That time of year is almost here – September! It’s when early childhood teachers welcome new students – always an exciting and challenging time. It’s also when many of us start units on apples. They’re in season, and conveniently, they help children learn shapes (circles), colors (red, but sometimes green and yellow too), healthy eating, […]
Tag Archives: stories
“I’m the Best!” by Lucy Cousins “I’m the Best” is a wonderful story for music time or any time – young children LOVE it! No one can be the best at everything! Not even Dog. His confidence is great, but it goes a little too far. Because he can swim better than Donkey, dig better than […]
This article originally appeared in Teachers Net Gazette in May 2012. Using Puppets to Improve Reading Comprehension Have you ever heard anyone argue with a puppet? I have. I recently read “Henny Penny” to a class of four-year-olds. After the story, Henny Penny herself (in puppet form) came out of my bag, and she was […]
“Bear Flies High” by Michael Rosen There are two reasons I love “Bear Flies High”: first of all, it’s a gorgeous vision of summertime, with beach, ocean, seagulls, carnival rides, sunshine. and fun with friends. Secondly, as a music teacher, I love the lilting, rhythmic writing (which was also a feature of Rosen’s earlier book, […]
“Where’s My Mom?” by Julia Donaldson Don’t you love the cover of this book? All of the illustrations are just as cute and original. The story is wonderful, and the musical possibilities make it a perfect choice for a Mother’s Day read-along. At first I worried that the plot of the story, about a little monkey who […]
“Ruben’s Jungle/La Selva de Ruben” by Carlos Harrison This very sweet story is great for any day, but if you’re looking for an accessible, developmentally appropriate book for young children to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, this is a fun one. It’s written in English, with the Spanish version underneath the English words on each page. […]
Perros! Perros! Dogs! Dogs! by Ginger Foglesong Guy Here’s a story I’d absolutely love even if it didn’t teach several Spanish words in a natural, almost imperceptable, developmentally appropriate way – but it does. If you’re looking for a plot, you’re not going to find one, but most young children aren’t too picky about that. […]
“Drip Drop” by Sarah Weeks It’s an absolutely fabulous, sunny early-spring day here in New Jersey, but In April, rain is never far away. If you’re planning a unit on rain, “Drip Drop” is a perfect story for you to bring some music (and fun) into your lesson plans. Poor Pipsqueak! It’s raining in […]
“The Fox in the Dark” by Alison Green This story was made for early childhood music class! There are so many sounds to explore here that children will be focused and engaged throughout the story – and they’ll love the surprise ending! Rabbit is running home at night, away from a shadowy figure – the […]
Here’s my latest article for Teachers Net Gazette! It’s all about creating an atmosphere of curiosity and excitement in the classroom. http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/abigail-flesch-connors/wait-for-it-a-fun-way-to-nurture-childrens-curiosity/ I’m all about encouraging children’s curiosity, so if you have any more strategies for sparking curiosity, please share them here!
Music (and Science) For Young Children 