Thanks so much for watching my video and heading over to Listen & Learn Music! I’m excited to share “The Toolbox Song” with you because it truly is one of the most effective tools in my musical toolbox (pun totally intended).
My students and clients request this song time and time again, and I am always happy to oblige, because it allows me to work on so many goals at the same time.
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Is Your Mama a Llama?
Does this book look familiar? It sure does to most of the little ones I know. Is Your Mama a Llama? is a favorite both at home and in the classroom, and it has become one of my go-to stories.
It’s easier than you’d think to set a story like this to music. As long as the words rhyme and there is a definitive rhythm to the verses, you can create a melody line that repeats over and over.
I’ve done this with over thirty books, and I’m always looking for more. Sung stories are a great way to entertain students while at the same time working on a slew of skills, including attention to task, following directions, answering “wh” and yes/no questions, identifying objects and colors, and reading.
When the Saints Go Marching In
When I’m not composing original songs, you can bet I’m writing new lyrics for existing songs that are familiar and well-liked. I’m shared many of these songs in the past, and today I have a new one for you. Last month as I was brainstorming songs that might work as accompaniment to a drumming activity, the old standard “When the Saints Go Marching In” popped into my head.
Most everyone knows it, and if they don’t, it’s easy enough to learn. The melody and words are repetitive, and better yet, the song invites new verses. So that is exactly what I did…here is the song as I sing while my students bang away on the drums:
Oh when the saints go marching in,
Oh when the saints go marching in,
How I want to be in that number,
When the saints go marching in.
Oh when we play upon our drums,
Oh when we play upon our drums,
How I want to be in that number,
When we play upon our drums.
Oh when we hear the instruments,
Oh when we hear the instruments,
How I want to be in that number,
When we hear the instruments.
Oh when we keep that steady beat,
Oh when we keep that steady beat,
How I want to be in that number,
When we keep that steady beat,
Oh when the saints go marching in,
Oh when the saints go marching in,
How I want to be in that number,
When the saints go marching in.
You can change the words to this song to fit almost any activity, instrument-based or otherwise. I’m thinking of retooling it as a movement/following directions ditty sometime in the near future. The possibilities are endless!
February…and Football
Good evening! And happy February to you, too. Not only is today the start of a brand new month, but it is also Superbowl Sunday. Though I’m not a football fan, I have indulged my husband by feigning interest in the game :) Sundays are always busy for me, and today was no exception. After church I tackled several household projects, and I didn’t finish until it was time to go back for Church Mice. But now that I’m a little more relaxed, I will make you wait no more for the debut of the “February” song.
February is month number two,
The shortest of all the months, it’s true.
Usually twenty-eight days, but sometimes
At leap year, then there’ll be twenty-nine.
February second is Groundhog Day,
We’ll wait for the animal to come out and play.
Let’s hope his shadow he does not see,
It means spring will soon be here for you and me.
CHORUS
February fourteenth is Valentine’s Day,
We’ll give out cards and “I love you,” we’ll say.
Time for chocolate, and candy hearts too,
Pink and red flowers for me and you.
CHORUS
February also brings President’s Day,
Remembering those who paved the way
For the US to become so great,
And that is why we celebrate.
CHORUS
If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that winter is not my favorite season. Not even my second…or third…favorite season. But I like to look at the bright side of things, and the bright side of February is that it is short! And one month closer to spring than January! So as the rest of the country roots for either the Steelers or the Cardinals, I’m rooting for the end of football season and hoping that the groundhog does not see his shadow tomorrow. Fingers are crossed!
What Do You Do?
Teaching social skills is high priority in the land of special education, especially when it comes to children with autism. Though many of the students with whom I work can be very social at times, it is a goal to teach the appropriate actions and responses in various situations. I was brainstorming this topic one day a few weeks ago and came up with this song, which I called “What Do You Do?”.
What do you do when you see a friend?
You wave, you wave.
What do you do when you see a friend?
You wave, you wave.
Waving’s what you do when you see a friend,
You wave using your hand,
So what do you do when you see a friend,
You wave, you wave.
What do you do when you’re feeling blue?
You cry, you cry.
What do you do when you’re feeling blue?
You cry, you cry.
Crying’s what you do when you’re feeling blue,
You cry, using your eyes.
So what do you do when you’re feeling blue,
You cry, you cry.
What do you do when you’re feeling glad?
You smile, you smile.
What do you do when you’re feeling glad?
You smile, you smile.
Smiling’s what you do when you’re feeling glad,
You smile using your mouth.
So what do you do when you’re feeling glad,
You smile, you smile.
What do you do when you hear a joke?
You laugh, you laugh.
What do you do when you hear a joke?
You laugh, you laugh.
Laughing’s what you do when you hear a joke,
You laugh using your voice.
So what do you do when you hear a joke?
You laugh, you laugh.
What do you do say right before you leave?
Goodbye, Goodbye.
What do you say right before you leave?
Goodbye, goodbye.
Goodbye is what you say right before you leave,
Goodbye only ‘til next time.
So what do you say right before you leave?
Goodbye, goodbye.
The staff and I encourage the students to act out each action (waving, “crying”, smiling, laughing, and waving/saying goodbye) as the song is sung, and they have such a fun time with this. There are many other situations you could sing about, so use your creativity. Those I included are pretty broad, but feel free to be more specific as you tailor the song to your own students. And don’t forget to share your ideas with me!
Ten Twinking Trees
Good morning everybody. It’s Monday, and we’re only a few days away from Christmas! It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Today is my last day of school before a two-week break, but don’t worry, I’ll still be updating my blog as usual. I have a full day of classes, a dentist appointment, and a graduation ceremony to sing, so let’s get to it. Today’s song is called “Ten Twinkling Trees” and here it is:
Ten twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s not made of pine,
Let’s look at the other nine.
Nine twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s trunk’s not straight,
Let’s look at the other eight.
Eight twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it doesn’t point to heaven,
Let’s look at the other seven.
Seven twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for there’s too much to fix,
Let’s look at the other six.
Six twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it didn’t thrive,
Let’s look at the other five.
Five twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it came from a store,
Let’s look at the other four.
Four twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s too big for me,
Let’s look at the other three.
Three twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for its branches are few,
Let’s look at the other two.
Two twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s brighter than the sun,
Let’s look at the other one.
One twinkling tree, standing strong and tall,
It surely must be the best of all.
With branches full, and sized just right,
I’ll take it home and trim it tonight.
My own Christmas tree is trimmed and most of my presents are wrapped and waiting beneath it, though I still have a few last-minute items to add. These next couple of days will be hectic, but I love this time of year!
Clap, Stomp, and Spread Christmas Cheer
There’s no doubt that the Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Hope Institute, at least during music therapy. One of the songs I’ve included in my December activities is a play on “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, which I found at the great site Preschool Education. It incorporates movement, following directions, and singing; in my opinion, that is the trifecta of elements that makes a great children’s song.
Let’s all do a little clapping,
Let’s all do a little clapping,
Let’s all do a little clapping,
And spread Christmas cheer.
Tapping (knees)
Stomping (feet)
Stretching (arms)
Nodding (head)
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!
I ask my students for other movement suggestions, and some of my more active kids love to jump, skip, and run in place. Other ideas are snapping fingers, whistling, and clicking the tongue. Be creative! Also, I always ask everyone to sing with me during the last verse. It is a great way to end the music session, because it’s a familiar song that makes everyone feel good.
More Color Songs
Recently, a staff member at my school shared with me the color songs that her son was learning in kindergarten. They were so cute and easy to sing that I just had to pass them along to you – they are perfect for preschool and primary grades, and the best part is that anyone can sing them!
I wish I could give credit to the author of these simple but effective tunes…if anyone has this info, please let me know!
BLUE
tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”
B-l-u-e spells blue,
B-l-u-e spells blue.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.
The big sky is blue.
The ocean is too.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.
BROWN
tune: “Bingo”
There is a color we all know.
Can you guess what it is?
B-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n,
That’s how you spell brown.
Teddy bears and squirrels are brown.
Autumn leaves are too.
Chocolate candy’s always brown.
Chocolate cake is always brown.
Chocolate milk is always brown.
I like brown, don’t you?
GREEN
tune: “Row Your Boat”
G-r-e-e-n, g-r-e-e-n,
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!
Caterpillars are green,
And grasshoppers too.
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!
ORANGE
tune: “Ten Little Indians”
O-r-a-n-g-e, o-r-a-n-g-e,
O-r-a-n-g-e, orange is what that spells.
Jack-o-lanterns are always orange,
Carrots are always orange,
Oranges are always orange.
O-r-a-n-g-e.
PURPLE
tune: “Camptown Races”
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple, Purple
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.
Purple grapes on the vine,
Purple Kool-Aid’s fine.
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.
RED
tune: “Are You Sleeping?”
R-e-d, red
R-e-d, red
I can spell red.
I can spell red.
Firetrucks are red.
Stop signs are red, too.
R-e-d, r-e-d.
YELLOW
tune: “If You’re Happy and you Know It”
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Like the early morning sun,
When the day has just begun,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Daffodils and baby ducks are yellow,
Lemonade and scrambled eggs are yellow.
I like the smiley face that’s yellow,
He is such a happy fellow.
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Ten Little Turkeys
This one is absolutely a November staple. A teacher I worked with shared the words of what was originally a poem with me, and mentioned that it might make a cute song.
So I whipped up a fun little melody and added Ten Little Turkeys to my collection of Thanksgiving-themed songs. Not only do my students love singing it, but it targets several objectives, including rhyming and counting backwards from 10.
I like to pause at the end of each verse and let the kids fill in the number – they keep track of how many turkeys are left and show me using their fingers. This song stands on its own, or with visuals like turkey cutouts.
{Updated on 11/20/17} Psst…right now, you can become a VIP Listen & Learn Plus member and get all of these songs (plus hundreds more music resources for children) with a biannual payment plan. I only offer this once a year, and it ends soon! Click here for details.
Ugga Bugga Boo!
Halloween is on Friday, so I have just a few days to share a couple last minute songs with you. Today’s song can actually be used year-round, but it’s great at Halloween because of it’s title and lyrics – Ugga Bugga Boo! The phrase is silly and fun, and so is the song itself. It addresses simple movement and following directions such as clapping hands, tapping feet, and clicking the tongue (a sound that kids love to make once they learn how).
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and clap your hands, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and clap your hands out loud!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and tap your feet, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and tap your feet out loud!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and click your tongue, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and click your tongue out loud!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Ugga Bugga Bugga Bugga Bugga Bugga boo boo boo –
And we’re through!
Ready…Set…Wait!
As I mentioned last week, my husband and I went on a quick getaway this weekend and while we had a great time, it’s always nice to get back into the regular routine. This week is already off to a busy start, with an even busier weekend ahead…I’m performing this Friday evening, playing for a birthday party on Saturday, and then my children’s choirs are singing in church on Sunday morning. Phew, I’m tired just thinking about it!
But let’s get to today’s subject: impulse control. This is always an issue when working with any child, whether he or she has a disability or not. Last year I wrote a fun little song to target impulse control skills, called Ready, Set, Wait!
Let’s wiggle our fingers, when I say go.
We’ll wiggle wiggle wiggle them, to and fro.
Let’s wiggle our fingers, when I say go.
Ready…set…WAIT!
When I say wait, don’t go just yet.
Listen for what comes after “set”
But when I say go then you will know…
To wiggle those fingers to and fro.
Ready…set…GO!
Wiggle wiggle, wiggle wiggle wiggle,
Wiggle those fingers to and fro.
Wiggle wiggle, wiggle wiggle wiggle,
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle them to and fro…now STOP!
REPEAT:
Knees
Feet
Elbows
My students are always surprised when they hear “WAIT!” in the first verse, and then they are so excited to hear “GO!” so that they can wiggle whatever body part is called. They love to freeze when they hear “STOP!” and with a little practice, they can follow all three commands easily.