Why use songs?

Children respond positively to songs–

Young children will only get involved in activities if they like them. They are used to singing similar songs in L1. Lots of songs involve actions which children enjoy doing. Young children love being active – let’s use that positively. This is particularly important for SEN children, as sometimes music is what they respond to most. The Hello song can incorporate lots of actions and is very upbeat, creating a positive learning environment.

Every student can be involved in a song activity –

Young children don’t like sitting quietly and waiting for something to do in class e.g. If a teacher goes round the class asking each student a question, it doesn’t take long before most of the class are finding something else to keep them occupied. Choral/group tasks are great for making sure children are all active and focussed, and most importantly engaged in the lesson. Children who have been diagnosed with ADHA find songs a positive way to use their extra energy. Likewise, dyslexic children feel included in language focused activities that don’t involve reading or writing. Songs eliminate  the fact that classes are generally mixed ability; no matter where a child is in terms of learning a language, they can join in with a song to some degree. If children are not ready to sing they can do the actions or just move to the music. The Shine On song provides lots of involvement with the children, including social integration, and if used at the beginning of the lesson can be very bonding for the group.

They make language memorable  –

Most of us can remember songs learnt as a child, or we get a tune stuck in our heads we can\’t forget (an earworm). The tunes, and the fact we repeat them either in our heads or listening to them, makes them memorable and helps the lyrics pass from out short term memory to be stored in our long-term memory banks. Very often children are better at the songs in the next lesson, as their brain has been playing it over and over in between time. This is also a useful way to help dyslexic children remember language.

They make language meaningful –

Children don’t just sing they point to key words, or pictures, or do appropriate actions which helps exemplify meaning. Using muscle memory and key phrases helps the language be retained in the long term memory. Again, this can be very beneficial for SEN children.

They include crucial phonological features –

English naturally uses a lot of linking, word stress, pronunciation, sentence stress, intonation – the lot! Songs help reinforce the phonological features. In the Hello song key phonological features include:

contractions; It‘s English time. Let’s be friendly.

word stress: friendly, English, together

sentence stress; It’s English time. It’s time to shine. Come on everyone.   etc.

They expose children to common phrases or ‘chunks’ of language

English  isn’t just a list of words to learn, but the words  often occur in useful chunks of language. These chunks are much easier to remember rather than trying to reconstruct sentences or phrases.

Encourage children with different learning needs to use this as a  way of remembering whole phrases and responses.

Examples from the song include: Come on everyone, it\’s time to … , Let\’s +verb (be/work/sing)

They are repetitive –

Children are happy repeating songs over and over. This helps them remember and builds their confidence as the music helps them recite the words. SEN children, in particular,  take comfort in familiarity and routines which are repetitive.  Parents like concrete evidence that learning is taking place so children should be encouraged to sing the songs at home. Children can show that they know a range of structures and vocabulary by singing songs. the hello song include lots of repetition.

They can help classroom management and establish routines.-

Songs can really benefit a teacher’s classroom management skills. Having a welcome song or a beginning song helps create an English learning environment which is positive and helps signal that English lessons are starting. Songs can help with presenting language, where children repeat and participate. Songs can also  provide useful timeframes for children to complete activities, eg when getting prepared for a lesson, colouring in or tidying up. Having established routines is at the heart of classroom management.

Basic Stages to using an action song

Teach the words: Introduce the song with only 1 verse per group so as not to overwhelm the children. Alternatively give out pictures and elicit the phrases about the pictures. (Ask the children to make up actions for each phrase. Alternatively listen to the song and order pictures etc.)

Make up the actions:  encourages personalisation, engaging and involving the children

Teach the actions; teaching each other is a good method of learning, so they are more likely to remember if they have taught it. It helps consolidation and provides a sense of ownership to the language; encouraging sharing as a group.

Chant the words while doing the actions: start feeling the rhythm of the language and the structures being used. Ensure familiarity with the stress patterns in English, adding on  a different verse each time to help memorise the words.

Do the actions to the music: While the children aregetting familiar with the music, give them a chance to move to the music when they hear it for the first time (never ask children to be still when music is on). Only focus on one area, the actions, so they can feel the music/ beat/rhythm and get familiar with the tune.

Sing the song and do the actions: Putting the whole thing together, keeping the children challenged and consolidating the words and actions. Have fun.

Make up new verse with actions:  Give stronger students an opportunity to be pushed and extend what they know. This will also help weaker students expand their vocabulary.

Show the class: Performing to others helps create ownership of the song and the language involved. praise and admiration are very motivating. You could also get the children to decide which is the best new verse and sing it all together, which is very motivating for the group that has created this.