"God has certainly blessed you with special talents and the ability to make a room come alive with enthusiasm, excitement, fun, and learning. You work extremely well with adults. I can only imagine how fantastic you must be with children!"

— Bob Lange, Southern District Teachers' Conference

Books come alive through song as we explore the link between lyrics and literacy through story songs (stories based on songs). These story songs can be read or sung. Using rhyme, repetition, rhythm, melody and sentence structure, participants will collaborate to create an adapted or original story song. Author and musician Johnette Downing draws on students' musical and linguistic intelligences for integrating music and language arts.

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.

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