Custom Song: Help Me, Rhombus!

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

beach-boys-help-me-rhonda

I’ve written songs on many unique and interesting topics, but when I received a request for a custom song about a certain parallelogram, I knew I was in for a bit of a challenge.  At the suggestion of my clever customer, I turned to the Beach Boys for help.

rhombus

I also turned to the knowledge I gained in my 9th grade geometry class (thanks, Mr. Nuding!) — I now admit that I was wrong when I said I’d never need to know that stuff as an adult :)  Shapes can be fun…whether you’re just learning the basics or venturing into more exotic territory as we are today.

I wanna sing about a shape
That I can’t get outta my head.
It has four sides, yes four, that’s what I said.
Rhombus, you’re one of a kind,
So tell me would you mind,
Oh could you, help me Rhombus,
Help me learn what you are.

Help me Rhombus, help help me, Rhombus. (5x)
Help me Rhombus, yea, I wanna learn what you are.

Well a rhombus and a diamond,
They look the very same.
One single shape that goes by two different names.
We use the word Rhombus at school,
Diamond is a nickname that’s cool,
Oh could you, help me Rhombus,
Help me learn what you are.

CHORUS

A rhombus has 4 pointy angles that connect its sides.
Just like a kite, in the air up high it flies.
Rhombus, I can illustrate,
Your shape, and I’d appreciate,
If you could, help me Rhombus,
Help me learn who you are.

CHORUS

This song was written for pre-kindergarteners, but I think the recognizable melody and peppy beat will appeal to older students as well. The key to teaching just about any concept is to make it enjoyable, as I have learned and been reminded time after time.

Thanksgiving Goodies: Song + Visual Aide

by | Uncategorized

There’s a certain song I look forward to singing as soon as the leaves start turning colors, but I always hold out until November. The first line goes like this:

“On the first day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate: some turkey on my plate.”

There are 9 more verses where that came from, all of which many of my students know by heart.  Not surprising, considering this is the 3rd year in a row I’ve sung this song with them during the month of November.  Even my fellow coworkers were asking about the 10 Days of Thanksgiving song way back in September.

10-days-thanksgiving-song-visual-aideMy original recording is flying off the virtual shelves of Songs For Teaching, but I decided to give both the song and the visual aide (a 10-page PDF with pictures and lyrics for each day) that goes with it a facelift.  I was so happy with the results that I wanted to make both available to you, as well as the instrumental version of the song.  All three of these downloads, plus the full lyrics and chords, are available in a single album: 10 Days of Thanksgiving.

I use the visual aide two ways: 1) as a flip-book while I sing the song with one student or a small group, and 2) as individual pages that I pass out to a larger group for students to take turns holding up as their verse is sung.  The song is great fun either way!  Download it today for $6.00 and start using it with your own students in these next few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

Click here to listen, learn more, and get your copy!

What Are You Thankful For?

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

thankful-thanksgiving-song-children

Happy November! I woke up this morning with a huge smile on my face, knowing that I could tuck the Halloween songs away for another year and start the new month out right with a new Thanksgiving tune.  Not only am I sharing it with you here today, but I’ll be introducing this song to my students later this morning.

The idea is to kick off this holiday season with an attitude of thankfulness; I want to get my students thinking about the things and people for which they are thankful.  Some of them will be able to respond verbally and some will not, and that is perfectly fine.  I have plenty to be thankful for, as you will hear:

What are you thankful for?
What are the things that make you smile?
The things in your life you appreciate,
People who go the extra mile.
What are you grateful for?
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I will start: speaking from my heart,
I am thankful for you.

What are you thankful for?
What are the things that make you smile?
The things in your life you appreciate,
People who go the extra mile.
What are you grateful for?
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I will start: speaking from my heart,
I am thankful for you.

Your family and friends at school,
And the teachers who help you learn
Are all people to be thankful for.
Now it’s your turn:

CHORUS

Your bed at night, and where you live,
And the clothes and shoes you wear
Are all things to be thankful for.
Now it’s time for you to share:

CHORUS

The food you eat at every meal,
And the table where you sit
Are all things to be thankful for.
Can you think of more:

CHORUS

A few more things I’m thankful for this month: my brother’s wedding next Saturday, the opportunity to participate in this year’s Children’s Miracle Network radiothon, and my upcoming trip to Cleveland, where I’ll be presenting at the AMTA national conference.  Happy November, indeed!