Why use rhymes, chants and songs in the classroom?

Why rhymes, chants and songs?

Children love rhythm, music and movement

They contribute to children’s overall social, linguistic, physical, cognitive and emotional development

They play a special role in drawing children into producing language in ways which are natural, spontaneous and enjoyable

They aid memorization and recall (of language chunks; naturally transfer to other communicative classroom contexts)

They help promote the development of positive attitudes and motivation towards learning English in both the immediate and longer term

They help develop children’s self-confidence and self-esteem and lead to a sense of achievement and success

They are communal, social events which add variety and a change of pace to classroom activities and build up a sense of group identity and belonging within a class

Rhymes, chants and songs can be used as/to . . .

A ritual part of starting and ending lessons

An integrated part of language skills work, storytelling or topic-based activities or lessons

Reinforce knowledge and skills in other subjects of the curriculum

Provide an opportunity to introduce children to aspects of traditional children’s culture from the English-speaking world (E.g. American, British, Australian, etc.)

Develop social skills like turn-taking and motor-skills (e.g. finger plays)

Help manage the class effectively by setting up behavioral guidelines and establish lesson routines (e.g. signal story time, focus attention, allow children to let off physical energy, help them concentrate or calm them down)

Rhymes, chants and songs can be used to . . .

Introduce new language or consolidate, recycle and extend the contexts in which children use structures and vocabulary that are already familiar

Develop listening comprehension and speaking skills (both spoken production and social interaction)

Develop reading and writing skills (e.g. read a short poem or chant; write their own version of a chant)

Help improve all aspects of children’s pronunciation (imitate and produce individual vowel and consonant sounds; acquire the ability to produce features of connected speech – e.g. put on/Do you like . . .?; develop awareness of stress, rhythm and intonation patterns

Jazz Chants (Carolyn Graham): 00:00-03:36

Definition: A rhythmic presentation of natural language, linking the rhythms of spoken American English to the rhythms of traditional American jazz; a fragment of authentic language presented with special attention to its natural rhythm (stress and intonation)

Versatile: Use natural spoken American English, in classes of any size, with all age groups – and don’t require any special materials

No music talent necessary: Rhythm can be acquired by practice; chants are easy and simple

Practice!: One, Two, I Like You + Hi, How Are You? + Shoes and Socks

An innovative way to teach spoken English: 03:37-06:57

3 key points: Must use real language, must use useful language, must be appropriate language

Keeping the rhythm is crucial: Four-beat rhythm – 1, 2, 3, 4; first beat is the first stressed word – which is not always the first word of the line (e.g. Do you like it? <clap> Yes I do.)

Use common exchanges in everyday talk (e.g. Have a nice weekend. Thanks, you too!)

Vocabulary chant: 1. Choose a topic > 2. Write down 10 words that relate to the topic > 3. Separate the words into sounds according to the number of syllables – 1, 2, 3 > 4. Choose three of the words with different numbers of syllables (e.g. ruler, eraser, chair <clap>; purple ruler, pink eraser, yellow chair > animal, food, sports, etc.)

Reinforces a grammar point (e.g. I Like It a Lot)

An innovative way to teach spoken English: 03:37-06:57

Try it!: Have a nice weekend. Thanks, you too!

Try it!: ruler, eraser, chair <clap>

Try it!: purple ruler, pink eraser, yellow chair

Make your own!: Food 2-3-1 > Arrange into one-syllable, two syllable, three-syllable groups.

Finding the rhythm of spoken English: 06:58-13:05

Connection between spoken American English and the natural rhythm of jazz: 4-beat rhythm > Beat one is the first stress word; listen for the stress pattern (e.g. Where are you going? I’m going to the bookstore.) (Hi, how are you? Fine, how are you?)

Practice with a partner!

Rhythm – powerful tool for memory (e.g. Hungry Boy Chant, p.185)

Practice with a partner!

Models in the classroom: 13:05-19:00

Act out a chant (e.g. The Happy Weekend Chant, p.189)

Use chants to practice names of letters (e.g. Samara, p.190)

Create vocabulary chants with names of animals (syllables – 1, 2, 3; rhyming words > Monkey, Elephant, Fox, p.190)

Combine old, new vocabulary with action (Monkey Swings, p.191)

Write a grammar chant (I Wish I Had a Crocodile, p.192)

Models in the classroom: 13:05-19:00

Make an animal chant!

Turn it into a grammar chant!

Creating and adapting chants with your students: 19:01-23:52

Keep your chant simple and short (nothing complicated)

Keep it real (Is it authentic, everyday language? Is it appropriate to the age of the students?)

Have a focus and purpose (vocabulary, ritual language – e.g. greetings/saying goodbye)

Involve your students in creating new chants (personalize > have students create their own lists of their favorite items)

Use chants to reinforce learning (other parts of the curriculum)

Creating and adapting chants with your students: 19:01-23:52

Practice!: Mosquitos Bite

Personalize! Jobs

Add role playing! Jobs

Create a step-by-step lesson for this chant. Try to appeal to the 8 natural intelligences.

Steps

Steps

Steps

Multiple intelligences (*framework ensures a balance of activities that will appeal to different children and help maximize their learning)

Games teaching reflection

Rhythm/Music (How did the children respond to the rhythm/music? How did this influence the mood of the class and their willingness to participate?)

Pronunciation (What particular aspects of pronunciation did the activity help to improve? Did you notice these improvements subsequently in other activities or lessons as well?)

Memorization (How easily were the children able to remember the rhyme, chant or song? What were the features that made it memorable?)

Transfer (Have there been opportunities for children to transfer language from the rhyme, chant or song to another context? If so, when?)

Confidence (Have you noticed any impact on the children’s level of confidence through using the rhyme, chant or song?)

Multiple intelligences (In what ways did the rhyme, chant or song and related activities appeal to children with different intelligence profiles?)