let’s get ready to sing! - teach preschool · let’s get ready to sing! ... help you plan out...
Post on 31-Aug-2018
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Let’s Get Ready to Sing!A Preschool Teacher’s Guide to Planning a
Children’s Production for Parents
byDeborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
PreschoolPresentationChecklistGetreadytomakeyournextpreschoolparentpresentationyourbestpresentation!
WhetheryouaregettingreadyforaSpecialEvent,ParentDinner,GraduationDay,oranyotherkindofSchoolYearParentPresentation-youwillhavebetterresultsifyougetorganizedfirst.UsethisPreschoolPresentationChecklisttohelpyouplanoutandimplementyournextparentpresentation.Ihavebeendirectingpreschoolmusicalsandpresentationsforyears.Ihopethatsomeofmyexperiencewillbehelpfultoyouasyouplanyourownpresentations.
DeborahJ.StewartPlanningWhichSongstoSingIfyouplantohaveyourstudentssingafewsongsforthespecialevent,keepinmindthefollowingsuggestions...
• Choosesongsthechildrenalreadyknowandlovetosing.• Choosesongsthatcomewithsimpleactions.• Choosesongsthathighlightdifferentkindsoflearning.• Choosesongsthatincorporatesimplepropsorinstrumentsthechildrencan
hold,play,ordancewith.Oneofthebiggestmistakesfolksmakeinchoosingsongstosingistointroduceabrandnewsongaweekortwobeforethepresentation.Addinganewsongatthelastminutecanleadtochildrenstaringatyouwhileyoudoallthesinging.Ifyouwantyourlittlesingerstosingoutwithconfidencethenchoosesongstheyhavebeensinginginyourclassroomallyearlong.Inmyclass,IintroducesongsallthroughouttheschoolyearwiththeideathatImayusetheminourendoftheschoolyearpresentation.Wesingthemoftenenoughthatthechildrenenjoythemandknowthemwellbutnotsooftenthatthechildrengetsickofthem.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
Listafewfavoritesimplesongsthatyourstudentsalreadyknowbelow:
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Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
SingingwithaCDorotherAccompaniment
YoumaywishtohaveyourstudentssingwiththeaccompanimentofaCD,guitar,piano,orothersource.Ifyoudosokeepthefollowinginmind…
• Practicewithouttheaccompanimentsothechildrenwillactuallyfocusonsingingthewordsthemselvesandnotlettheaccompanimentdoallthe“singing”forthem.Thechildrenneedtogetusedtohearingtheirownvoicesandfeelconfidantsingingoutloud.
• Considerthevolumelevelofyouraccompaniment.Besureitsupportsyouryoungsingersanddoesn’tdrownouttheirlovelyvoices.
• Practicewithyouraccompanimenttoosothechildrenarenotcaughtbysurprise.It’sthelittlethingsyouaddatthelastminutethatcantotallybringthechildrentoascreechinghalt.Ifyouaddapianoorguitar,besuretodosoearlysothechildrenwillbecomfortablewiththisadditioncomepresentationday.
DancingtoafavoriteSongAsimpledanceorroutinetoafavoritesongonyourplaylistisagreatwaytoloosenupyourstudentsandtogetthemtonaturallysmileandhavefunduringyourpresentation.Again,youwanttobesurethechildrenreallydoenjoythesongyouchooseandhavehadachancetolearnitwellbeforethebigday.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
AddingPropsIfyouplantoaddpropslikemusicalinstruments,scarves,orsomethingthechildrenmadetoyourpresentation,thenyoubetterintroducethosethingsbeforethebigdaytoo!Haveaplan…
• Howwillthechildrenbegiventheirprops?
• Howwillthechildrenholdtheirpropsduringthepresentation?
• Whatwillthechildrendowiththepropsafterthesongisover?
• Howwillyoucollectthepropstogetthemoutofthewaywithoutabigstallinyourpresentation?
Ioftenputmypropsinaprettybaskettokeeptothesideofthe“stage”thensetthepropsoutinfrontofeachchildonthefloorwhenitistimetousethem.Thechildrenaretaughttowaituntilthesongbeginstopickuptheirpropsthensetthembackonthefloorinfrontofthemwhenthesongends.Ihaveahelper(anotherteacherorolderchild)walkdownwiththebaskettoputthepropsbackintothebasket.WhatIdon’twantistohaveallthechildrenruntomeandhandmebacktheirprop.StoryBookPresentationsAfunandsimplethingtoaddtoyourpresentationisagoodchildren’sbook.Thereareseveralwaystoaddabooktoyourpresentation.SingtheStoryYoucanchooseabooklike“Sing”byTomLichtenheldandinvitethechildrentosingthestory.Youholdupthebookforthechildrentoseeandsingalongasyouturnthepages.Ifyouchooseabooklikethis,thenbesuretointroducethestorytotheparentsfirstsotheywillunderstandwhatishappening.MovetotheStoryAsimplebooklike“TeddyBear,TeddyBearTurn-Around”isafunbookforthechildrentoactoutthemotionsasyoureadthebookaloud.Youcanalsosingthisbookbyaddingyourownsimpletune.However,itisimportanttonotethatwhenyoungchildrenaremovingtoasongtheyarelesslikelytosing.Thechildrenwilloftenfocusmoreonmovingandlessonsingingunlesstheyknowthemovementsandthesongreally,reallywell.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
ActouttheStoryIfyouplanfarenoughaheadoftimeyoucanhavethechildrenmakesimplepropstoactoutashortchildren’sbook.Astorythathaslotsofrepetitionisagoodchoiceforthistypeofpresentationorabookthatisveryfamiliartothechildren.Thechildrenwillbetterrememberwhattodobecausethestoryispredictable.Anexampleofthiskindofstorymightbe“TheThreeLittlePigs.”
FingerplayPresentationsHopefullyyouhavebeenhavingfunwithdifferentfingerplaysthroughoutyourschoolyear.Asimplefingerplaylike“TheItsyBitsySpider”canbefunforthechildrentosingandyoucanchangeuptheversestoaddagreatbigspiderorateenyweenyspider.SongChoicesRememberthatthesongsyouchooseshouldhavethechildreninmindfirstandforemost.Itcanbetemptingtochooseasongthatyouthinkispopularorthattheparentswilltearupoverbutifthechildrencan’tsingthemordon’tlikethem,thentheonlytearsyoumayseearethechildren’stears!
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
Howmanysongsshouldwepresent?Don’tgetcarriedaway.Alongpresentationisn’tabetterpresentation.Focusonqualityoverquantity.Wehaveabouttwotothreesongsperclassandthenonesongthatallthechildrensingtogether.
SettingtheStageWhetheryourchildrenwillbesingingonastageorinanareaofyourclassroom,youwillwantto“setthestage.”Whatthismeansistoarrangetheareasothatthechildrenknowwheretostandandhaveenoughroomsothateverychildcanbeseenandcanmovearoundwithoutelbowingeachother.TosetthestageIrecommendyouusepainterstape.Painterstapeiseasytoremoveoffofmostfloorsandcarpetsbutdon’tleaveitforlongerthanadayortwostucktoyourfloor.Addthetapethenremoveitandadditagainasneeded.Youcanbuycoloredmasking/painterstapetoidentifydifferentareasofthestageforthechildren.Forexample,alongredtapelineforthechildrentostandonwhentheyentertheroomgivesthemaguideastowheretowalkandstop.Imayaddyellowtape“X’s”totheredlinesothatthechildreneachhavetheirown“star”tostandonaswell.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
SettingtheStageBelowisanexampleofasimplestagesettingIoftenuse…
1. Keepthestarsspacedfarenoughapartforthechildrentobeableto
moveaboutwithouthittingeachother.2. Keepyourfrontlineclosetothefrontofyourstageareasoyoucan
reachthechildrenasneeded.3. Makeyourline(s)longenoughforallyourchildrentostandwhereyou
wantthemtostand.4. Wedonotalwaysusethe“stars”.Sometimesthelineworksjustfineby
itself.5. Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstocoloredtapethenuseanycolorofpainters
tape.Thechildrenwillgettheidearegardlessofcolor.6. Youcanaddotherlinesifthechildrenwillmovearoundonthestage.I
oftenaddarectangleforthechildrentomarcharoundthestagewhenneeded.
BackofStage
FrontofStage
Starsforchildrentostandon.
Linesforchildrentostandon.
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Whereshouldtheteacherstand?Ialwaysstandorsitrightupfrontwheremystudentscaneasilyseemeandfollowmylead.Ileadthemthroughthepresentationasneededbutstillkeepingthefocusonthemandnotme.ItrytostandwhereIwon’tblockparentviewsaswell.
Whowillleadthechildren?Decidewhowillleadthechildrenthrougheachsongorroutine.Don’tchangeuptheleaderatthelastminute.Ihighlyrecommendthattheleader(s)bethesamewhointroducethesongsordancestothechildreninthefirstplaceandshoulddefinitelybesomeonethechildrenfeelmostcomfortablewith.Anewleader,especiallyrightbeforepresentationday,canmakethechildrenfeellessconfidentaboutparticipating.Child-FriendlyPracticesMostofthe“teaching”ofeachsong,dance,orroutinecanbedoneduringtheregularclassroomdaywhenyourclassusuallysings.Thisiswhenthechildrenaremostrelaxedandareusedtosingingtogether.Keepingthepracticesnaturalandpartofthedailyroutinewillavoidcreatingperformanceanxiety.Justteachandsingthesongsanddancesasyouwouldanyothertime.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
Aboutonetotwoweeksbeforepresentationday,thenintroducethechildrentoyourstageset-upandhavethemdothesongstheyhavebeendoingallalonginyourdailyroutinesonthestage.DoNotOverPracticePracticeenoughtimessothatthechildrencancomfortablyandeasilygowheretheyshouldontheirlinesandthenmoveon.
1. Practiceone:Introducethelinestothechildrenandshowthemwheretostand(onthelineoronastar).
2. Practicetwo:Havethechildrenlineupoffstageandthengototheirspotonthelines.Trythisafewtimesthenhighfiveforajobwelldone!
3. Practicethree:Havethechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithoutprops.
4. Practicefour:Havethechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithprops.
5. Practice5andfollowing:Repeathavingthechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithpropsBUTdonotdothistoomanytimesorthechildrenwillgetboredand/orsilly.Practicejustenoughtobuildconfidencethenstop.Don’tshootforperfectionasperfectionisanenergybuster.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
KeepitFun!Icannotstressthispointenough.Theminuteyoumakepractice,singing,dancing,orperformingatanylevelnotfunforthechildren–youwilllosetheirnaturaljoyinthemoment.Itcanfeelchaotictoyouwhentheenergylevelishighduringpracticesbutareasonablyhighenergylevelisbetterthanastrict,noenergylevel.Thechildrenwillnaturallylosesomeenergyduringtheirpresentationduetohavingparentsintheroomandfeelinganxious.Ifyoustartoffatastrict,lowlevelofenergythenyouwillriskthattheenergylevelwilldroponpresentationdaywhichmeansyoucouldbetheonlyonetoperformwhilethechildrencomplain,cry,orjuststandtherebecausetheprocessisn’tanyfun.KEEPTHEPRACTICESSHORT,SIMPLE,ANDFUN!
PurposeofPracticeRememberthatthepurposeofpracticeistogetcomfortablewithwhereandhowtostandonthestageandnottolearnanewsong.Everysonganddanceshouldbetaughtwellbeforegettingonstagetopractice.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
Whatshouldstudentswear?Rememberthatwearetalkingaboutpreschoolershereandanythingcanbeahugedistractionifnotcarefullyconsideredsowherepossible,letthechildrenwearsomethingtheyfeelgoodaboutandcomfortablein.Butherearesomethingstothinkabout…
• Ifitisgoingtobehot,thenthechildrenshoulddresscoolsotheydon’tfeelgrumpy.
• Ifthefloorisslippery,thenweartennisshoesandavoiddressshoeswithslickbottoms.
• Stayawayfromsandalsandflipflopsasthesefalloffduringpresentationsandyouwillhavetostopeverythingtofixit!
• Keeplittlefacesfreefrommasksandotherthingsthatobstructmommyanddaddyandgrandparentsfromseeingtheirchild’sface.
• Don’taddhatsoranythingthatwillfalloffheadsunlessyouhaveawaytomakesuretheystayonoryouwillbestoppingthepresentationtofixthosetoo!
Ihavebeendirectingpreschoolprogramsforyearsforallkindsofprogramsandovertheyears,Ihaveseenallkindsofcostumes.IamnotpersonallyabigfanofcostumesbutIhavefoundthatthechildrendoliketodressup.Sochoosewiselyandbeawareofhowyourchoiceswillimpactthechildren’sparticipationinyourpresentation.
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BeforethePresentation
• Showupearlysoyoufeelpreparedandrelaxedwhenthechildrenarrive.• Makesurethechildrengopottybeforethepresentationbegins.• Providesomethingsimpleandnon-messytodoiftherewillbeawaitsothat
thechildrencankeepbusy.Avoidsnacksanddrinksasitwillcausetheneedtogopottyagain.
• Don’tgetallstressedoutonthekids.Putonyourbestteachingstrategiesforleadingyoungchildrentowardsahappyexperience.
DuringthePresentation
• Welcometheparents(ifitisyourjobtodoso)andtellthemhowproudyouareoftheirchildrenandexcitedyouarethattheyhavecometosupporttheirchildren.Invitetheparentstoclapfortheirchildren.Parentenergymakesthepresentationevenmorefun.Giveanyinstructionstheparentsmayneedtoknowaftertheshowgetsunderwaylikewhenorwheretopickupthechildrenafterwards.
• Beencouraging,relaxed,andsmilewarmlyallthroughoutthepresentation.• Keepthepresentationmovingalongbutbesensitivetotheneedsofyour
studentsandaddressthoseneedswhereyoureallyneedtodoso.• Don’thandlechildrenfirmlyorquicklyasitcanlooklikeyouaretoorough
evenifthatisnotyourintention.Staycalm,sweet,andrelaxed.Letthepresentationtakeonalifeofitsownwhereitseemsokaytodoso.
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
ParentNeeds
• Rememberthatparentswillwanttobeabletotakephotossoallowforthiswherepossible.
• Makesureseatingisarrangedsothateveryonecanseethechildrenasbestaspossible.
• Sendanotehometoparentsaheadoftimegivingthemanydetailslikewhattheirchildshouldorshouldnotwear,whattimetoarrive,whattheschedulewillbeandiftherewillbeanylimitationsinseatingsothatparentsdon’tbringtheentireneighborhoodtowatchtheirchild’spresentation.
• Ifyouplantoserverefreshments,havetheparentshelpoutbybringingsimpletreats.Provideasign-sheetorassignaparenttoorganizethispartofyourevent.Gettingparentsinvolvedhelpsthemmaketheeventaprioritybutdon’taskthemtohelpduringthepresentation.Letparentssitbackandenjoywatchingtheirchild.
• Makesureyouhavealsothoughtaboutparkingsoparentscanhaveastressfree(asmuchaspossible)experiencetoo.
• Talkaboutthepresentationoftentoyourparentssotheywillremembertoputitontheirscheduleandmakeitaprioritytocome!
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
PresentationChecklists
NameofSong:
TypeofSongSing-AlongDance
StoryBookOther
DescriptionofPresentation
NumberofChildren
Whichchildrenwillbepresenting?
Children’sAttireWhatwillthechildrenwear?
Props
Whatpropswillbeused?Besureyouhaveenough!
Drawyourstaging
Wherewillthechildrenstandormoveduringthepresentation?
Music
DoyouneedaCDPlayer,Microphone,Other?Listithere.
Practice
Whatdayswillyoupracticeonthe“stage”withthechildren?
ParentNote
Doyouhaveanydetailsthatparentsneedtoknow?
ImportantReminder!
Remember!!!
Keeptheprocesschild-focusedandfun!
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
NameofSong:
TypeofSongSing-AlongDance
StoryBookOther
DescriptionofPresentation
NumberofChildren
Whichchildrenwillbepresenting?
Children’sAttireWhatwillthechildrenwear?
Props
Whatpropswillbeused?Besureyouhaveenough!
Drawyourstaging
Wherewillthechildrenstandormoveduringthepresentation?
Music
DoyouneedaCDPlayer,Microphone,Other?Listithere.
Practice
Whatdayswillyoupracticeonthe“stage”withthechildren?
ParentNote
Doyouhaveanydetailsthatparentsneedtoknow?
ImportantReminder!
Remember!!!
Keeptheprocesschild-focusedandfun!
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
NameofSong:
TypeofSongSing-AlongDance
StoryBookOther
DescriptionofPresentation
NumberofChildren
Whichchildrenwillbepresenting?
Children’sAttireWhatwillthechildrenwear?
Props
Whatpropswillbeused?Besureyouhaveenough!
Drawyourstaging
Wherewillthechildrenstandormoveduringthepresentation?
Music
DoyouneedaCDPlayer,Microphone,Other?Listithere.
Practice
Whatdayswillyoupracticeonthe“stage”withthechildren?
ParentNote
Doyouhaveanydetailsthatparentsneedtoknow?
ImportantReminder!
Remember!!!
Keeptheprocesschild-focusedandfun!
Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist
NameofSong:
TypeofSongSing-AlongDance
StoryBookOther
DescriptionofPresentation
NumberofChildren
Whichchildrenwillbepresenting?
Children’sAttireWhatwillthechildrenwear?
Props
Whatpropswillbeused?Besureyouhaveenough!
Drawyourstaging
Wherewillthechildrenstandormoveduringthepresentation?
Music
DoyouneedaCDPlayer,Microphone,Other?Listithere.
Practice
Whatdayswillyoupracticeonthe“stage”withthechildren?
ParentNote
Doyouhaveanydetailsthatparentsneedtoknow?
ImportantReminder!
Remember!!!
Keeptheprocesschild-focusedandfun!
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