CONTRIBUTORS
“That’s all very well, if you can sing!”
This month, in our ongoing collaboration with Edge Hill University curated by ALICIA BLANCO-BAYO, Early Years Lecturer and WTEY Programme Leader at the University’s Faculty of Education, we hear from Zoe Greenhalgh, Early Childhood Music Consultant, Educator & Author and an Associate Tutor (Early Years) at Edge Hill University. Zoe is also the Course Director for the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood (CME:EC) at CREC, a Director of Note Weavers and an Early Childhood Tutor for The British Kodály Academy.
The only thing better than singing is more singing. Ella Fitzgerald
“That’s all very well if you can sing!” I hear you say. Well, just for starters you need to know that we can all sing as to be human is to be musical. A child that grows up in a bilingual household is likely to be bilingual. Likewise, a child that grows up surrounded by singing and music will be “more musical” – it is nothing to do with genetics or talent and everything to do with environment and practice. Singing is an inherent part of early life which has been used to regulate
emotion since time immemorial - lullabies to calm and induce sleep, play songs to divert attention and entertain – releasing endorphins in to the blood stream, improving mood and lowering blood pressure. In a group singing creates harmonious communities whether that is on the football terraces, within religious practice or in the nursery, bringing individuals together in the spirit of co-operation and shared identity. If ever there was a time to sing, it is now! Songs and rhymes offer multiple opportunities to engage, connect and
communicate with children in a non-verbal, non-threatening, informal way that builds trust and confidence, establishes routines and forges positive relationships, a good foundation upon which future development and learning can build.
When you sing with young children:
• Sing with confidence, even if you don’t feel it! • Sing with the children, not at them – you are part of the group, not the one in charge. • Choose songs with care. Stick to simple songs that are short and repetitive - if you find them difficult to sing, so will the children. The tunes of many of our best loved nursery rhymes (e.g. Humpty Dumpty) are very complex and difficult to sing but they are fantastic as spoken rhymes. • Remember young children cannot sing loudly – if asked to sing loud they will shout. • Sing the songs at a child friendly pitch. Children’s voices are higher than adults, and their singing voice is higher again, usually between the D above middle C, and the B above. This may be higher than you are used to singing but your voice is a muscle and with practice you will find it easier.Voice play is really helpful to find a higher pitch range for singing; try sliding up and down making siren noises, meowing like a cat or calling the dog, all sounds that use higher pitch vocal sounds. Perhaps this sound could be a clue to the song that follows, a song about a fire engine, cat or dog, a more playful way to introduce an activity than speech. • Sing rather than talk. Sing your registers, instructions and comments – children will listen and engage more. It doesn’t matter what tune you use – it could be a tune that you know or just made up on the spot using a couple of pitches, whatever comes in the moment is fine. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Above all be playful and enjoy the singing – it is good for you as well as the children!
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www.education-today.co.uk What counts as CPD?
In her regular column for Education Today this month, STEMtastic! founder KIRSTY BERTENSHAW casts her eye over the field of CPD.
With the current pandemic, travelling out to CPD courses isn’t possible. The cost of CPD courses has always been an issue, but what if you want to expand your skills? What counts as CPD and how can you access it?
What counts as CPD? CPD needs to be focused on evaluating and improving pupil outcomes in a sustained way. Even courses run in conference centres aren’t meeting this standard until the teacher is back in the classroom implementing the knowledge gained. So are there other ways to participate in CPD besides courses that carry a hefty fee? Yes! Any method of improving pupil outcomes counts. This includes online seminars, talks from other teachers, books and journals on teaching methods, podcasts, videos of seminars and research in your own classroom.
Online courses There are many free online courses that are available for teachers that can be completed in their own time or within CPD time given in school. Because they are online, they can be completed anywhere and at any time. There are courses specific to SEND as well as developing skills further, such as Dyslexia Awareness from Microsoft:
https://education.microsoft.com/en-us/course/30a7b5e8/0
Books and journals Reading books on teaching pedagogy, new methods of teaching and learning, behaviour management and effective assessment all count as CPD, whether they are read for ten minutes before bed or curled up in a chair with a glass of wine. Arguably, being given the choice over which books to read is more effective CPD, as the individual can choose what exactly will be beneficial to them in their classroom rather than a one size fits all approach often delivered after school in the assembly hall. If reading for pleasure isn’t enjoyable for you, or time constraints are an issue, try an audiobook instead. This can be in the car on the way to work or the supermarket, while out walking the dog or on a run, or while cooking or cleaning. Multi-tasking does not mean that you aren’t paying attention! Muscle movement can aid memory and create a focus on the audio input the brain is receiving.
YouTube There are many CPD videos and webinars available on YouTube or other video hosting sites, for free. I do recommend choosing a reputable video author, such as a recognisable company name or a host channel such as Ted Ed. This CPD option allows safe observations of other teacher’s classrooms and methods, as well as access to the experience and combined knowledge of teachers based all over the world. Ted Ed has a sub channel called Ted Ed Educator Talks which are equivalent to paying a guest speaker to attend your staff meeting, but free and available anywhere. There is even a section of audio-only talks if you prefer to listen instead of watch. I’ve even been known to watch the videos on silent with the subtitles on so I can still partake of the expertise when I can’t sleep in the middle of the night! CPD doesn’t have to mean sitting in one large room with your colleagues. CPD should be personalised to your own needs as a teacher. The beauty of the methods mentioned here is that you can choose those areas that prove to be a struggle for YOU, or that interest YOU.
u Additional info:
https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/elearning-for-teachers https://education.microsoft.com/en-us/course/30a7b5e8/overview
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education- development/education/understanding-dyslexia/content-section-0?active- tab=description-tab
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/educational-technology-and- practice/educational-practice/inclusive-education-knowing-what-we- mean/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab
https://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audiobooks/Education-and- Professional/Teaching
Kirsty is the founder of STEMtastic, an education consultancy with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
www.stemtastic.co.uk
October 2020
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