What Are You Doing Noon Year's Eve?

No, that wasn't a typo! Saturday I'll be at the Tacoma Library main branch for the first ever Noon Year's Eve event! Kids will make a party hat, sing and dance our way around the world as we welcome the new year, and count down to the ball drop at noon. All this, and still be able to make it home for a nap or other activities. Join me for this very special end of the year fun!!- and Happy New Year to you and your families!
See the link below my photo for more info:
http://evanced.tacomapubliclibrary.org/evanced/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=3234

Tuesday Tip! Arachnid Fun

"I'm just hangin' out waiting for flies!"










This is a great variation on my Arachnid Song (free song of the month for October, 2009. Here's a link to it. http://www.nancymusic.com/SOM/2009/arachnid-round.htm
I wrote this song as a round, but of course that doesn't work well with young children. So last year I tried something different, and it's been a real hit! Read the directions below, then go listen to the melody on my website. Sing each line of the song twice, having children echo you each time. Use a separate motion for each line, as noted below.

1.Arachnid (echo) Arachnid (echo)  slap thighs in rhythm
2.I'm a spider (echo) I'm a spider (echo) alternate claw hands on thighs, moving higher than slaps
3. I am not an insect (echo) I am not an insect (echo) nod head "no" while sliding open hands back and forth in front of body

Now... repeat the whole thing in a whisper, then one last time very loudly.
End by repeating "I am not an insect 3 times, getting softer and softer, and doing all 3 motions, ending with hands resting on thighs.

Young 3 year-olds are able to do this version because there is so much repetition, and the movements are simple. Older children love it because it takes on the feeling of a camp song

I like to read and sing Raffi's Spider on the Floor (available at most libraries), and do the limbo with my Limbo Under the  Spider's Web (another song of the month). The link is here:http://www.nancymusic.com/Limboplay.htm At this link, in addition to the song, you'll see links to other educational websites with information and activities about spiders.

Happy Arachnid-ing!

Tuesday Tip! Special Teacher Resources

If you're reading this blog, you hopefully know I have over 100 free songs for you to download from my website under "Songs of the Month." And you're downloading them every month, right? But you may not know that on my workshops page, there are even more songs you can download, as well as my entire workshop booklet with tons of information and activities. So if you're a teacher or daycare provider, go to my workshop page and take advantage of this free resource. Here's a link to the page on my website.

http://www.nancymusic.com/workshop.htm

Tuesday Tip! My Favorite Resource Website

If you are a parent or teacher, and don't know about www.Enchantedlearning.com, you MUST go there! It's my favorite site for just about any learning materials to use with children of all ages. Although it's free, there is an optional membership of $20 for an individual teacher or family, or $125 for entire school. I highly recommend you purchase the membership so we can ensure this amazing site continues to exist.But agian, you don't have to subscribe.This website has just about anything you might need, from maps and diagrams, to crafts, animal facts and printouts,games, flags, science,little printable books- you name it! When I create my songs of the month I often try to find relevant websites that will expand the topic of the song. When I do a search, Enchantedlearning.com ALWAYS comes up first. I don't even look anywhere else anymore. If you poke around the site for five minutes, you'll be sold! Hope this tip makes your school year more fun and productive!

Free Children's Songs Part Two- Ways to Use Them

There are so many creative ways people have found to use my free songs of the month,and all the other materials on my website. Read below for just a few...

1. Teachers and Librarians:
Let parents know which of my songs you're using, so they can download and sing them at home. Repetition builds memory and reinforces what you're teaching. It also gives working parents a way to be a part of their children's day!
2. Teachers and Librarians:
To find seasonal songs, just locate by month for each year. For example,if you want winter holiday songs, just check all past December songs of the month.
3.Parents:
For a fun free or inexpensive party favor, just go to the play lists page and download the suggested songs. You can make custom Cd's as party favors. The suggested songs also have some fast easy props to make to go along with the songs.
4.Head Start and EACAP Teachers:
Using free materials, you can make "kits" for parents to take home and use with their children. Since you will only incur the cost of materials, you might even be able to make a kit for each family.
5.Schools:
Either make a custom CD or a kit including songs and props (felt pieces, homemade instruments, books from printable pages),and use as auction item.
6. Literacy Organizations:
Make custom Cd's and distribute to students or families. Copy the music and early literacy handout and include with the CD.

7.Don't forget there are play lists for different types of songs so you can easily make a CD of dancing songs, or quiet songs(just two of the play lists)for your car, library, or classroom.

Remember, you can use the free songs of the month and printable materials on my website for any purpose that is not for profit.

If you have used my songs in any of these or other ways, please post your comment on this blog to let others know!
http://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm