Music & Movement in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Summary

Cheryl, a teacher with over 20 years of experience, shares practical and simple tips for incorporating music into the classroom for toddlers and preschoolers. She suggests creating a music binder organized by season and holiday, using a Bluetooth speaker with apps like Spotify for easy access to songs, and introducing fun, age-appropriate instruments such as Jingle Bell sticks, shaker eggs, and rhythm sticks. Cheryl highlights the importance of using music to encourage movement and rhythm, making learning enjoyable for young children. She invites teachers to share their favorite songs and provides free resources to help set up a music binder.

Takeaways

• 😀 Organize your music in a binder by season and holiday to easily plan songs for your classroom activities.
• 😀 Print out song lyrics to have them accessible, even if you know the songs by heart.
• 😀 Use a Bluetooth speaker and music apps like Spotify to create playlists and easily access your favorite songs on the go.
• 😀 Portable music is key; take your Bluetooth speaker with you to different locations, such as the gym or outdoor play areas.
• 😀 Instruments like rainbow Jingle Bell sticks are great for engaging toddlers and preschoolers in musical activities.
• 😀 Velcro Jingle Bells wristbands allow children to wear instruments easily while moving, clapping, or dancing.
• 😀 Shaker eggs are a great tool for young children to practice rhythm and coordination while having fun.
• 😀 Rhythm sticks help children develop rhythm and counting skills in a playful way.
• 😀 Use chunkier rhythm sticks for younger children, and thinner ones for older preschoolers to suit their motor skills.
• 😀 Regularly explore and share new songs with your class to keep the music experience fresh and exciting.
• 😀 Download the free music binder cover provided in the description to personalize your binder and stay organized.

Q & A

What is the first suggestion Cheryl offers for incorporating music in the classroom?

Cheryl suggests having a binder to organize and store music. She recommends categorizing it by season and holiday to make it easier to plan music for the day or week.

How does Cheryl organize her music in the binder?

Cheryl organizes her music by seasons and holidays. This system allows her to easily flip through and select songs that align with her plans for the week.

Why does Cheryl still keep printed lyrics in her binder, even though she knows many songs by heart?

Cheryl keeps printed lyrics to remind herself of songs she hasn't sung in a while and to have them readily available when she decides to sing them with the children.

What is the significance of Cheryl’s music binder cover?

The cover of Cheryl’s music binder is designed to be cute and appealing. Cheryl even offers this design as a free downloadable template for teachers to use for their own binders.

What music sources does Cheryl use in her classroom, and how has technology changed this over time?

Cheryl uses a Bluetooth speaker and an app like Spotify for her music. She mentions that in the past, she used CDs and even cassette tapes, but now prefers the convenience of streaming music via her phone and wireless speaker.

Why does Cheryl prefer using a Bluetooth speaker for playing music in the classroom?

Cheryl prefers a Bluetooth speaker because it is wireless, portable, and allows her to take music with her wherever she goes—whether outside, to the gym, or to other activity rooms.

What are some of the musical instruments Cheryl uses in the classroom, and why are they popular with the children?

Cheryl uses various instruments like rainbow Jingle Bell sticks, velcro wrist Jingle Bells, shaker eggs, and rhythm sticks. These instruments are popular because they are interactive and help engage toddlers and preschoolers in moving and rhythm exercises during music sessions.

How does Cheryl use the Jingle Bell sticks and wrist Jingle Bells with the children?

Cheryl uses Jingle Bell sticks to encourage movement, such as marching or spinning, while the wrist Jingle Bells are worn by the children, creating noise as they move their arms or clap.

What is the educational benefit of using rhythm sticks in the classroom?

Rhythm sticks are beneficial for helping children develop rhythm and improve their counting skills. Cheryl uses them to count along with the children and practice rhythm exercises.

What other resources does Cheryl offer to help teachers incorporate music in the classroom?

Cheryl offers blog posts on her website, which include ideas and tips for using music and movement in the classroom. She also encourages teachers to share their favorite songs and ideas in the comments to foster a collaborative learning environment.