Music Hath Charms.....

I love this topic. First, I come from a family of singers (my mother and my step sister) although I possess none of this talent. I can however, appreciate the impact of music in my profession. I use music every day with my preschoolers. I use songs written by SLP's mostly because they're geared towards language and sound development. My students will spontaneously "sing" some of the lines days later! When they have no other language, the songs come through. Songs employ rhyme, repetition, refrains, melody and language.

 

Last week we did "I See A Bug" by Rachel Arntson of Kids' Express Train (www.expresstrain.org). I print the wonderful picture sheets she includes on her CD, put them in plastic sleeves and make a notebook. The recurring "refrain" following each different colored bug is "EWW YUCK" and later in the day when I'd visit the class, I'd hear a student singing out "EWW YUCK!"

Rachel has written articles about the impact of music on her website (see link below) which  I modified and sent home to parents. It's called  "Makes Me Want To Sing-Improving You Child's Speech and Language Through Music."  She talks about the research done on music, the brain, and learning. She gives excellent advice for parents such as "sing what your child loves, sing about routines, and sing about what your child already can say", as well as techniques: singing in chains of 3, taking turns, singing slowly and so much more. To see this article in its entirety go to:  http://expresstrain.org/articles.htm

So put a little song in your life. Not only will your students have a better day, but singing will lift your spirits as well!