are also an effective tool for social learning and offer children ways to use these traditional rhymes and games on their own, at school and at home, with their friends and families. Information about recordings, song sheets and resource lists will be made available so that all the material can be used immediately.
Linking Books to Music Using Start with the Arts
Using songs and simple homemade and rhythm instruments, this workshop will provide creative ways to promote language and literacy skills and to make books come alive in early childhood settings.
Workshop Goal: To discover how music illumines language, makes books more engaging and meaningful, and offers children new ways of expressing themselves and their relationships to words and stories.
Teachers in pre-school and early elementary classrooms naturally use music and singing as part of their day. Music is not simply a "fun" thing to do, but an integral part of meeting the needs of all learners and providing a creative and diverse environment in which children can all succeed. This workshop is designed to show the links between music and learning, illustrating the effectiveness of music in fostering language and literacy skills. Participants will learn a number of new activities which they can immediately use in their classrooms, centers, and homes.
Workshop Summary: This hands-on workshop explores the wide variety of ways that educators and childcare providers can make music with children, using books which are great partners for music activities. All will be encouraged to share favorite songs and rhythm games. Among other things we'll look at:
* How to choose books which are particularly suited to music experiences
* User-friendly ways for the "non-singing" adults to sing with children
* Ways of improvising and creating songs and creative ways to listen to music
There will be a selection of children's books for browsing; these books are based on songs, are well suited to being paired with music, or are good resources for songs and musical activities. There will be examples of great recordings for children, and some "homemade" instruments to show what can be gathered or made for classroom use.
To learn more about the Arts in Early Learning Project or to schedule a program call us at (603) 323-7302 or email us at info@aannh.org.
