I teach two half-day sections of pre-kindergarten in a public school setting. Each class consists of 20 four-year-olds coming from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Our free and reduced lunch rate is over 70%.
We already have an iPod that is ready to go and pre-loaded with our songs that we use everyday in group time. We are currently using a CD player that has to have the CDs changed out with each new song that is played. At the present time I am using a boom box CD player that I have to change CDs out continuously throughout the morning for our daily rituals and then start all over again after lunch when the p.m. session arrives.
We are a literacy based program that uses music and songs extensively to help teach basic skills and concepts. Songs help us learn our alphabet, how to spell the color word of the month, and even teach us how to draw our numbers. We use different songs for nursery rhymes, days of the week and even when it is time to clean up the room. With each song, CDs have to be changed out and the particular number of the song has to be searched for each time.
We need a docking station to amplify the songs from the iPod. I can create play lists to include only the group time songs that I need, while saving precious teaching time. I'll be able to load all of my CD's on the iPod and then organize the music so it is easier to find when we need it.
This will also help manage student behavior as well because there will not be "dead" time during that transition. If I am working with an individual student on a concept, the remote will allow me to change or repeat the song from across the room.
Music is an integral part of the daily activities in early childhood classrooms. We have songs about everything! We really can teach just about anything with music. One of the most successful ways we do this is by immersing our young students in musical instruction.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. McGehee and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
