Since 2007, I have had a week in February titled “Bring Your Parents to Music and Movement Class” for the students in grades PreK-2. I discovered this idea on the MENC general music message boards and I have been so thankful that I did try it.
I thoroughly enjoy the week because it opens my eyes greatly to the following items:
- I see fathers come into the classroom and dance with their young children. Many of these fathers I have not met before.
- I see students who are normally very shy open up, smile, and actively participate because their parents are smiling at them.
- The parents see and experience the curriculum as opposed to only concerts.
- Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Babysitters, Close Family Friend, etc. If a parent cannot attend, it is so nice that the family will send another adult.
- Cooperation and Working Together: The dances, singing games, play parties, etc that we perform all require the students to cooperate and work together. When the parents join us, the parents will remark about how much they like that these activities help their children learn to work together.
- “Thank you.” It is really nice to hear the parents say “thank you for doing this.” Every year I debate if I should have this event because it is not required by the school and no other teacher does something like this. However, I feel that the parents do appreciate it and I appreciate that they take the time out of their days to come.
- Smiles, smiles, smiles. The students in this age group adore having their parents in the classroom with them. It was so wonderful for students to walk into the classroom with a smile and smile continuously throughout the class.
When I describe this event to other music teachers, I am asked about the students whose parents cannot attend. When we perform activities that require partners or groups, those students will pair up together or some parents will be 2 students’s grownup.
It is a great week and one that I will schedule again for next year.
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February 6th, 2010 at 5:29 am
What a grat idea!!! Concider it stolen!! (along with many others that I have enjoyed on your blog.). Thanks and keep up the get work.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Thanks Stephanie! I cannot take credit for the idea as I “borrowed” it from a teacher who posted it on the MENC message boards!
February 6th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I would like to do this at my school. Can you go into a little more detail about what activities you do during that lesson and how you coordinate the administrative aspects?
February 6th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Hi Martha,
For the most part, the activities all come from the curriculum. Therefore, with the PreK Youngers (3 years olds) we sing, perform finger plays, and perform basic movement activities with the parents. With the PreK Olders (4 years olds), it is the same as PreK Youngers but we will add a simple circle dance. In grades K-2, we sing folk songs with the parents and perform musical games, dances, and activities from the New England Dancing Masters Series (Jump Jim Joe, Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mocking Bird, and Sashay the Donut) (http://www.dancingmasters.com).
In regards to the administrative aspect, I work with my divisional director to pick an optimal week in the school year (though you never know about the weather during this month…), and how to get the word out.
I hope that helps. Please email me if you need any assistance. I can send you fliers and such that I have made for this music week.
Amy:)