In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning!

This is a really cute blog about primary choristers that I liked following.  I hope you get some cute ideas out of it.  I won't be needing it anymore.  Have fun!!!

Good bye

It is with a grieving heart that I say good bye to this calling.  This was my second time having this calling and I once again held it for about 4 years.  I will miss the primary very much.  I hope to one day have this calling again, in which I will continue to blog about "what I know".  Until then, good bye!

February - "Choose the Right" hymn 239

February will be here before you know it and it is time to get ready for a new song. 

As I have said before, I start teaching the part of the song that makes the strongest point which is the chorus or the part of the song that gets sung at the end of each verse.  This song is very familiar and the kids have at least heard the ending many times durning sacrament meeting so it is another easy one to teach. 

Here is what I have come up with: 

1. Start singing, "Choose the right, choose the right..." and ask the kids what picture goes with those words.  (I use chalk on the board for these kinds of exercises).  Guide them to the insignia on the CTR ring.  Draw that on the board twice.
2. Sing the next part, "let wisdom mark the way before".  Ask the children again what would be a good picture.  It can be whatever you think they will remember best, but I draw a bulls eye with an arrow pointing to the middle with the word "wisdom" written above the shaft of the arrow. 
3. "In it's light..."  The kids will probably say a light bulb. 
4. "Choose the right..."  CTR ring insignia
5. "And God will bless you ever more..."  a drawing of a present is a good representation. 

Here is a little game that kids like.  You can erase and draw the pictures again out of order and have the children sing them out of order with the correct flowing tune or they can sing each part with it's accompanying tune.  Kids LOVE this game and think it is very funny.  Then have them put the pictures in the right order.

You can do this with the rest of the verses as well.  Ask the kids what would be a good picture to go with each prase, sing the verse a few times, and then mix it up, and put it back together again. Rememeber the pictures and put them on paper for the next week.  And DON'T try to do the entire song in one day (unless your kids are really up for it).  Little bites are better so they don't get music indigestion.  LOL!

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

Put a smile on your face

Do you sing with a smile or a frown?  There is a song in the Children's Songbook that I use as an example on page 267 called Smiles.  It starts out "If you chance to meet a frown..."  Have the children sing this with you.  Then have them sing it, or any other song, with a frown on their face.  You sing with a frown on your face too.  By the way, kids LOVE when you exagerate facial expressions.  Teach them that it is much more difficult and not very pleasant to sing while they are wearing a frown on their face.  Now have them sing something with a huge smile on.  Try "Sing, sing, sing, I like to sing..." on page 253 in the Children's Songbook.

Here is the point, if you are always singing with a smile on YOUR face, the kids will see that singing is FUN!  If you look like you are not having a good time, the kids won't have a good time either.  So put that smile on your face and sing sing sing.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

Teachers are singers too

When an adult is called into the primary as a primary worker, whether it be a teacher, a presidency member, or other position, that adult is also called to be an example to the children.  During singing time if that adult is shuffling through papers, or just lounging back in their chair watching singing time as though it were a "show", then guess what the children are going to be doing.  Yup!  Kids are watching their primary teachers and are following their example.  So if your teachers are not singing, then neither are the children.  Please discretely ask that your teachers and other adults in the room sing with the children during singing time.  Just let the teachers know that the kids are not judging them on voice talent.  But, ARE judging them on example!

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

Listeners or Singers?

I have noticed that some kids are more listeners than singers.  Some kids are afraid of others hearing them sing.  Whether they have a nice little voice or are tone deaf, alot of kids become aware that others can hear them singing starting at about the age of 7.  This can last all through primary until they move on.  I used to worry that they weren't learning the songs.  And I DO make my kids memorize the songs.  But I have had many parents come up to me to tell me that their child sings all the primary songs at home when they think no one can hear them.  Don't make a big deal out of it.  Many times that child will come out of their shell and sing for you.  Until then just let that child know that you still love them.  I wink, and ask them about their week and am generally excited for them when they tell me something neat.  And the best thing is when that child comes up and hugs you.  Kids don't want to be badgered.  Just give them a little time.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

"Listen To Me" rhyme

January is always a rambunctious month for the primary.  Kids have new teachers, they sit in a new row, and if you share a building with another ward and rotate times then they are also coming at a new time of day.  Don't sweat it if your kids are a little wild for the first few weeks.  Just go with it.  And plan a few active things for them to do. 

Now, with that said, that does not give the kids license to be unsettled and loud for all of singing time.  Here is a rhyme I made up to get them to listen to me when I have to give some instructions.  (Even when you start a busy game to allow for some rambunctiousness, you still need to give instructions *wink*)...Start in a bigish voice and get softer and softer as more of the kids listen. 

This is how the little rhyme goes:

Put out your arm (shake your arm in front of you)
Give me a "C" (cup you hand in a "c")
Move it to the side (move your "c" hand to your side)
And listen to me (cup your ear with your "c" hand) - (by now you should be wispering)

Kids love rhyming things and I have found that this often gets their attention.  Hopefully the kids, mine and yours, will settle down in the next couple of weeks.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!