As teachers, we do so much more than give the tools for learning basic skills.
It is important we are aware of the impact we make on children's lives.
When we know that children learn best by modeling, than we must model good behavior.
When we know children need to be hugged and smiled at, we must hug and smile.
(Isn't that a wonderful job description?) Sing-cerely, Mar.
Mar.'s
Workshops are:
*Based on over 35 yrs classroom experience (preK
through college)
*Holistic in nature - because of her dual degrees (Music /
Education)
*Combines brain research findings with music/movement
*Multiculturalism
is always considered - addressing those who are ELL
*Philosophy is not to teach music - but to "use music to
teach"
*Can be presented for ALL levels - preK - College
Please ask for other topics as Mar. presents workshops on literacy, communication skills and teaching it all through music (basic skills). Mar.'s philosophy is centered around the importance of making adults comfortable using music with children.
For insight on brain research and its implication in child development, book a workshop!
For fun and entertainment (with learning included), have a concert, party or host a Music with Mar. class!
|
To schedule a
workshop or concert call
727-781-4MAR or send an
e-mail.
|
Many teachers have attended various workshops where they are told about brain research. This is the "How to" for brain research and learning skills. This workshop specifically points out the research that targets learning skills. Movement and music activities are demonstrated which will give teachers the tools to implement this brain research on a daily basis.
|
Implementing
Brain Research Findings Through Music and Movement The principles demonstrated in this
workshop can be applied to all teaching / training environments as well as
all ages groups or grade levels. These
two workshops are essentially the same but sometimes requirements
necessitate a different title. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Singing Science!!! Awaken curiosity in children. Every child is a natural scientist, questioning the world around them. Make each lesson memorable by having children sing and move. Get children engaged in science by scatting habitats, pretending to be a flower, or learning about magnets through swing dancing. This workshop recommended for PreK - grade 2. Variation can be done for "Awakening the Little Scientist" and gearing workshop to specifically 4 year olds. |
Visit www.childcrafteducation.com Celebrate
Science Series -- See
"Smart Woman Doll" Recommended for ages 4 - 8 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
And, That's Why Music's Important! This workshop focuses on the importance of music in the development for a child. Simple explanations of left/right brain functions demonstrate why music is so functional in the education of a child making it easy for the non-musically trained teacher. Socialization, motor and basic skills are enhanced through fun music activities. Participants leave anxious to try music in their classrooms/homes. Classroom teachers should not worry about 'teaching music' BUT, they should "use music to teach".  Ctr Certification Trng - MO |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Using Music,
Books & Puppets
|
Separating
the Myths of Mozart from the Magic of Music 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Safety Issues Through Song |
What We Give Them Today, They Will Keep Forever! What we provide in the first few years of
life are the tools children will use into adulthood. We must make sure we provide the
following: a healthy attitude, a strong value system, basic skills, communication skills,
the ability to love and be loved, tolerance and acceptance of others, the ability to laugh
and a sense of safety. This workshop
demonstrates how to use
music and movement activities to enhance a child’s development in all
four main areas – social, motor, language and cognitive.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Body, Heart and Mind This workshop validates the teacher’s importance in the total development of each child. A teacher is more important than just teaching the basic skills. A teacher must also teach about respect for one’s body and having the ability to love and be loved. Educating the mind is easier when the total person is healthy. Songs will be taught to enhance the lessons about exercising, making good choices and learning the basic skills we need for life.
Stories
I Love to Sing Come
and learn a fun way to teach a traditional tale or valuable lesson through a
song. Using stories with
morals, like “Slow and Steady” or “Chicken Little”, or
stories that are fun, like “The Wide Mouth Bull Frog” or "Hi.
My Name is Jo!" make learning
interactive and enjoyable. Books together with a song / dramatic
activity activate more areas of the brain and aid in better
comprehension/retention.
Totally Tods! This workshop focuses on the special needs of our youngest children. Most of the music out there is too long or wordy for children ages birth through three. Songs for this age should be short enough and simple enough to keep the attention of the infant/toddler. They are also best if they invite interaction with an adult. One-on-one activities are best for this age group. Dr. Becky Bailey's I Love You Rituals are perfect for this age group. Engaging a child in face-to-face activities, helps to produce dopamine which in turn strengthens the development of the frontal lobe. A strong frontal lobe helps in impulse control. Babies watch the faces of their caregivers and listen to the tone of voice. Each time you rock a baby, feed a baby or look at and sing to a baby, that child receives the message, "You are loved!" The more that message is received, the more that child's self-esteem is strengthened. Songs also engage both sides of the brain. The songs used with
very young children should be simple melodies as well as simple lyrics.
This makes it easier to remember. Clap babies hands together and say
words. As you clap, they feel the rhythm of the language. Babies
most likely cannot hear the syncopated sounds, so clap each sound in a straight rhythm.
Rocking a baby and dancing helps to internalize rhythm enabling the body to
align together the inner workings of the various systems which are
developing (ie, vestibular, proprioceptors). This alignment produces a
child, who at 24 months, can walk, talk and
have motor skills. The ability to function well is directly
linked to self-esteem. A child who is delayed in these beginning
steps, will have future educational problems. It is important to make
these first steps enjoyable, functional and productive. Developmentally Appropriate Activities are key in a toddler program. What's most important is bonding and one-on-one interaction. Smile, talk, sing, dance! Its fun and it really does a toddler worlds of good!
Suggested
Books:
Building
a Multicultural Perspective Early The importance of music is evident in all cultures. Music aids in brain development, retention, builds an appreciation and respect for others and creates a sense of community and pleasure. It is difficult to be angry with someone while dancing. Within our own country, we have various cultures--Appalachian, Hawaiian, Inuit, Cajun and including varying ages and abilities. Don't be afraid to teach traditional dances (ie Mexican Hat Dance). Just make sure you don't stereotype. Let children be aware that they also dance as we do. Phyllis Weikert has an excellent video series out which demonstrates folk dances from around the world. The
purpose of this workshop is to learn ways to instill early an appreciation
for all cultures. Children love music and by exposing them to many styles
from the early years, we are giving them a wider perspective to approach
life from. Integration of songs with many cultural flavors helps
children build an acceptance for others different from themselves.
Multiculturalism is a way of life, not a special event. My collection of
music uses an extensive variety of cultures. Music for Little People and
Folkways are great sources for authentic, multicultural music.
Read
Audrey Penn's new book "Feathers & Fur". Its a
great story about differences and acceptance. Click here to see sign
language for "How Many Ways" song A study from Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero found demonstrable links between experiences with music and drama and increases in certain cognitive skills. The three-year study -- directed by Project Zero researchers Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland and funded by the Bauman Family Foundation -- reviewed 50 years of arts education research, analyzing 188 relevant studies. Based on 45 reports, researchers found evidence that spatial-temporal reasoning improves when children learn to make music, and this kind of reasoning improves temporarily when adults listen to certain kinds of music, including Mozart. The finding suggests that music and spatial reasoning are related psychologically (i.e., they may rely on some of the same underlying skills) and perhaps neurologically as well (i.e., they may rely on some of the same, or proximal, brain areas). However, the existing reports do not reveal conclusively why listening to music affects spatial-temporal thinking. For further info, you may contact:
Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not all in the Head. Dr. Carla Hannaford, neurophysicist. This book explains ‘brain gym’ (exercises using both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously), the use of music/movement in the development of the vestibular system as well as other benefits of music and movement. The Mozart Effect for Children by Don Campbell. This follow-up to The Mozart Effect focuses specifically on the benefit of music with children. The research supports music’s role in the enhancement of learning. There are quotes by well-known child experts, including Joseph Chilton Pearce and Dr. Dee Coulter. One study cited took place at McGill University in Montreal. Two groups of economically disadvantaged children were followed. One group was given free piano lessons; the other was not. The children who were given lessons went on to perform better than the children who did not. Research indicates that actively making music has a substantially greater beneficial effect than just listening. Classroom Keyboard Instruction Improves Kindergarten Children’s Spatial-temporal Performance: A Field Experiment by Frances H. Rauscher, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Mary Anne Zupan, School District of Kettle Moraine. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of piano keyboard instruction on the spatial-temporal reasoning of kindergarten children. Frances Rauscher had originally conducted a similar study with Gordon Shaw at the University of California, Irvine. It was this research that the media coined "The Mozart Effect". Drs. Rauscher and Shaw did not give it that title. The study at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a second study to find out if they would achieve the same results. They did. Contact Dr. Frances H. Rauscher at Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901, tel. (920) 424-7172 or email rauscher@uwosh.edu What others say about Mar."I could listen to her for another hour." Port Charlotte Early Childhood Specialist "Mar. Harman combines her degrees in music education and early childhood education with her talented voice and gift of reaching children to inspire and teach us all how to enjoy music and learning. Her work is a gift to children and those who care for them." Dr. Becky Bailey "You are a real professional and the last person sitting still got your best. I was most impressed." Suzanne Gellens, Exec. Dir ECAF/President SECA "You are to be commended for all the time and energy you give to children. The payoffs are quite evident. You can be very proud." Dt Lynn Thomson, FL DARE "Thank you for helping us remember how special is is to be a parent." Kelley Cheek "Mar. Harman touches the hearts of children with her music. She educates about important issues in the very best way, with laughter and song, encouraging the children to participate in the joy of the process." Dr. Peter Alsop, children's musician If there's a comment you'd like to make about Music with Mar., please visit our guest book. Remember, when you share an idea with others you pass that joy onto other children!
Thanks for sharing! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The Wide-Mouthed Bullfrog"
is
on the recording of the same name.
Gioia
gets to sing with Ella -1994
Concert
in Buffalo, NY