We’ve Got the Rhythm
Teachers! Taking five to seven minutes a few times a day to do a little movement, rhythm and song with your students will make a huge difference in the learning atmosphere of your classroom.
Try it! You’ll not only enliven and expand your students’ learning abilities; they will also love you for it!
The best songs for this invite the children’s participation in movement and verse - like We’ve Got the Rhythm and Kalamazoo by Talking Hands Talking Feet. These are classic examples because they are simple to learn, very catchy songs with unlimited possibilities. Children love to do these songs over and over… because they work!
Now, you the teacher may think - “I can’t sing and dance!” Our message to you is YOU CAN DO IT! Yes you can. Our bodies are born rhythm machines. We humans are RHYTHMIC by definition. We are! Just reconnect with sidewalk hopscotch or schoolyard basketball, jump rope or patty cake… you’ve got it! More importantly, your students need to MOVE!
Rhythmic movement stimulates blood flow, increases heart rate, gets more oxygen to the brain, enlivens the senses, regulates and balances many of your body’s systems, unblocks the lymphatic system etc…… It is good for you!
Integrated movement, music and verse in education is foundational, not just an optional extra ancillary fun thing to do. We’ve seen the evidence of it in so many ways. Education is NOT a static thing!
Rhythm is a core feature; especially crossover rhythm work which gets both hemispheres of the brain firing. Hopscotch and patty cake are actually great examples of this. Wow!
So… get some music playing in your classroom just a few times a day and do a little rhythm work with it! You will see results immediately; and you will have discovered one of the most dynamic and effective learning tools in the world!
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When the Talking Hands Talking Feet Online Educators Resource is available, you will be able to see video of how you can do this, in the meantime you can download the songs We’ve Got the Rhythm and Kalamazoo ( http://cdbaby.com/cd/thtf2 , iTunes store or other digital download stores) and see how you can enliven the kids with these songs.
