Let’s Get Ready to Sing! - Teach Preschool · Let’s Get Ready to Sing! ... help you plan out and ... If you want your little singers to sing out with confidence then choose songs

Let’s Get Ready to Sing!A Preschool Teacher’s Guide to Planning a

Children’s Production for Parents

byDeborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.

Copyright©2017TeachPreschool,LLC PreschoolPresentationChecklist

PreschoolPresentationChecklistGetreadytomakeyournextpreschoolparentpresentationyourbestpresentation!

WhetheryouaregettingreadyforaSpecialEvent,ParentDinner,GraduationDay,oranyotherkindofSchoolYearParentPresentation-youwillhavebetterresultsifyougetorganizedfirst.UsethisPreschoolPresentationChecklisttohelpyouplanoutandimplementyournextparentpresentation.Ihavebeendirectingpreschoolmusicalsandpresentationsforyears.Ihopethatsomeofmyexperiencewillbehelpfultoyouasyouplanyourownpresentations.

DeborahJ.StewartPlanningWhichSongstoSingIfyouplantohaveyourstudentssingafewsongsforthespecialevent,keepinmindthefollowingsuggestions...

• Choosesongsthechildrenalreadyknowandlovetosing.• Choosesongsthatcomewithsimpleactions.• Choosesongsthathighlightdifferentkindsoflearning.• Choosesongsthatincorporatesimplepropsorinstrumentsthechildrencan

hold,play,ordancewith.Oneofthebiggestmistakesfolksmakeinchoosingsongstosingistointroduceabrandnewsongaweekortwobeforethepresentation.Addinganewsongatthelastminutecanleadtochildrenstaringatyouwhileyoudoallthesinging.Ifyouwantyourlittlesingerstosingoutwithconfidencethenchoosesongstheyhavebeensinginginyourclassroomallyearlong.Inmyclass,IintroducesongsallthroughouttheschoolyearwiththeideathatImayusetheminourendoftheschoolyearpresentation.Wesingthemoftenenoughthatthechildrenenjoythemandknowthemwellbutnotsooftenthatthechildrengetsickofthem.


Listafewfavoritesimplesongsthatyourstudentsalreadyknowbelow:

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SingingwithaCDorotherAccompaniment

YoumaywishtohaveyourstudentssingwiththeaccompanimentofaCD,guitar,piano,orothersource.Ifyoudosokeepthefollowinginmind…

• Practicewithouttheaccompanimentsothechildrenwillactuallyfocusonsingingthewordsthemselvesandnotlettheaccompanimentdoallthe“singing”forthem.Thechildrenneedtogetusedtohearingtheirownvoicesandfeelconfidantsingingoutloud.

• Considerthevolumelevelofyouraccompaniment.Besureitsupportsyouryoungsingersanddoesn’tdrownouttheirlovelyvoices.

• Practicewithyouraccompanimenttoosothechildrenarenotcaughtbysurprise.It’sthelittlethingsyouaddatthelastminutethatcantotallybringthechildrentoascreechinghalt.Ifyouaddapianoorguitar,besuretodosoearlysothechildrenwillbecomfortablewiththisadditioncomepresentationday.

DancingtoafavoriteSongAsimpledanceorroutinetoafavoritesongonyourplaylistisagreatwaytoloosenupyourstudentsandtogetthemtonaturallysmileandhavefunduringyourpresentation.Again,youwanttobesurethechildrenreallydoenjoythesongyouchooseandhavehadachancetolearnitwellbeforethebigday.


AddingPropsIfyouplantoaddpropslikemusicalinstruments,scarves,orsomethingthechildrenmadetoyourpresentation,thenyoubetterintroducethosethingsbeforethebigdaytoo!Haveaplan…

• Howwillthechildrenbegiventheirprops?

• Howwillthechildrenholdtheirpropsduringthepresentation?

• Whatwillthechildrendowiththepropsafterthesongisover?

• Howwillyoucollectthepropstogetthemoutofthewaywithoutabigstallinyourpresentation?

Ioftenputmypropsinaprettybaskettokeeptothesideofthe“stage”thensetthepropsoutinfrontofeachchildonthefloorwhenitistimetousethem.Thechildrenaretaughttowaituntilthesongbeginstopickuptheirpropsthensetthembackonthefloorinfrontofthemwhenthesongends.Ihaveahelper(anotherteacherorolderchild)walkdownwiththebaskettoputthepropsbackintothebasket.WhatIdon’twantistohaveallthechildrenruntomeandhandmebacktheirprop.StoryBookPresentationsAfunandsimplethingtoaddtoyourpresentationisagoodchildren’sbook.Thereareseveralwaystoaddabooktoyourpresentation.SingtheStoryYoucanchooseabooklike“Sing”byTomLichtenheldandinvitethechildrentosingthestory.Youholdupthebookforthechildrentoseeandsingalongasyouturnthepages.Ifyouchooseabooklikethis,thenbesuretointroducethestorytotheparentsfirstsotheywillunderstandwhatishappening.MovetotheStoryAsimplebooklike“TeddyBear,TeddyBearTurn-Around”isafunbookforthechildrentoactoutthemotionsasyoureadthebookaloud.Youcanalsosingthisbookbyaddingyourownsimpletune.However,itisimportanttonotethatwhenyoungchildrenaremovingtoasongtheyarelesslikelytosing.Thechildrenwilloftenfocusmoreonmovingandlessonsingingunlesstheyknowthemovementsandthesongreally,reallywell.


ActouttheStoryIfyouplanfarenoughaheadoftimeyoucanhavethechildrenmakesimplepropstoactoutashortchildren’sbook.Astorythathaslotsofrepetitionisagoodchoiceforthistypeofpresentationorabookthatisveryfamiliartothechildren.Thechildrenwillbetterrememberwhattodobecausethestoryispredictable.Anexampleofthiskindofstorymightbe“TheThreeLittlePigs.”

FingerplayPresentationsHopefullyyouhavebeenhavingfunwithdifferentfingerplaysthroughoutyourschoolyear.Asimplefingerplaylike“TheItsyBitsySpider”canbefunforthechildrentosingandyoucanchangeuptheversestoaddagreatbigspiderorateenyweenyspider.SongChoicesRememberthatthesongsyouchooseshouldhavethechildreninmindfirstandforemost.Itcanbetemptingtochooseasongthatyouthinkispopularorthattheparentswilltearupoverbutifthechildrencan’tsingthemordon’tlikethem,thentheonlytearsyoumayseearethechildren’stears!


Howmanysongsshouldwepresent?Don’tgetcarriedaway.Alongpresentationisn’tabetterpresentation.Focusonqualityoverquantity.Wehaveabouttwotothreesongsperclassandthenonesongthatallthechildrensingtogether.

SettingtheStageWhetheryourchildrenwillbesingingonastageorinanareaofyourclassroom,youwillwantto“setthestage.”Whatthismeansistoarrangetheareasothatthechildrenknowwheretostandandhaveenoughroomsothateverychildcanbeseenandcanmovearoundwithoutelbowingeachother.TosetthestageIrecommendyouusepainterstape.Painterstapeiseasytoremoveoffofmostfloorsandcarpetsbutdon’tleaveitforlongerthanadayortwostucktoyourfloor.Addthetapethenremoveitandadditagainasneeded.Youcanbuycoloredmasking/painterstapetoidentifydifferentareasofthestageforthechildren.Forexample,alongredtapelineforthechildrentostandonwhentheyentertheroomgivesthemaguideastowheretowalkandstop.Imayaddyellowtape“X’s”totheredlinesothatthechildreneachhavetheirown“star”tostandonaswell.


SettingtheStageBelowisanexampleofasimplestagesettingIoftenuse…

1. Keepthestarsspacedfarenoughapartforthechildrentobeableto

moveaboutwithouthittingeachother.2. Keepyourfrontlineclosetothefrontofyourstageareasoyoucan

reachthechildrenasneeded.3. Makeyourline(s)longenoughforallyourchildrentostandwhereyou

wantthemtostand.4. Wedonotalwaysusethe“stars”.Sometimesthelineworksjustfineby

itself.5. Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstocoloredtapethenuseanycolorofpainters

tape.Thechildrenwillgettheidearegardlessofcolor.6. Youcanaddotherlinesifthechildrenwillmovearoundonthestage.I

oftenaddarectangleforthechildrentomarcharoundthestagewhenneeded.

BackofStage

FrontofStage

Starsforchildrentostandon.

Linesforchildrentostandon.


Whereshouldtheteacherstand?Ialwaysstandorsitrightupfrontwheremystudentscaneasilyseemeandfollowmylead.Ileadthemthroughthepresentationasneededbutstillkeepingthefocusonthemandnotme.ItrytostandwhereIwon’tblockparentviewsaswell.

Whowillleadthechildren?Decidewhowillleadthechildrenthrougheachsongorroutine.Don’tchangeuptheleaderatthelastminute.Ihighlyrecommendthattheleader(s)bethesamewhointroducethesongsordancestothechildreninthefirstplaceandshoulddefinitelybesomeonethechildrenfeelmostcomfortablewith.Anewleader,especiallyrightbeforepresentationday,canmakethechildrenfeellessconfidentaboutparticipating.Child-FriendlyPracticesMostofthe“teaching”ofeachsong,dance,orroutinecanbedoneduringtheregularclassroomdaywhenyourclassusuallysings.Thisiswhenthechildrenaremostrelaxedandareusedtosingingtogether.Keepingthepracticesnaturalandpartofthedailyroutinewillavoidcreatingperformanceanxiety.Justteachandsingthesongsanddancesasyouwouldanyothertime.


Aboutonetotwoweeksbeforepresentationday,thenintroducethechildrentoyourstageset-upandhavethemdothesongstheyhavebeendoingallalonginyourdailyroutinesonthestage.DoNotOverPracticePracticeenoughtimessothatthechildrencancomfortablyandeasilygowheretheyshouldontheirlinesandthenmoveon.

1. Practiceone:Introducethelinestothechildrenandshowthemwheretostand(onthelineoronastar).

2. Practicetwo:Havethechildrenlineupoffstageandthengototheirspotonthelines.Trythisafewtimesthenhighfiveforajobwelldone!

3. Practicethree:Havethechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithoutprops.

4. Practicefour:Havethechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithprops.

5. Practice5andfollowing:Repeathavingthechildrenlineupoffstage,gototheirspotonstagethensingthesongswithpropsBUTdonotdothistoomanytimesorthechildrenwillgetboredand/orsilly.Practicejustenoughtobuildconfidencethenstop.Don’tshootforperfectionasperfectionisanenergybuster.


KeepitFun!Icannotstressthispointenough.Theminuteyoumakepractice,singing,dancing,orperformingatanylevelnotfunforthechildren–youwilllosetheirnaturaljoyinthemoment.Itcanfeelchaotictoyouwhentheenergylevelishighduringpracticesbutareasonablyhighenergylevelisbetterthanastrict,noenergylevel.Thechildrenwillnaturallylosesomeenergyduringtheirpresentationduetohavingparentsintheroomandfeelinganxious.Ifyoustartoffatastrict,lowlevelofenergythenyouwillriskthattheenergylevelwilldroponpresentationdaywhichmeansyoucouldbetheonlyonetoperformwhilethechildrencomplain,cry,orjuststandtherebecausetheprocessisn’tanyfun.KEEPTHEPRACTICESSHORT,SIMPLE,ANDFUN!

PurposeofPracticeRememberthatthepurposeofpracticeistogetcomfortablewithwhereandhowtostandonthestageandnottolearnanewsong.Everysonganddanceshouldbetaughtwellbeforegettingonstagetopractice.


Whatshouldstudentswear?Rememberthatwearetalkingaboutpreschoolershereandanythingcanbeahugedistractionifnotcarefullyconsideredsowherepossible,letthechildrenwearsomethingtheyfeelgoodaboutandcomfortablein.Butherearesomethingstothinkabout…

• Ifitisgoingtobehot,thenthechildrenshoulddresscoolsotheydon’tfeelgrumpy.

• Ifthefloorisslippery,thenweartennisshoesandavoiddressshoeswithslickbottoms.

• Stayawayfromsandalsandflipflopsasthesefalloffduringpresentationsandyouwillhavetostopeverythingtofixit!

• Keeplittlefacesfreefrommasksandotherthingsthatobstructmommyanddaddyandgrandparentsfromseeingtheirchild’sface.

• Don’taddhatsoranythingthatwillfalloffheadsunlessyouhaveawaytomakesuretheystayonoryouwillbestoppingthepresentationtofixthosetoo!

Ihavebeendirectingpreschoolprogramsforyearsforallkindsofprogramsandovertheyears,Ihaveseenallkindsofcostumes.IamnotpersonallyabigfanofcostumesbutIhavefoundthatthechildrendoliketodressup.Sochoosewiselyandbeawareofhowyourchoiceswillimpactthechildren’sparticipationinyourpresentation.


BeforethePresentation

• Showupearlysoyoufeelpreparedandrelaxedwhenthechildrenarrive.• Makesurethechildrengopottybeforethepresentationbegins.• Providesomethingsimpleandnon-messytodoiftherewillbeawaitsothat

thechildrencankeepbusy.Avoidsnacksanddrinksasitwillcausetheneedtogopottyagain.

• Don’tgetallstressedoutonthekids.Putonyourbestteachingstrategiesforleadingyoungchildrentowardsahappyexperience.

DuringthePresentation

• Welcometheparents(ifitisyourjobtodoso)andtellthemhowproudyouareoftheirchildrenandexcitedyouarethattheyhavecometosupporttheirchildren.Invitetheparentstoclapfortheirchildren.Parentenergymakesthepresentationevenmorefun.Giveanyinstructionstheparentsmayneedtoknowaftertheshowgetsunderwaylikewhenorwheretopickupthechildrenafterwards.

• Beencouraging,relaxed,andsmilewarmlyallthroughoutthepresentation.• Keepthepresentationmovingalongbutbesensitivetotheneedsofyour

studentsandaddressthoseneedswhereyoureallyneedtodoso.• Don’thandlechildrenfirmlyorquicklyasitcanlooklikeyouaretoorough

evenifthatisnotyourintention.Staycalm,sweet,andrelaxed.Letthepresentationtakeonalifeofitsownwhereitseemsokaytodoso.


ParentNeeds

• Rememberthatparentswillwanttobeabletotakephotossoallowforthiswherepossible.

• Makesureseatingisarrangedsothateveryonecanseethechildrenasbestaspossible.

• Sendanotehometoparentsaheadoftimegivingthemanydetailslikewhattheirchildshouldorshouldnotwear,whattimetoarrive,whattheschedulewillbeandiftherewillbeanylimitationsinseatingsothatparentsdon’tbringtheentireneighborhoodtowatchtheirchild’spresentation.

• Ifyouplantoserverefreshments,havetheparentshelpoutbybringingsimpletreats.Provideasign-sheetorassignaparenttoorganizethispartofyourevent.Gettingparentsinvolvedhelpsthemmaketheeventaprioritybutdon’taskthemtohelpduringthepresentation.Letparentssitbackandenjoywatchingtheirchild.

• Makesureyouhavealsothoughtaboutparkingsoparentscanhaveastressfree(asmuchaspossible)experiencetoo.

• Talkaboutthepresentationoftentoyourparentssotheywillremembertoputitontheirscheduleandmakeitaprioritytocome!


PresentationChecklists

NameofSong:

TypeofSongSing-AlongDance

StoryBookOther

DescriptionofPresentation

NumberofChildren

Whichchildrenwillbepresenting?

Children’sAttireWhatwillthechildrenwear?

Props

Whatpropswillbeused?Besureyouhaveenough!

Drawyourstaging

Wherewillthechildrenstandormoveduringthepresentation?

Music

DoyouneedaCDPlayer,Microphone,Other?Listithere.

Practice

Whatdayswillyoupracticeonthe“stage”withthechildren?

ParentNote

Doyouhaveanydetailsthatparentsneedtoknow?

ImportantReminder!

Remember!!!

Keeptheprocesschild-focusedandfun!


NameofSong:


StoryBookOther


NumberofChildren



Props


Drawyourstaging


Music


Practice


ParentNote


ImportantReminder!

Remember!!!



NameofSong:


StoryBookOther


NumberofChildren



Props


Drawyourstaging


Music


Practice


ParentNote


ImportantReminder!

Remember!!!



NameofSong:


StoryBookOther


NumberofChildren



Props


Drawyourstaging


Music


Practice


ParentNote


ImportantReminder!

Remember!!!


Let’s Get Ready to Sing! - Teach Preschool · Let’s Get Ready to Sing! ... help you plan out and ... If you want your little singers to sing out with confidence then choose songs

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