"Almost all children respond to music. Music is an open-sesame, and if you can use it carefully and appropriately, you can reach into that child's potential for development." Dr. Clive Robbins

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I bought me some Bubblegum

This is my first attempt to post a song I've recorded for your benefit to use at home with your children.  I have been introducing money in our math segments in preschool.  In music therapy we are using this song to reinforce the concepts of money and familiarizing them with what each coin looks and feels like.  





Saturday, March 23, 2013

Spring and Easter is Here!


Easter/Spring  Letters:  D,C,I  Numbers 60-70
Monday and Tuesday
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments- Making a Rain Storm
Social --What is Spring? Read Book and then song writing (Spring is Here-tune of are you sleeping)   I see_______ I see________, __________ too, _________ too,  Everything is ___________, The _______ is _________   __________  Spring is here.
Counting-Bubblegum song w/ money jars
Music readiness/rhythm --Tonal Study’s w/ tone bars
Small and Large Movement Skills --White Choral Bells
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)- Dance the Alphabet (The four seasons-baby Einstein)
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time—Pears
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Playdough/Weather Paper Dolls
Math/Science Skills-Telling Time Games
Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments The Rain Song-w/xylophone
Social—Give Said the Little Stream—Talk about things you can help with or give to your family.
Counting- Hop like a Rabbit to the number song
Music readiness/rhythm Slap C
Small and Large Movement Skills- I’m an Easter Bunny
Watch me hop.  Here are my two ears, See how they flop.  I’m a happy fellow, Here’s my nose.  I’m all furry From my head to my toes
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)- BUNNY  mix up letters and see if the group can get them all in the right order after I sing the song.
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Deviled Eggs
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Toilet Roll Bunnies/Die Easter Eggs
Math/Science Skills-Easter Bingo
Goodbye Song

Upcoming Calendar Items:  Next week is Spring Break so we will not have preschool.  I will be in Arizona doing some early childhood and music education classes for the week so I'm hoping to come back renewed with lots of great ideas and energy to make my classroom even more inspiring for your children!
Tuition will be due April 9th.  


Home Challenge:  This yea there is a movement that is encouraging parents to give non-candy gifts for Easter.  You may want to consider giving your child something that will help them academically like a new puzzle, coloring book, reading book, flashcards a family board game that involves numbers or words.


Saturday, March 16, 2013

Little Helpers/Manners


Little Helpers/Manners- Letters: E,T,R  Numbers: 50-60
Monday and Tuesday
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Field Trip-see E-mail for details
Goodbye Song


Wednesday and Thursday
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-Three Different Instruments choices (egg shakers, bells, wood blocks)  “Can I hear the _______”
Social-The Farmer in the Dell
Counting- Hickory Dickory Dock
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Rhythm Matching Cards
Small and Large Movement Skills—Little Miss Muffet (take turns being the spider and Miss Muffet)
ABC/Reading-Three Blind Mice w/ Bells
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)/Snack & Story Time—Homemade Waffle/Homemade cookies
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Math/Science Skills—Phone Number Practice
Goodbye Song

Home Challenge:  Look for opportunities for you preschooler to be a little helper at home.  With help and encouragement they can accomplish a lot.  They can help you in the kitchen, they can help feed pets, dust, set the table, and help with younger siblings.   Be sure to give lots of praise for their small efforts.  The more they feel valued the more they will want to continue helping you.  This will be very rewarding for you as well!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

It's all Green


It’s All Green  Letter M, S, A; Numbers-40-50
Monday and Tues
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—Did you ever see a leprechaun?—watch and follow the leprechaun to see how he plays
Social- Everything Grows- teach song and have pairs work together to identify something that grows in a magazine and then share it with the group
Counting-- Two little black birds
Music readiness/rhythm- ABC cards mix-up
Small and Large Movement Skills-That’s an Irish Lullabye—choose a stuffed animal to rock and dance the lullabye to
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters) Rainbow song-name the letter each color starts with
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time—Green Beans
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—water color rainbow/Planting a seed
Math/Science Skills—Introduction of Money
Goodbye Song

Wed and Thurs
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-I’m looking over a Four Leaf Clover
Social—If your Irish and your happy--
Counting—Ten Little Leprechauns
Music readiness/rhythm—Rig a Jig-Jig-choose different rhythms and modes to match the animals they might meet.  Start with the Leprechaun
Small and Large Movement Skills—London Bridges
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)—I like to eat…w/ vowels
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time—Carrots w/ green dip
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-green pepper stamping/Leprechaun paper plate craft
Math/Science Skills—Math and Counting Game
Goodbye Song

Announcements:  I gave out calendars last week if you didn’t get one ask me and all make sure you do.
We are for sure going to Home Depot March 18th or 19th.  They will be giving a store tour and doing a craft with us.  All parents are welcomed to come.  The more helpers to help with the craft would be helpful.  This trip will take up most of the time we have for preschool with travel time.
Mark Your Calendars for May 11th—Music Train Preschool is going to be in the Health Days Parade at 10:00 am.  We will have all of the kids in the back of our pick-up truck and we will be singing, waving, smiling, and throwing candy.  I would love for two or three parents who would be willing to walk along side of us and hand out flyers.  It’s a fun parade and not too long.  Please let me know if you can attend the parade so I know how many children and parents to count on.

Home Challenge:  Count everything this week.  How many plates are on the table?  How many forks are in our drawer?  How many carrots do you want for lunch?  How many red cars can we count on the way to the store?  We have learned all the numbers from 1-40 and this week we are working on numbers 40-50.  Identifying a number is much different then counting how many you have of something.  One of my favorite toys to play with my kids is the abacus.  It’s basically a bead counter or a manual calculator.  We use it all the time to help with math and to help us count how many time they practice a spot in music lessons.  It may be a great investment to buy one.  Here is an example of one you can get