Thanks for stopping by this recycled post! It has been four years since I wrote it as a guest blogger, but the content remains important and timely as ever! Integrating music into your literacy lessons helps build phonemic awareness and fluency skills in all ages of readers! It is also loads of FUN!
In my twenty-eight years as an advocate for blending music, movement, and literature across the curriculum, I have had many teachers tell me....
"Oh I can't carry a tune! I can't include songs or chants in my teaching if I can't sing!"
I just smile and say...
"The kids don't care if you sound like a sick frog. They will just start singing with you no matter how you sound!"
They then try to counter with.....
"But it's easy for you.....you play the guitar!"
I smile even more widely and say......
"But PIGGYBACK SONGS don't require instruments!"
Piggyback songs just require familiarity with the tunes of old and traditional folk songs, nursery rhymes, and circle games from your childhood. Everybody knows the tune to Farmer In The Dell, London Bridges, Did You Ever See A Lassie, and A-Tisket, A-Tasket, right?
Now just grab some chart paper, a marker, and model how to change the words to fit your lesson topic or unit theme! For example, today during our morning meeting, my "Sally Squirrel" puppet helped my second graders recall and sort the migrators, hibernators, and adaptors we'd met while reading Jan Brett's Annie and the Wild Animals.
CONTENT INTEGRATION
Their anchor chart then inspired me to write two piggyback songs to help the group review and remember our important science concepts, which then inspired me to write a few more winter-themed songs for YOU to use with your primary grade students!
PIGGYBACK SONGS
STORY SONGS
NURSERY RHYMES
CIRCLE GAME SONGS
You'll find the link to this FREE Sing Me A Story pack {HERE}. It includes colorful cover sheets that can be used to create dividers for a class notebook, and a blackline cover sheet that you can use if you decide to staple all of the songs into student booklets. I've even included a list of some of my favorite picture books that are a perfect match for each song!
BOOK COMPANIONS & MENTOR TEXTS
EXTEND THE EXPERIENCE
If you like using songs and rhyme to improve fluency, expression, and rhythm skills in your young readers, you might enjoy this post, Five Days & Five Ways To Use Poetry With Primary Grade Students over on my blog! Click {HERE} to read all about it and see these resources I created!
As always, thanks so much for allowing me to share my stories and songs with you. May the words of John Denver give you courage to share their magic with your little learners!
Be sure to follow me on social media!
So talented! You are so talented! I admire your use of song, rhyme, and content. I have so much room to grow in this area. Thanks for always pushing me in that direction :)
ReplyDeleteBe not afraid, my friend! Music will add even more joy to the lessons you plan!
Delete~Jennifer
I would absolutely use all those "excuses" you listed. I love incorporating music, but I like it best with a CD or other "backup".
ReplyDeleteAmanda
A Very Curious Class
There are SO many CDs out there that your kinders would love movin' and groovin' to, Amanda! Sing and dance on!
Delete~Jennifer