Agency Discount TEFL

Songs in the ClassroomLearning is life long and from the time we are born we have been hearing music. The first toys for babies play lullabies. Mothers nurture and bond with their babies while singing lullabies. Most children know a number of nursery rhymes before entering school. It?s part of how we?ve learned language and our culture. We know that music improves concentration and memory. ?Even if you don?t like Classical music, listen to it anyway. Buy yourself a Baroque CD. Play it once a day in your home or at the office so quietly that you can barely hear it. Your brain will glow like lights on a Christmas tree. Many, many areas of your Brain will be engaged.? (Anaka, pg 125, 2009) Teaching essential skills through songs is an effective way for students to develop basic Social and Physical skills. For example, students can get to know each others? name by Singing ?Here We are Together,? on a daily basis. Songs are fun and can provide enjoyable ways for students to get to know one another. Large motor skills can be implemented on or off the playground by singing chants for jump rope and ball bouncing. Teachers are very, very creative in how they teach Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening skills through songs. For example, Preschool teachers sing daily Hello songs, clean- up, and Good-bye songs. Rhyming sounds are also taught through listening to rhyming songs. One teacher I spoke with uses clapping to the beats of the students? names to teach syllabication in her Primary classroom. ?Children who come to school knowing Rhymes and songs appear to have a rich language, she said, Rhyme helps students to be able to identify word patterns needed for reading.? An intermediate teacher spoke of how he uses songs in his classroom. The students listen to classical music during creative writing and independent journal writing time. Spelling and Math facts are put to Raps & Rhymes to help students master them. A Secondary English teacher has implemented songs while teaching poetic devices. Literary devices analyzing forms of literature and grammar are also taught in her grade 9/10 English classes. Moods, themes, and mental pictures of the songs are also analyzed. esl students have to learn a very complicated language. There are many rules of grammar and exceptions to just about every rule there is. Words are not always spelled the same or have the same meaning. For example, the word bank has multiple meanings when used as snowbank, riverbank, Bank of Canada. I feel blue when I wear blue because the wind blew my hat off. These are just two examples of how complicated English can be for an ESL student to learn. esl teachers may teach students of all ages. Songs are not just for children. Many Educational programs incorporate songs to help students acquire language. Mary Stouffer, an instructor with The Royal Conservatory in Mississauga, Ont. says ?There is a transfer of emotion and the whole music experience touches all areas of a child?s development, which makes learning easier.? In conclusion, I believe that learning is more enjoyable when teachers implement songs in their classrooms.