Music is the universal language and is a powerful vehicle for teaching language. Through rhythms, rhymes, word-card games, scarves, musical instruments, and “think, pair, share” group activities, teachers learn to help students sing their way through rhyming, compound, color, pronoun, calendar and directional words as they develop basic language building.

Books come alive through song as we explore the link between lyrics, language and literacy through Johnette’s beloved “singable” books. Using rhyme, repetition, rhythm, melody, and sentence structure, participants collaborate to create an adapted “singable” story. An expanded version of this workshop that includes a “make and take” collage bookmaking section is available upon request (an additional bookmaking supply fee is required).

When learning is doing, learning is fun. Add music, and learning is not only fun, it is memorable, meaningful and purposeful. Through easy language skills-based musical games, children forget they are learning, grasping and applying the concepts with ease, and thus demonstrating that music and laughter are not only the best medicine, they are the best teachers. 

An early childhood music educator, keynote speaker, and presenter with twenty-eight years of international experience on five continents, Johnette Downing offers educator workshops on how to use music as a teaching tool in the English language classroom. Educators will actively participate in classroom-tested musical activities directed at making student learning memorable, purposeful and culturally meaningful. Through easy language skills-based songs and musical games, educators are able to draw on students’ innate aptitude for integrating language and music to make language learning a song and a dance.

Johnette has given workshops in Africa, Asia, Central America, North America, and the Middle East through ACCESS, AMIDEast, TESOL, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Cultural Affairs, education conferences, Ministries of Education, universities, performing arts center, among others.

AV Needs
A PowerPoint Presentation set-up is required. Depending upon the number of participants, two hands-free microphones for voice and guitar/ukulele may be required.

Books and Recordings
Books and recordings may be available for purchase after the workshop, depending upon travel logistics, either through Johnette or through pre-orders through her publishers. Contact for more information. 

Book and CD Signings
Johnette is thrilled to sign purchased books and recordings after the workshop.