Nursery rhymes and children’s songs are treasures waiting to
be opened. They contain huge amounts of
educational wealth and can not be wasted and ignored.
Enhance vocabulary and motor skills:
Singing, chanting and rhythmic play can increase a child’s
vocabulary even as motor skills are strengthened.
Examples: Ring-Around
a Rosie, The Wheels on the Bus, This Old Man, This is the Way We Wash Our
Clothes,
Basic school skills:
Nursery Rhymes and other children songs teach the basics of
vocabulary, reading, and math while having fun!
Examples: I Caught a
Fish Alive, Five Little Piggies, 10 Little Turtles, 1, 2 Buckle My Shoe
Language and self expression:
Singing songs lays a groundwork for language growth,
reading, speaking and self expression
Examples: If You’re
Happy and You Know It, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Three Little Kittens
Pulse and Rhythm:
Rhymes strengthen the skill to feel the pulse of
language. It is as important to engage in
the physical rhythm of rhymes and songs as it is to sing on pitch.
Examples: Five Little
Monkeys, Three Blind Mice, Hot Cross Buns, Old MacDonald’s Farm
Extra Advantage:
Music has the potential to convey feelings of love, delight
and security to children and has the ability to bond families together.
Examples: Hush Little
Baby, Angels Watching Over Me, I Love You-You Love Me,
I love how you gave examples of specific nursery rhymes to match each skill. I wish I knew the exact quote but in Reading Magic, Mem Fox says something along the lines that a child who enters kindergarten knowing 8 nursery rhymes will be more prepared for reading. Powerful stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember reading that too. Reading Magic is a great book. Nursery rhymes really do teach a lot!
DeleteThanks for reading, Jackie!
This is so important, Ms. Tonya, and so often children are not exposed to nursery rhymes. As a first grade teacher I would refer to nursery rhymes when teaching letter sounds and the children who knew the rhymes were so far ahead in reading by the end of the year. This is a great post. Jackie quoted Mem Fox and with a very correct quote. Thanks so much, Carolyn
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing that a lot of children have not been taught nursery rhymes in the home. Thanks for giving us an example of how those who knew the nursery rhymes had an easier time learning to read.
DeleteMiss Tonya~
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. This is so important for English Language Learners. If they are not purposefully exposed to nursery rhymes the miss out on this foundational part of American culture.
Thanks so much
Lori
Fun To Teach
Thanks for the post and great tips: even I also think that hard work is the most important aspect of getting success. website
ReplyDelete