The current philosophy in kindergarten teaching is to use the children’s interests to extend their learning; and to teach using that interest. When we went back to school after the winter break, many of the children’s conversations centred on Disney’s latest animation, Frozen.
Elsa and Anna were the topics of many conversations. Outside in the playground, scenes from the film were being re-enacted. While working, the girls would sing Let It Go. As we are a French Immersion class, I kept telling them to sing in French. After choruses of “Aaahh”, they would begin to sing the French songs they know. I wondered whether they would be able to learn the French version of their current favourite tune. Then I thought, “Why not?” I wrote the words out on chart paper, found the song on YouTube, and set out to learn the song with my class.
Each day I sing this song with my class, following the written words on the chart paper. While they are working, I play the song for them as well. What is astounding is that these children (who started learning French this year) are now singing Libérée, Délivrée. Many of them know more of the song words than I do! And what is even more surprising is that while they are working, they are singing the song in French – without the aid of music. We have decided to sing this song at the school’s year-end concert given for the parents. When discussing this option, I loved the comment one child made: “Madam, we need to take the chart with us in case we forget the words.” An added bonus is that they are learning to recognise some of the written words of this song.
Now, of course, I need to learn the song properly so I can lead them. At every opportunity, I am playing it and trying to sing along. The result? I have this tune in my head night and day! 🙂
What song is currently playing in your head?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
This song is contaminative. All of my grandchildren singing it full day long.
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I enjoy watching the actions that come with the singing as they imitate Elsa 🙂
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That’s a cool song, so popular… Love the video in French; such a beautiful language even you don’t understand.
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What I have liked most about showing this to my students is that they have embraced singing in the language – both boys and girls.
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Freight train, an old Carter’s song. 😉
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I had to, of course, go and have a listen 🙂
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What a wonderful idea.
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Thank you Jo.
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Hi Colline…love your post! And congratulations! I wanted you to know that you won the giveaway on my blog…please contact me so I can get a copy of Show Me How! and the art supplies in the mail to you. 😉 😉 viviankirkfield@gmail.com
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What a lovely surprise you have given me on Mother;s Day Vivian. I look forward to reading the book 🙂
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Wonderful what music and singing can do. While teaching grade ones we always loved to sing our own made words on well known tunes also
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We haven’t made our own song yet – though one girl approached me on Friday with the desire to do so 🙂
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Fantastic. It is a way to practice new words but in a playful way
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And learn new words too. Some of the children are even learning to recognise the words.
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Good on you and them! 😀
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This is fabulous, reminds me of happy days in the classroom. I loved my teaching too as you so clearly do. I’d love to be at your end of term concert! 🙂
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I am looking forward to it to see how the parents respond to their progress 🙂
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I do usually have a song in my head, Colline, but not just at this moment. Language is a funny thing, isn’t it? I remember I used to sing along to a French song in my youth with no clear idea what it was about. I just loved the sounds. You’re doing a grand job! 🙂
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Thank you Jo. My reward is seeing these children singing the song in French – and enjoying it with every inch of their being 🙂
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Teaching language through favourite songs! Clever of you Colline! 🙂
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Thank you Madhu. My class loves singing and they always want to watch the song snippets of Frozen 🙂
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well I read on a different blog that this is called an “ear worm” – when songs get stuck in our mind like this – and well, I would love to learn this song in French – how cool!!! and let’s see – the song in my head right now – is “Rainin’ in My heart” – by Al Green – when he was singing it with Willie Nelson – it is on one of my playlists and well, just keeps “playing in my heart” – I mean head… ! ha!
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What a beautiful song – I am not surprised it touched your heart 🙂
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I didn’t realize the popularity of this movie until recently. I only knew about it because of their Oscar wins. I haven’t seen it myself. And now that you talked about the hype of it again, I’m even more extra curious.
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The humour in the movie is exactly like that of young children – and it is this which made me smile often 🙂
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