It's Halloween ~ a favorite holiday for many of us who grew up before all the 'bad' connotations started being put on it.  Don't let the politically correct police ruin a wonderful holiday.  There are many parts of it that are quite good for children (young and old.)

       Peter Alsop says in his workshops that there are no such things as negative and positive emotions.  Rather, there are comfortable and uncomfortable emotions.  Uncomfortable emotions are important because they make us affect change.  We will all experience an uncomfortable emotion once in a while, if not even on a daily basis.  If we do not give children the experiences (in a safe environment) to feel those emotions and know they are safe, they will not have any tools to deal with them when they do happen.  And, they will.

To view the complete article, please click on the link below:
http://www.songsforteaching.com/articles/Its-Halloween-by-Mar-Harman.php

 - Mar. Harman

See all of Music with Mar.'s Music Products

See our Halloween and Holiday Song Lyrics.

Listen to a sample of The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything in the Audio Player, below.

Feeling a part of something bigger than ourselves is an important part of life.  We accomplish this through family, friends, church, community and country. 

When children feel that they "belong," it helps to define a purpose in life.  Studies have shown that children who feel connected are less disconnected when they reach the teen years.

During this time of year, instill patriotism in children, a pride in their country.  Patriotism helps us feel connected to other Americans. This connection is important during times of need, such as those we face now with the floods, tornadoes and the oil spill.   When we see other Americans as part of our extended "family," we care enough then to reach out and help. 

There are many cute, patriotic songs children can sing.  It isn’t important that they understand completely, but it is important to put the concept there.

Song suggestions:
     I Wave My Flag from Music with Mar. 
     My Country ‘tis of Thee (Sheet music and a piano solo are also available.)
     The Pledge of Allegiance from Music with Mar. 

People learn better when they move.  If this is true for adults, it is even truer for children.  Why is this so?

When you move, concepts are learned even down to the muscular level.  Combining sound, with visuals and movement can make learning easier.

In a recent trial of multiplication drills using music and movement on mats by the GEO Motion Group in Orlando, Florida, second grade students not only caught up to where they were supposed to be performing, but they surpassed that level. 
They even asked if they could stay in for recess and do math!!!  Wow!

Get your children up and moving.  Not only does it enhance learning, but it makes it fun – for you and the children!

Maryann "Mar." Harman offers you a FREE DOWNLOAD of
Multiply and March by Two

How sad it is to me when I am speaking at a kindergarten conference and teachers tell me they “Don’t have time” for fingerplays anymore!  What?  I understand the pressures of the trickle down curriculum, but honestly, fingerplays are an important connection to all the cognitive areas.

The use of fingerplays (child controls puppets) develops:
     1. motor control;
     2. self-expression;
     3. a strong foundation for building math skills
        (in fingerplays with numbers and counting)
     4. self-control; and
     5. control of fine motor finger skills for writing

Fingerplays also meet the directive of child-directed activity.  Once you introduce a song, you leave the props for the children to then make it their own.

Here’s a suggestion for the upcoming holiday this week:

Five Valentines
(Available on Songs at My Fingertips)

Suggestions:

•    Have children count as you put the hearts on your fingers.  To keep them paying attention (and to introduce addition and subtraction), begin putting them on and then take one off or two off.  Put back on.  They giggle and get very challenged. 
•    Discuss to whom you may give a valentine song.  Sing song. 
•    Ask who was mentioned in song and to whom else we can give valentines.
•    Make valentines!

Written by Maryann “Mar.” Harman

Listen to a clip from "Five Valentines" in the audio player, below.