We are in full Program Review mode. Our PP is October 15th and my JR needs lots of practice. I want the review to be fun but not too distracting. I also get to take up ALL the sharing and singing time this week. I had a great idea come to me in the middle of the night (that's when I get most of my inspiration lol) I'm calling it 'The Super Singer Game'.
We just really need to focus on a few of the songs and sing them over and over. I LOVE the position cards but my kids are tired of them.
I want something different than hot/cold or boys sing-girls sing or this side-that side.
So to help the kiddos NOT get bored and be able to move but also concentrate, I made some 'More Singing Signs'. I don't want them getting 'rowdy' and I think this will work.
It's something new to them, low key, movement, and a variety.
I finally got around to making this cute emoji face singing activity. I saw it over on the Facebook LDS Chorister's Site.
The idea was there but there was no file to download. So I made my own. I made up names for the faces so they would get a better idea how to sing the song. They are NOT the official emoji name!
I'd love to give credit but I don't know who's original idea it is but it's cute, easy, and fun. Thanks whomever you are!
It's a GREAT way to practice a song over and over.
How do you know when it's been a 'successful' singing time?
Sometimes that's hard to judge but I feel it's been successful when 3 things happen.
1. Most or all of the kids are singing.
2. The kids are engaged, learning, and eager to participate.
3. We feel the spirit.
This calling is such a hard balancing act. You have to have fun, sometimes silly activities to keep their attention but still be able to invite the spirit and teach the gospel.
This last Sunday, I had a 'SUCCESSFUL' singing time!
Over on the LDS Choristers Facebook page, Becca Rogers posted about using Echo Microphones.
So I went to Amazon.com and bought a package of 12 for $12.99. (sometimes they are even cheaper)
Becca had suggested some ideas how to use them which got me thinking of other ways they could be used. I'm sure you could come up with other ways too.
Of course, JR loved them but I have some rowdy boys in my SR Primary and I was a little worried how it would go over. So before we started I 'set up the rules'. And they LOVED it. I have never had my kiddos sing so well. We sang several songs over and over so everyone got more than one turn.
Everyone was singing. They were ALL engaged learning the songs and eager to participate. And the spirit was very strong. We all had goose bumps!
I've got to say, it's the best $12.99 I've spent in a long time!
I found a great idea over on the LDS Chorister's Group Facebook site.
THANK YOU whomever you are!
It was about asking questions and singing the song to find the answers. You put up BIG question marks on the board with questions about the song on the back. Pick a question then sing the song to find the answer.
But there were NO question marks to print.
Soooo I made some.
I have a really cute clip art by Dancing Crayons with BIG colorful question marks.
This should be a great way to review a song as well as have the kids think deeper about the song.
I found a fun idea on the LDS Choristers Facebook page and tweaked it a bit for this Sunday. I wish I knew who to thank for the original idea-but THANK YOU whomever you are!
I bought a package of dot stickers with 4 different colors on a sheet. I will give a sheet to each teacher. As we practice our Father's Day songs, the teachers will give stickers to 'good singer'. Then we need to review our program songs from the previous months. So I made cards with the songs on them.
For Jr. a child will pick a card so we know which song to sing. Then the child will roll the color die. I made a programmable die with the colors of the sticker dots. I had two spaces left so I assigned them as 'everyone sings' and 'teachers sing'. If the child rolls red, all the children with a red dot stands up and sings the song.
For Sr. the dots will also have a number on them from 1-6. A child will roll the color die and the number die. Say he rolls blue and 5. Everyone will a blue sticker or a 5 will stand and sing.
A very easy, low prep, way to mix things up and still practice a lot of songs. Plus the JR. kiddos LOVE getting sticker.
Here are the programmable dice I found on Amazon.com. It comes with 3 dice. I use them in many different ways. I have ways to sing, classes, songs, just to name a few.
Several months ago I discovered Sharla Dance. She has an AMAZING website about teaching Primary Music. You can check it out by clicking HERE. I'd love to some day go to one of her workshops. Sharla has made several YouTube videos showing her lessons. Just search 'Sharla Dance' on YouTube to find them. Here's one using the rhythm sticks.
She is very knowledgeable on brain research and uses what she knows to teach the Primary songs. She likes to keep the kiddos busy with movement or thinking activities while she sings the songs over and over. The concept is- the children learn the songs through the backdoor. They are busy with the activity but still hear the song and it becomes ingrained in their brain
She does lots of activities like: paper plates, sway and freeze, melody maps, matching, puzzles, wind wands, egg shakers, cup pop, bells, scarves, and rhythm sticks just to name a few.
I haven't tried all her ideas yet but the ones I have tried I LOVE and so do my kids!!
Sunday I'm using egg shakers with my Jr. to review Praise to the Man and rhythm sticks with my Sr. I'm always looking for ways to make this calling easier. So I made some large charts that you can print to make the rhythm pattern charts for the rhythm sticks fast and easy.
The rhythm sticks can be kind-of expensive but there are other things you can use.
Some choristers use pencils. I found some 3/8 inch diameter dowels on Amazon.com that work well for me.
Click on the picture for a link to Amazon.com wooden dowels.
Many of you probably already know about this great app but if you don't- listen up. It's called 'DECIDE NOW'.
You can customize your own spinning wheel to say whatever you want. It could be different songs you want to practice, or ways to sing, or classes to pick.
Take your iPad or iPhone to Primary and let the kids take turns pushing the green button. It makes a fun sound they will LOVE to hear.
There is a free lite version but I don't think it's programmable but the other version is only $0.99. That's pretty cheap fun.
To get it just search your app store for 'Decide Now'.
I found a great idea over on the Primary Singing Ideas blog from a few years back. Which she found on Sugardoodle.net (another great site for ideas). It helps with learning the keywords in the song. You can check out her post HERE along with many of her other great ideas.
Basically, you make some cute keys, write some of the keywords to the song or verse. Next, have a child choose a key but don't let him/her look at the word, show everyone else (for Jr. you'll have to have him/her go out of the room while you tell everyone the word). Then sing the song BUT when you get to the keyword- DON'T sing it. The child tries to figure out which keyword you left out. In Jr. I'd just sing the word LOUDER. They don't always understand the concept.
Very simple and easy prep after you have your keys made. Here to help with that are my keys.
I just printed the amount I wanted on card stock, cut apart, and laminated. I'm putting them in a cute bag and I'm ready to go.
I'm using them to practice all 3 verses of 'If I Listen With My Heart.'
