Songs

Kindergarten Readiness – Pirates #2

Today’s pirates are going to use a treasure that’s buried deep inside–their voices! The tune is Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes. The last line of each verse can be adapted for lots of different pirate actions. Let the kids think of some, too.

Pirates sail on the deep blue sea, deep blue sea, deep blue sea.
Pirates sail on the deep blue sea.  Swab the deck.

Pirates sail on the deep blue sea, deep blue sea, deep blue sea.
Pirates sail on the deep blue sea.  Bury some treasure.

Pirates sail on the deep blue sea, deep blue sea, deep blue sea.
Pirates sail on the deep blue sea.  Hoist the Jolly Roger.

Pirates sail on the deep blue sea, deep blue sea, deep blue sea.
Pirates sail on the deep blue sea.  Walk the plank.

Songs are an effective tool for various skills including auditory memory, careful listening, vocabulary, rhythm, patterning, language, voice expression and more. Singing can help kids practice patience when having to wait or give them something to do rather than be bored. It’s a good strategy to use for self-regulation and can be calming or energizing. Open up the treasure trunk and let your voices shine.
Any more suggestions for some pirate song actions?

Kindergarten Readiness – Vacation Songs

Singing is another terrific way to help kids learn. Not only do they practice musical skills but also important ones for learning vocabulary,  rhythm, word order and language patterns, but it also strengthens their auditory memory and provides good listening practice. There are some fabulous children’s entertainers with simple and catchy songs but plain, ordinary, everyday singing with parents and caregivers can be done anytime, anywhere and on any subject. One trick is to piggy-back new words onto old tunes. Following are two examples.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
Drive, drive, drive your car, gently down the street. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a treat.
Fly, fly, fly your plane gently in the sky. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life’s too fun to cry.

Tune: She’ll be coming ’round the mountain. Words by Daylene

We’ll be going on vacation in the car, honk, honk.
We’ll be going on vacation in a plane, zoom, zoom.
We’ll be going an vacation in a train, chug, chug.
We’ll be going on vacation in a boat, toot, toot.

It’s okay to use the word truck in these songs, although it is best to avoid that mode of transportation for some others. Phew. The ever-popular “Wheels on the bus” can be the wheels on the car with almost endless verses for another song. Any other possibilities for cartunes?

Kindergarten Readiness – This is the Way We Take Turns

Taking turns requires several behaviors on the part of the child. First and foremost are self-regulation and impulse control.  Being able to wait is another skill. The child often needs to listen and watch for clues that signal the end of the other person’s turn. The child who is having a turn may be the star attraction and the waiting child needs to be content not being the focus of attention. All this and adults expect kids to be patient, too? Learning all these behaviors may require some help. Here is a simple song that kids can sing whenever they are waiting for a turn. (tune-Mulberry Bush)

This is the way that we take turns, we take turns, we take turns.
One person goes and the rest all wait.  We take turns.

This is the way that we take turns, we take turns, we take turns.
The Next person goes and the rest all wait.  We take turns.

This is the way that we take turns, we take turns, we take turns.
Everyone needs to have a turn before we start again.

Speaking of turns, to have your turn to share your ideas on readiness include your comments in the section below.

Kindergarten Readiness – Music for Sharing

This week, as prompted by a recent Michele Borba presentation, our topic is the social skill of sharing. Like any other skill it becomes easier with practice, (given that the situation is fair and reasonable). Children respond to songs better than nagging, so here is a way to remind kids and teach them sharing strategies. … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Music for Sharing