let’s get ready to sing! - teach preschool · let’s get ready to sing! ... help you plan out...

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:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________________________

6. __________________________________________________________________________________

7. __________________________________________________________________________________

8. __________________________________________________________________________________

9. __________________________________________________________________________________

10. __________________________________________________________________________


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:

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!

let’s get ready to sing! - teach preschool · let’s get ready to sing! ... help you plan out...

Documents