Remember to think like a child when interacting and/or teaching children. What would be fun and educational for them? What's appropriate for the age group? I usually have a loose curriculum and lesson plan so that I can go "off track" if focus of the children is distracted that day.
Some examples:
- If children are getting fidgety while sitting in group and singing, I have them stand up and say a chant with me. I usually pick a chant with lots of hand motions so their whole bodies are engaged.
- Another favorite educational strategy of mine is to incorporate our Follow the Leader game of Stop and Go. The Stop and Go game consists of playing some lively music on the CD/audio player and I am the leader while the class follows in a line behind me. When I say "stop", the line must freeze and wait until I say "go". If you are working with children above the age of 5, you could have one of the children be the leader--it's great fun and reinforces rhythm and coordination as well as occupying them and finding their focus.
- Sometimes the class may get noisy and distracted when it is time to return percussion instruments back to their storage space after the children have used them. (I use my percussion instruments--rhythm sticks, tone blocks and mallets, maracas to help keep the beat while singing and also for playing along with chanting) A good idea is to have the children turn their instrument into a pretend airplane and have them quietly fly the airplanes over to the storage bin. Then, they may quietly walk back to their place in the group.
We are giving the gift of music so that our children and students may carry on the legacy. Remember to be flexible and spontaneous and enjoy giving the gift!
