Remember all the times you have gotten a song stuck in your head
and it’s driven you crazy? The reverse is true for young
children. If you really want them to remember something, put it
to music! I have found that using music to help children
remember rules and skills can be a powerful educational tool. I
encourage you try it at home, too. Here are a few examples of
how we use music in our 1st grade class every day: - We start
each morning with our Pledge of Allegiance and an enthusiastic
rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Star” is our go-to song to transition from one activity to
another. The key is for the children to “beat the song.” In
other words, to get to the new activity in a quiet and organized
way, before the song is over. - To practice phonics we sing a
“Vowel Song” that puts the short and long vowel sounds to the
tune of “Skip to My Lou.” I often hear my students quietly
humming the song, to remember the correct vowel, while doing
their independent work! - Our “Handwr