Music is the universal language and is a wonderful vehicle for teaching language. Through rhythms, rhymes, scarves, games and musical instruments, teachers will help students sing their way through rhyming, compound, color, pronoun, calendar and directional words as they develop basic language building skills. Join Johnette as she shares her classroom-tested techniques to make teaching language a song and a dance!

A veteran early childhood music teacher, performer and author, Johnette will 1) lead teachers in songs, chants, rhythms and music activities, 2) demonstrate classroom management strategies for using music to begin and end the day, make transitions and create a positive learning environment, 3) engage teachers in activities that enhance the curriculum through music, 4) illustrate ways to connect lyrics and literacy by using books that sing, 5) explore activities that allow students to sing and create their own books and learning materials, and 6) help teachers consider adaptations of the workshop activities for the classroom setting.

Within every one there is a beat. Through rhymes, chants, songs and percussion instruments, teachers will explore ways to help students learn basic rhythmic patterns in music and in language as they build a song one beat at a time. Johnette shares her classroom-tested rhythm techniques that make adding rhythms into the classroom a snap!

By popular demand, Johnette guides educators through the movements and concepts for each song on her "The Second Line – Scarf Activity Songs" CD. Strategies for using scarves effectively in the classroom as well as extension activities and classroom assembly ideas are discussed.

A multi-award winning songwriter, Johnette shares her secrets for writing songs with children. Step by step across the curriculum, from concept to completion, educators will literally write a song during the workshop.

When you want to make a gumbo, start with a roux. When you want to teach about Louisiana, start with music. Come pass a good time and learn ways to use songs, movement and books in the classroom to teach students about the richly diverse cultures of Louisiana. Downing shares her multi-award winning recipe for a spicy mix of Cajun, Creole, Jazz and Zydeco songs to explore the people, foods, legends and cultural traditions of the region.

Using the 5-7-5 formula for writing haiku, educators will learn how to combine poetry and music. Using season words, juxtaposition, nature, human nature and other basic haiku elements, educators will write their own haiku and then dissect their haiku into syllables, syllables into beats, beats into rhythms, rhythms into melody and melody into song.

Using the poetic form of haiku and Japanese style block prints or stamps, educators will help students create poetry postcards to exchange with students in other regions of the world. Educators are encouraged to move beyond the 5-7-5 form of haiku to teach students to express themselves in a "haiku moment." Participants are invited to take part in Johnette’s "Postcard Poetry Pen Pal Project."

Call today to add a little musical spice
to your next event!