I like the folk music from the sixties. My kids knew all the protest songs. I introduced them during a unit on Civil Rights and the kids loved them, so they became classroom classics. My kids also loved parodies and silly songs like the Albuquerque Turkey song.
Lori On 5/27/07 8:45 AM, "Tim Rasinski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Very eloquently stated case for more song in the classroom. Thank you. > > Personally, I have a thing for the lyrics of Cole Porter, Ira Gerschwin, > Irving Berlin, and Hammerstein - the old show tunes. > > > > At 09:36 AM 5/27/2007 -0400, you wrote: >> Just a reply to the concept of singing and fluency. >> >> I teach first grade and we begin each day with a morning sing... something I >> decided was a must after responsive training inservice. In fact, in my old >> district, morning sing was a school wide affair that began each day. >> >> Now I am not talking about traditional first grade ditties or nursery type >> songs. We sing popular songs of yesteryear and the here and now. >> >> Besides the community that it builds, I have found that it really helps >> first graders in a number of ways.... >> many examples of working with words are naturally built in..... this was >> eye opening to me when an emergent reader spelled the word beautiful in >> September... she just hummed "Oh what a beautiful morning" and when she >> came to >> beautiful she said she closed her eyes and pictured the chart....of course >> there are all the other working with words strategies that can be used >> just as >> well as configuration and visual imagery. >> >> Then there's all the reading comprehension strategies connections, mental >> images, determining importance.... in fact we just finished inferences and >> are now working on synthesis. The kids are singing "Let the day begin" by >> the >> Call a real happening now type beat......and are doing a marvelous job of >> inferring and synthesizing how they begin their days. Conversation has been >> going on for days about attitude, thankfulness, self-improvement, >> perseverance, >> cooperation.... we taken it to writing poetry as well as our own songs... >> It's >> also a good jumping board for our final unit in reading workshop: planning >> our lives as strong readers and writers ....lots of good stuff. >> >> Singing also helps with peer revision; our motto is ... if you we can't sing >> in front of each other, how could we ever peer edit? This sets such a >> wonderful tone for respect and cooperation, and understanding when kids come >> together to help each other... rather than that "gotcha,I'm smarter than >> you" that >> I've seen happen with younger children. During our research reports on the >> rain forest, kids would spend their time printing out articles and cutting >> pictures they found for other kids' reports while searching for their own >> info >> rmation. >> >> Then there's the whole aesthetic stance to text... I love when the kids pick >> songs for us to sing. They have to tell why they chosen a morning sing and >> how it would help us as community member or reader or writer.... >> >> Finally, another very early benefit for first graders: stamina! Children are >> not afraid on longer text. In September my early readers often choose books >> that are tad longer in length and say.... well it is not as long as our text >> in morning sing. >> >> I love morning sing... it sets up my day as well. I just don't plow into the >> day... more reflective and hopeful... >> >> >> >> ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. >> _______________________________________________ >> Mosaic mailing list >> [email protected] >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > Timothy Rasinski, Ph.D. > Reading and Writing Center > 404 White Hall > Kent State University > Kent, OH 44242 > > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Phone: 330-672-0649 > Cell: 330-962-6251 > Fax: 330-672-2025 > Informational website: www.timrasinski.com > Professional Development DVD: http://www.roadtocomprehension.com/ > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute "Literate Lives: A Human Right" July 12-15, 2007 Louisville, Kentucky http://www.ncte.org/profdev/conv/wlu _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
