Caden sat looking out the window of his dad’s car. His dad glanced over at him with concern. “Are you okay, Caden?” he asked. “What are you thinking?” “Well, my teacher said that if you have rain and sun, you … Continued
Toddlers (and children) remember better than you think! Nicholas Day, the author of Baby Meets World, wrote an article about what children remember entitled “Toddlers Remember Better Than You Think.” (click the word article above to go to his piece) In … Continued
The Challenge! Can you tap or clap on the beat where there are numbers? Point to the poster. Tell the children: Tap with two fingers on the palm of your other hand on each number or clap. When a number … Continued
In January of 2017, I taught a workshop using the 2017 Sacrament Meeting Program songs to teach different success principles about teaching children’s music (developmental differences between the ages, flow, tension and release, parameters, and many more). Many of you … Continued
Children love variety. Teach the song in three or four different ways to help the children remember the songs long term. Here are some ideas. Younger Children Draw a simple melody map – the children do specific movements on certain … Continued
Older Children Tell the children, “Here’s the pattern.” Show the pattern listed below. The children do not have plates at this point. Demonstrate for the children. Swish, swish, swish (plates in front of you), pause for one beat. Tap the plates … Continued
What are actions that the children could do with their hands to help them remember the words? Here are some suggestions (but you can do other actions as well). Choose – pick something up with your hand Right – … Continued
Eraser Pass The children look up at the board and see these words in groups of three (written either on a chalkboard or a whiteboard.) These words are also listed at the end of this post. (What they don’t know … Continued
Older Children Can your hands follow my hands? Pretend like you have rhythm sticks. (You have rhythm sticks, but they don’t. It helps the children to see that you have exchanged them behind your back if you have two different … Continued
OLDER WEEK 1 – Waves of the Sea The children follow your lead as you sing and move your arms back and forth like the waves of the sea, some of the gentle, and some of them crashing against … Continued