Q. Do I need musical ability to do these circle time plans?
A. Maybe. A little helps. Some of you know that I have a master's in music and four years
of experience teaching elementary music education, but you really don't
need all that to implement circle time. A little note reading ability will help when there is no CD available. But basically, if you can carry a tune you can do circle time. Even if you can't carry a tune it will still be worthwhile. Just ask my (tone-deaf) sister who used to teach preschool! She was still fabulous at teaching children songs they could enjoy singing!
Almost all of the books I use come with a CD. The Child's Seasonal Treasury does not, but there are only a few songs in that book - most of the contents are poems, finger plays, crafts and recipes. You can do it - you have my confidence!
If you do have note reading ability, a small glockenspiel, keyboard or guitar will be helpful.
Q. What ages are ideal for circle time?
A. Definitely from preschool through first grade. My girls are 7 and 9 this year and they still like to participate, even more that my 6yo boy who is the ideal age for circle time. My 2yo even loves to join in for the opening songs.She becomes a little distracting after the first song, but we try our best to keep going!
sitting criss-cross applesauce
Q. What if my boys really aren't into this and think it's dumb?
A. Get them started on their math or put them in charge of the toddler. Or encourage them to participate anyway and when you hear them singing the songs all day you'll know it was worth it. To be honest, my 5yo boy was so squirmy for me this year I was temped to give up Circle Time. He would lie on the floor and bother his sisters or not want to come at all. I tried to remain positive and praise his efforts to participate and he eventually came around when he realized I would do Circle Time with or without him
Q. How many days a week do you do circle time?
A. I planned four days a week because we are taking Wednesdays off next year. Where an important feast day fell on a Wednesday I added a column to include that day.
Q. How do you teach the songs?
A. Some teachers just start singing and let the children mumble the words until they catch on. This method can be surprisingly effective. More often than not I use the echo method:
- chant the words in rhythm, a phrase at a time, "My turn, your turn."
- hum the melody a phrase at a time, "My turn, your turn."
- combine words and melody a phrase at a time, "My turn, your turn."
- sing sections at a time
- point out what is a refrain, what are the verses or the form of the song
When the song is learned fairly well I let the children take out the silk scarves to wave around while they sing and dance. They love this, and as some moms have observed, music classes for little ones charge big bucks for this!
Q. How do I teach some basic singing posture during this time?
A. Here are a few teaching tips from this website:
Singing Posture
To get an erect but easy posture before singing, pretend you are a
string puppet. Now between thumb and forefinger hold the string
attached to the center of your puppet-skull. Gently pull your body up
until `straight and tall. That’s the singing posture. Now let the
puppeteer hold the string and put your hand down.
* * * I might also suggest that you go over singing posture from the bottom to top:
- feet - shoulder width apart
- knees - slightly bent
- stomach - in
- chest - out
- shoulders - back
Abdominal Breathing
For correct breath management keep shoulders still and suck in air
so deep that you feel “pear-shaped”. Or swell the belly until you feel
“like a giant balloon with a tiny head and chest sitting on top”.
Keeping eyes closed at first helps you rely on the kinesthetic sense
to know if the breath is where it should be.
Calendar Time
Q. How do you hold a songbook and play the recorder or glockenspiel at the same time?
A. I ask my little boy to hold the book altar boy style. The girls sometimes stand by my side to see the words. Owning two hymnals would be handy!
Q. How long should this take each day?
A. It takes us anywhere from 15 - 30 minutes depending on toddler interruptions, poopy diapers and when daddy leaves for work. Take some time to make sure you and the children are ready to start after breakfast - go potty, get a drink, check the baby's diaper, etc.!
Q. Can I use these plans every year?
A. Yes, mostly. Like the ordinary and proper parts of Mass, the liturgical parts will need to be revised next school year.
Our usual closing prayer (along the the prayer on the back of the holy card of the Saint of the Day):
May my hands work with care,
My heart work with love,
and my mind work with attention.
Amen.
