There are many unique learning benefits to having children learn together in a group setting. It may seem like a simple daily ritual within the classroom, but when you look closer, there is so much learning happening just beneath the surface. No matter what you call it (circle time, morning meeting, ect.) this gathering is…
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Transition songs are activities that can be used to help your students move from one activity into the next while keeping them engaged in the group. These types of activities are so valuable in circle time we process music in many different parts of our brain. With transition songs, we are giving the direction we…
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Let’s be honest. You have no time to waste finding that CD with that one song on it that would fit perfectly at circle time. Why? Because that’s a recipe for “adios teacher, I’m off to play with the blocks!” A few months ago I shared 3 Reasons Why Preschool Teachers Shouldn’t Use CDs. But…
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“Where words fail, music speaks.” -Hans Christian Andersen It’s no secret that our world is experiencing unprecedented times and our lives are filled with so much uncertainty. How do we stay positive and productive without letting the never-ending negative news get us down? Enter music as mental medicine. As an early childhood music educator, my days are…
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This week we are learning all about food, yum! Kids love this theme because it is so meaningful. And when a topic is meaningful, they make connections. To make it extra fun, I used a chef puppet to introduce many of the songs. This was a great way to capture their attention as they couldn’t…
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Over these last few weeks, many of us have gone from classroom teachers to online educators and are faced with questions we need answers to now! One of which is what are the rules around sharing music via Skype/Zoom/YouTube etc? That’s just the question I received this week from a teacher……. Question: My preschool team has…
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Ever heard someone singing a familiar tune, but the words were different? They were singing a “piggyback song” and if you are someone that works with children (and even adults), you will want to utilize this very effective group management strategy on a frequent basis. From hand washing to lining up, this strategy beats the…
Read MoreEver thought of learning to play the ukulele? You might be saying, who me? I don’t have a musical bone in my body! Well guess what, learning to play an instrument is a skill, not a talent. Still with me? Now that we’ve got that hurdle out of the way, I’d love to help you…
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“I can’t get my kids to sit still at circle time!” If I had a nickel for every time a teacher told me they struggled with this, I’d be rich! Do you want to know the reason why kids can’t sit at circle? Kids need to move! It makes the brain function at its best.…
Read MoreDo you know what the biggest struggle is when it comes to circle time? Keeping kids engaged! Here’s how it goes….you plan this amazing list of activities to do at circle time, but you can’t even get a word in edgewise! With kids complaining about not having enough space, someone’s in their seat or they…
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When I was about 3 years old, I had a Sunday School teacher, Fern Peterson, who always told us flannel board stories. I loved her and all her stories. Turns out, flannel board stories still work! I know this because, well, I tell a lot of them and kids are super, duper engaged. For many…
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I have been wanting for so long to help teachers move from using CDs in their classrooms to using digital tracks. I have seen far too many teachers struggling to keep all of their CDs organized and it’s just not worth the stress. I can prove right off the bat that my reasoning for getting…
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7 secrets of circle time!
Tips for challenging behaviors at circle time