Concept Learning For Young Children

Dear Young Child 2 (5 to 7 years) parents,

"Concept learning is a cyclical process. The continued use of the specific idea in varied settings will help the learning to gel and contribute to a breadth and depth of understanding."* ("Developing Music Concepts," by Barbara J. Alvarez, p. 29, in Music in Prekindergarten: Planning and Teaching, Mary Palmer and Wendy L. Sims, editors)

The children are becoming experts at recognizing the difference between staccato and legato sounds! They can move accordingly when hearing the change from staccato music to legato music; they can play both types of sounds on their glockenspiels; and they can sing both staccato and legato.

Listen to music together this week and invite your child to identify different articulation techniques—and other aspects of the music—that he hears.

We've also been working with harmonies for several weeks now. The children are especially enjoying learning the sounds and movements for the Bird Chorus and beginning to transfer those harmonies to the glockenspiel. Don't be surprised if you hear cuckoos, chickadees, hummingbirds, and "cardbirds" at home this week!

Looking forward to our next classes,

Miss Sarah

Tippity, Tippity, Thyming:The Value of Rhyming for Your Preschooler

Dear Imagine That! (3 years to 5 years old) parents,

Does Bee rhyme with Bead or See?

Your young child may think so. When she hears a word, she sometimes has trouble figuring out which sound forms the end of the word.

This week your child received his own take-home copy of Tippity Tippity Too, a Kindermusik rhyming book about a little mouse and his friends. Rhyming books give your preschooler practice identifying these ending sounds. And, because the book’s rhyming pattern always starts with a "t" sound, he’ll quickly understand how to form the rhyme on each page and how to make up new verses.

That’s why rhyming is one of the methods used to help reading skills. Additionally, early child development research shows that rhyming reduces stress and strengthens memory.

For more information about nurturing pre-reading skills through rhyming, try this article from the Public Library Association and the Salt Lake County Library..

Throughout the week, you will find many opportunities for "tippities" and I imagine you’ll have a lot of giggles together as you do.

Miss Sarah

We're Different & That's Okay!: Celebrating Your Child's Individuality

Dear Village (birth to 18 months) parents,

"Distributing" instruments is always fun in a Kindermusik Village class!

Rather than being interested in taking an instrument for themselves, children of this age are typically more interested in touching everything in the container, in playing with the container/lid itself, in toppling everything out and even in putting things back in!

Each child in class is at his own development level. And each child will interact with objects in a way that supports that level and helps him learn more about the physical characteristics of objects– and that means every object at hand!

So, as we played with egg shakers today to All the Way to Galway, it was a delight to watch each and every child discover something new for himself. Kindermusik Village is not focused on look-alike activity but on diverse and unique individuals.

Food for Thought:

In the world to come, I shall not be asked, "Why were you not Moses?" I shall be asked, "Why were you not Zusya?" (Rabbi Zusya)

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others. (Robert Schuller)

Enjoy your child’s individuality this week!

Miss Sarah

Spring 2006 Bonus Classes

If you need a make-up class or just want to share the fun for another week, consider attending a bonus class. This is also a great time to invite a friend or relative or test-drive another class level (like all my Village "babies" about to graduate into the toddler class). All bonus classes are free, and one of the many benefits of my program. You DO NOT have to be currently enrolled in Kindermusik to attend. For more information, call me at 753-8199 or e-mail.

Village (birth to 18 months):
Thursday, May 4 and 11, 6:15 PM
Monday, May 22, 10 AM

Our Time (18 months to 3 years)
Monday, May 22, 6 PM
Tuesday, May 23, 4 PM
Wednesday, May 24, 10 AM

Imagine That! (3 years to 5 years)
Monday, May 22, 5 PM
Wednesday, May 24, 6 PM

Young Child (5 years to 7 years)
2-hour class, Saturday, May 20
11 AM to 1 PM, Regular class, then from 12-1, stay & watch Peter & The Wolf

Family Time (All ages, family class)
Thursday, May 25, 6:15 PM

Spring 2006 Classes End On....

Village (birth to 18 months):
Tuesday classes end May 23 Thursday classes end May 25

Our Time (18 months to 3 years):
Monday classes end May 15 Tuesday classes end May 16
Wednesday classes end May 17

Imagine That! (3 years to 5 years):
Tuesday classes end May 23 Wednesday classes end May 17

Young Child (5 years to 7 years)
Thursday classes end May 25 Saturday classes end May 27

Family Time (all ages)
Wednesday classes end May 24

And You Thought It Was Just A Ball! Toddlers and Physical Development

Dear Our Time parents,

What goes up comes down with a bounce—and lots of laughter!

It’s all about learning something new the toddler way, which means challenging and inspiring that natural sense of wonder. And in class, it was all about having a ball.

Toddlers don’t always realize the physical properties of a ball, and may be surprised and thrown off balance when a ball bounces back up. But, by practicing bouncing and rolling balls in class, she will learn to predict what the ball will do and move as she needs to maintain her balance and keep control of the ball.

She can use these balancing skills when learning new moves, like skipping and jumping. Rolling and catching the ball improves hand-eye coordination, which will help her with many activities as she grows.

And, if you are looking for a great ball to use at home, try the Gertie ball .

See you soon,

Miss Sarah

New Issue of the Kindermusik in Laredo Newsletter

The premier issue of our fancy new online newsletter arrived in mailboxes yesterday. If you are not on the mailing list, please e-mail me , and I'll add you. Thanks for the great feedback from our current subscribers!

It Starts With Our Babies: Experiencing Musical Concepts

Dear Young Child 2 parents,

Reviewing material previously learned and working with new material accesses different areas of the brain. With this in mind, we make it a point to review favorite songs and singing games each and every week as well as work with novel material.

New this week were the terms staccato and legato, referring to the articulation or detached and sustained qualities of sound. Staccato refers to sounds that are separated and detached. The children found that the word staccato lends itself to this type of sound if you separate it as follows: stac-ca-to! Legato refers to sounds that are smoothly connected. Try saying legato as smoothly as possible.

You might be interested to know that we experience the concepts of staccato and legato (and other musical concepts) in all of our classes before introducing the actual terms in Young Child. We dance using short and long steps with our babies in Village classes. Then our toddlers in Our Time classes discover how to move their own bodies using short and long motions. In Imagine That! classes, children are given the opportunity to sing with short and long voices. So, before a child has reached the point of learning the words staccato and legato, he has experienced the concept multiple times through movement, instrument exploration, listening to live music, and singing.

Continue to sing favorite songs together this week—using your stac-ca-to and legato articulation, naturally!

Miss Sarah

Flowers Sweet and Daniel

Just had to share....

One of the activities in Village class yesterday was to explore edible flowers--touch, taste, smell, feel, etc. The little ones were really enjoying tasting the flowers, tearing out petals, and crumpling the paper cups. All in all, a delightful multisensory learning experience with lots of Kodak moments. (who could forget the funny faces with the yellow flowers? Those must have needed sugar.)

Anyway, sweet little Daniel did not want the moms to miss out on this great experience, so he brought his cup around to each mom to smell. (Insert mental image of a cute little almost-toddler wobbling to each family and proudly thrusting a crumpled paper cup into each person's face). Of course, he didn't forget me; after each round, he would end by saying "teacher," wobbling over, and letting me have a smell, too.

Preschoolers and Sequencing: Kindermusik Imagine That! Classes

Dear Imagine That! Parents,

What’s the train going to do next? It depends on where you are in our Train-Is-A-Comin’ activity.

This game—purchasing a ticket, leaving the station, going faster—gives your preschooler the notion that some things happen in order. It’s a concept called sequence of events. Like turning pages of her favorite book, she can predict what happens next in the sequence. And simply knowing what happens next gives your preschooler a sense of confidence and control about her world.

At home this week, look for other sequences, such as what happens from the time she gets up to when she goes to school to how she ends her day.

By the way, didn't you just melt when we played "I love..." at the end of class last night? Very sweet!

See you soon,
Miss Sarah

Steady Beat Helps Your Child's Physical Development

Dear Village (birth to 18 months) Parents,

Today we experienced several activities that focused on steady beat. Steady beat is the unchanging continuous pulse in a song or chant. As you listen to your Home CD or sing a song yourself this week, gently bounce your child in your lap or in your arms. This is an ideal way to help your child experience the feel of steady beat while staying close to you. Try this with track 2 (Lavender’s Blue), track 13 (Belfast Hornpipe) or choose your own favorite piece of music.

Developing a feel for steady beat is important to your child’s eventual ability to easily use a pair of scissors, bounce a ball, skip, and even to speak with an expressive and natural flow.

I hope you are finding plenty of class ideas you can carry into your home for extended Kindermusik fun and learning!

Miss Sarah

Musical Concepts For Toddlers: Kindermusik Our Time Classes

Dear Our Time (ages 18 mths to 3yrs) parents,

Our new lesson focus, smooth and bumpy, introduces your toddler to two more important musical concepts.

A bumpy sound is called staccato. It sounds "choppy" like popcorn popping. A smooth sound is called legato, and it may sound more "flowing." These different musical styles give music emotion, excitement, and expression.

By listening for and moving to these sounds, your toddler is improving his attention skills and developing a strong sense of music appreciation.

Take some time this week to dance in your favorite legato and staccato ways, and be sure to share any new ideas with us.

Hope your week goes more legato than staccato, and I’ll see you next week.

Miss Sarah

"Welcome Back, Spring" Pictures Are Here: Kindermusik In Laredo Sponsors Another Fun Event

Just one picture? Yes, because I want you to check out our Kindermusik family board at the studio. You'll see many familiar faces--maybe even your own!

See a picture of your child that you want? Let me know, and I'll happily make a copy for you.

Train Travel with Preschoolers: Kindermusik Train Maps

"Children, children, where are we going?" (part of our class song about train and boat rides)

Last week my Wednesday Imagine That classes were asked to create a map to give to the train conductor. The resulting maps showed lots of thought and creativity. What sweet stories the children shared about their favorite places to visit!

Here are two of the maps:

You Don't Have To Sing In Kindermusik Class--But It Is So Much Fun!

Dear Young Child 2 (ages 5 to 7) parents,

"Singing is a child’s most direct form of musical experience. …In a sense, when we sing, we become the music. This immediacy is becoming less and less available in other musical experiences, in which the music is performed for us by professional musicians or is mediated by electronic means." (Songworks 1, by Peggy D. Bennett and Douglas R. Bartholomew, p. 8.)

Such fun we had singing today! "Ten in the Bed" is a favorite, with easy repetitive phrases, fun gestures, and even a glockenspiel part to play! "Mouse Mousie" is a rollicking singing game—played with gusto! And today’s new song, "Che Che Koolay," is a longtime favorite echo song and game of children from Ghana.

Parents, I am so proud of all of our Young Child children--such fearless singers and such sweet voices. This has been a great week for singing in all of our classes--from cooing babies all the way to families singing together. Parents (and grandparents and other special adults), you really do give a special gift to your children when you take the time to sing to (and with) them.

Sing, sing, sing this week!

Ms. Sarah

Singing and Your Child: All Children Are Musical

Dear Imagine That! Parents,

Voice is a child’s first instrument, one that has already gone through many changes.

As a baby, she used all parts of her vocal range. She later narrowed that range, settling into a comfortable speaking voice. Now as a preschooler, she uses a speaking voice for almost everything. Many preschoolers sing in a speaking voice and may not know the difference between the two.

Songs that combine speaking and singing help her hear and experience the difference. She can practice switching these voices and expand her range in fun and imaginative ways. We used several of our train songs this week to practice using our speaking and singing voices.

All of this great practice will give her confidence in many vocal abilities. Expressive voice is not only valued in singing, but in speaking, too.

Speaking of singing, I was treated to lovely renditions of our special Imagine That! hello song this week. Children singing...what a beautiful sound!

Love,
Ms. Sarah

One More Reason to Rock Your Child

Dear Family Time parents,

The physical development of your children is a priority in Kindermusik class. That’s why we take time each week for rocking. Moving the head off center stimulates the system in your child’s body which controls navigation and balance. You can reinforce the benefits of rocking by trying it at home, too.

For variety, try rocking while sitting and then while standing. Hammock with each child in your family by taking turns and letting the other children help. Consider rocking by creating a hammock and rocking your kangaroo puppets or favorite stuffed animals. Incorporate any of the rocking songs on your Home CDs: "Shalom Haverim," "Come All You Playmates," "Simple Gifts," or "Oh, Watch the Stars."

Looking forward to our last weeks together,

Ms. Sarah

Communicating with your baby, Kindermusik Village classes, Week Ten

Dear Village (birth to 18 months) parents,

Learning to communicate is a milestone for all children. As you know, there are many ways to communicate, and I’m sure you and your child have special ways of talking with each other that perhaps no one else understands! Today we found that there are many ways to say "hello," even without using words. While singing Rig-a-jig-jig, we found that there are as many ways to say "hello" as there are people!

For a fun activity this week, read Home Activity Card 2 and explore ways to communicate with your child using a mirror. You might even try teaching your child the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "hello." It is a simple wave back and forth of the open right hand.

If you are interested in ASL, take a moment to visit Michigan State's online ASL browser which includes video and text descriptions of many useful signs.

Until next week…
Ms. Sarah

Helping Your Toddler Feel Safe and Secure, Kindermusik Our Time, Week Ten

Dear Our Time (18 months to 3 years) parents,

Care to share a new ritual?

By now you know your toddler thrives on routines and rituals. She’s comforted by predictability. Familiar patterns give her self-confidence and a feeling of control in a world that often feels out of her control.
Routines such as the Our Time "Hello" song, rocking time, circle dancing, and good byes form a solid structure for your toddler... activities she can look forward to each week.

Throughout your week at home, notice the rituals you have formed as a family and take care to preserve them. Just as in our classroom, they will bring a sense of security to you all.

For some good ideas on creating family rituals, take a look at this article from Toddlers Today. Some of my best childhood memories come from things my parents, sister, and I did together each year--shopping for socks for my Dad's birthday (the man is very hard on socks), mom always letting us pick out the flavor of our birthday cakes, and having regular family board game nights (I am the Clue queen). Nothing fancy, nothing big, but the little things add up to make a childhood special.

See you next week, same time, same place.

Ms. Sarah

Personality Types 101 for Parents of Young Children

Okay, as you all know, I went to the professional development seminar in Dallas recently. One of the most fascinating things we talked about was helping children (and parents) learn according to their personality types. Those of you with a psychology course or two in your background may have heard of the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator. This is a famous "test" that seeks to identify the personality preferences for an individual--things like extroversion/introversion and thinking/feeling.

So what does this mean for you as a parent? Two things, really.

• One, knowing your own type can help you become aware of how you typically act and communicate with others, including your child. It also helps you to be watchful for potential personality clashes if your child's personality tendencies are different than your own.
• Two, knowing your child's type helps you understand how best to meet his or her learning and communication needs.For example, children that tend more to the introversion end of the scale may need more time with transitions than those that are on the extraversion end.

If you would like an estimate of your Myers-Briggs type, a good condensed version can be found at the Personality Pathways website. Once you understand a little more about the personality types, you might also start to notice personality attributes of your child. Some good books on this subject are:

Nurture by Nature: Understanding Your Child's Personality Type (I'm reading this one right now--I've already promised my copy to someone.)

The Developing Child: Using Jungian Type to Understand Children

Different Children, Different Needs: Understanding the Unique Personality of Your Child (from a Christian standpoint)

Enough about this now; I'll be sure to share more in class next week.

Reminders for April 10-15

Wednesday Imagine That! (3-5 year olds) classes---Don't forget to make a map to bring to class. We'll use them to tell our train conductor where to take us next!

Village classes (birth to 18 months)--New At Home materials for Dewdrops were given out in class last week. This is a great time to bring a friend to join us for the new unit.

Everyone--Summer Camp schedules are now available! Reserve your space now-they go fast!

Welcome Back, Spring! Kindermusik Mini-Camp

We had a large group of parents and children ranging from babies to grandmas and grandpas gather for our "Welcome back, Spring!" event last Saturday.

After a time of singing and playing music together (and dancing like mosquitoes and butterflies), we went outside for the Easter egg hunt. It was like Christmas morning once the children figured out the eggs had different "treasures" inside--lots of egg shaking going on trying to find the best ones! The frog finger puppets and rabbit marshmallows were definitely group favorites.

Families also enjoyed playing in the dirt--I mean planting flowers--together, making tambourines, and creating a handprint butterfly.

I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as I get them developed (here or in the studio ). Thanks to everyone who was able to attend!

And, remember, we've got one more event before summer. Watch for details....

New Memories, Happy Babies--Life is Good!

Dear Village Parents,

Welcome to Kindermusik Village DewDrops! As I remember all the smiles on the babies’ faces as we went ‘round and around while dancing to the Irish Trot, I know that this is just the beginning of many happy times we will have together in class.

Did you notice today that your child had the opportunity to listen, greet others, move, have hands-on experiences and play instruments? All of this in one class–and there are many more diverse experiences to come!

At home this week, familiarize your baby (and yourself) with some of the songs we will be singing over the next few weeks by listening to your Home CD. As you listen, notice if your child seems to already have a favorite tune or two!

Ms. Sarah

Toddler Collectors: Categorizing as a Building Block of Learning

Dear Our Time Parents,

Did you notice in class last week how carefully some of the toddlers separated the green sandblocks from the red bells during "Instruments Away" time? That's an example of categorization skills at work.

Sesame Street Workshop talks about toddlers and categorization skills in this article. I bet many of you can identify with the whole "toddler as an obsessive collector" idea. I know I can--Noah must have dozens of those vending machine bouncie balls.

The wheel hunt game on page 23 of your home activity book should have you both busily collecting and categorizing this week.

Look for wheels wherever you go. Finding these wheel shapes is an important step in your toddler’s development, symbolizing his ability to form categories in his mind—an important skill for school someday.
You’ll find them in obvious places like cars and buses, but your toddler may notice wheels in places you’ve never seen before.

Let me know what your toddler collects, and I'll include it in the next newsletter.

Ms. Sarah

Easter Egg Hunting, Music, and Friends: Kindermusik by Sarah Flack Welcomes Spring

It's that time of year again! This Saturday, April 8, from 4 to 6 PM, we will celebrate the return of spring (although in Laredo, it's more like the return of summer).

Join us as we hunt for Easter eggs, make a butterfly and tambourine, plant a flower, and sing, dance, and play with our Kindermusik friends. As usual with our "mini-camps," please call ahead--753-8199--to reserve a space for your family. Cost is $5/child; children 12 months or younger may attend at no cost. This event is most appropriate for children up to age seven; however, big brothers and sisters are welcome to attend with a Kindermusik sibling. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!

From Laredo to Dallas & Back Again: A Weekend of Kindermusik Fun

This will be a short post; I have a Monday morning class very soon (looking forward to seeing my Music Box kids at Montessori House ). Just wanted to let you know I'm back from my Professional Development Seminar, and it was worth every minute of the seven hour drive to get there!

We spent lots of time sharpening our teacher skills and exploring new "tricks of the trade." I can't wait to share what I learned with you. For example, did you know there's a third verse to "Ring Around The Rosie?" More to come....