'WAKE UP!' ~ Be Kind, Be Grateful

Two important dates occur every year: World Kindness Day (November 13^th) and Thanksgiving, a national holiday (celebrated in October or November, depending on the country celebrating).

Freebie & Discount (limited time only)

• In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the 'Wake Up!' lyric sheet is free, and this Curriculum Karaoke version of our curriculum-aligned song is discounted. Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

                                    *******

The English Oxford Dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful.

As parents and educators, it is our endeavour and our duty to model and express kindness and gratitude to the children in our care, and to reinforce these values and positive behaviours throughout the day. 

I am a firm believer in helping children learn through the powerful and effective medium of song. To that end, Kathryn & I created ’Wake Up!’, to provide teachers (including myself) with an engaging resource to help highlight and encourage a number of core virtues in our students through song. Here is a sample:

As with all of our songs, the lyrics of this curriculum-aligned song target outcomes and learning sequences of curriculum documents. 

They are designed to help kick start class discussions, summarise themes and unit content, extend literacy, etc. 

Kathryn has a gift for making these curriculum-aligned lyrics come alive!

Once she has worked her usual musical magic, the songs become powerful tools for achieving outcomes, supporting & integrating classroom learning, and aiding recall of important information, etc. (they also solve the problem of what to perform at school assemblies…!) 

'Wake Up!' incorporates the themes of empathy, mindfulness, kindness, gratitude, and compassion - core elements for building resilience and nurturing the human spirit.

'The narrative-style song takes students on a journey of self-discovery, through the eyes of a young girl (Kathryn's daughter) who is awakened to the world around her, and her place in it. 

The lyrics and strong visuals, together with the reflective-style music provide a powerful, tool for eliciting empathy, compassion, and gratitude, focusing student attention on these and other positive behaviours.

The downloadable, read, sing & learn along song helps students to see the positives in their world, despite the challenges they might face, and to understand they are able to reach out to others for support. 

The flow on from this, is a desire, in the students, to respond positively towards others by taking them into consideration when making choices, and to have an attitude of gratitude, helping students to develop a growth mindset.

Here are are a few simple, practical suggestions for reinforcing kindness & gratitude in the classroom: 

• Start the day with a happy, kindness song to help create unity and a positive attitude
• Incorporate manners songs to reinforce kindness, consideration for others, and other courteous behaviours
• Brainstorm things for which we are grateful
• Keep a daily Gratitude Journal of 5 things for which to be thankful...
• Brainstorm ways we can show kindness to others at home/school/team sports…
• Write a ‘Thank You’ card to parents & family members/school helpers/school crossing person/ a neighbour
• Celebrate/write about happy experiences and express gratitude for them
• List great things that happened today
• Research kindness and gratitude quotes
• Compile a class 'Kindness & Gratitude Quotes' book

Here’s to being kind and grateful every day!

Yours in singing to learn,

Nuala :-)

A Review:

‘In terms of application to the classroom, and usability by teachers they rate a tick in every box.’ ~ Brendan Hitchens, Teacher, Music In Action: A Magazine for Educators

P.S. Click to preview samples of all of our curriculum-aligned songs! 

Website
Books&CDs

Facebook

Twitter 

Pinterest
Instagram

Linkedin
Blog

TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) Store

 'A Lesson in Every Lyric'®

What Makes A GREAT Teacher?

There is a lot of discussion these days around education and the teaching profession.  

It got me thinking about the true value of teachers, and the difference they make in so many lives.

  

What is it that makes a truly great teacher?

                                                                     Image: Facebook/Thought For Teachers

Professor Robert Lee Madison, Institute Founder of Western Carolina University believes that 

‘The true value of a teacher is determined not by what he knows, nor his ability to impart what he knows, but by his ability to stimulate in others a desire to know.’

This is true of all good teachers. However, I believe that what makes teachers great, is not only about what they do, it's about who they are.

Great teachers are those who have developed and mastered an ability for drawing out the strengths and talents of their students, inspiring them to want to learn.

These teachers are passionate about their calling and dedicated to enabling their students to be the best that they can be. They have a way of making each student feel valued and that somebody believes in them.

                                                                                      Image: bing.com

Astronaut, Sally Ride, shares this story, ‘ When I was a girl, I had a teacher who encouraged my interest in science. She challenged me to be curious, to ask questions, and to think about things for myself. She helped build my self-confidence. All of these things helped me to become a scientist and an astronaut.’

What a wonderful tribute to an inspirational teacher!

I have always believed, that great teaching is about relationship ~ if students know that their teachers are interested in them and care about them, the learning will follow.

If I were to name one truly inspirational teacher who influenced the course of my own life, I would say, without a moment’s hesitation, that I would look no further than my own father, Francis Joseph O'Hanlon, a high school Head of English Department (pictured below).

As with all great teachers, he taught by example.

Dad was kind, patient and loving. A humble academic, in possession of a fine mind and rapier-sharp wit, he instilled in me a life-long love for singing, writing, and the beauty of the English language.

A man of simple means, he shared everything he had - his time, his knowledge, and his love of learning (not to mention his humour!). As with all great teachers, he inspired his students to settle for nothing less than their best.

 

'Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.' ~ Rita Pierson



Great teachers care, and it shows. The impact and influence of their caring extend far beyond the classroom.

Dad would sit down with me before exams to help me with my revision, and I would always manage to remember the information (I attribute this to the interest and care that accompanied it)!

Each year, when the School Leaving Certificates rolled around, our house would become a veritable drop-in classroom for Dad's high school students (for whom he provided – gratis - last-minute coaching lessons).



The love and gratitude of his students were evidenced by the smiling, triumphant faces that would roll up to our door on exam results day, excitedly waving their bits of paper – proof that their extra work had, indeed, paid off.

The student guard of honour at his Irish funeral, to celebrate his 64-year life, was a very moving and fitting tribute to a truly great teacher.

He loved his work and his students, and, even though he cautioned his 5 children against entering the teaching profession, 3 of us did (and we each have a daughter who also took up the teaching mantle, one, now a high school principal, another, a Montessori/Pre-K - 6 teacher, and mine, a primary school teacher, currently in the area of Special Ed.)! 

Dedicated to his fingertips, Dad was the first one at school every morning, and the last one to leave in the afternoon!

My daughter (below) is a born teacher who entered the profession because she, in her own words, 'wants to make a difference'.

She has loved her work as a volunteer teacher in a South American orphanage, her years teaching in London schools (in mainstream and in the area of special needs, with students from Grades K-12), her work in local, mainstream primary schools, and is now on another teaching stint overseas, loving her work in the area of additional needs.

Having had the incredible privilege of working alongside my daughter at the same school for nearly 3 years, and having witnessed, firsthand, the love, time, effort, and commitment she puts into her teaching, something tells me she already is making a difference! 

Here's to my Dad, daughter, sisters, aunties and nieces, my colleagues & teacher friends - past and present, and to all teachers, everywhere ~ I salute you! 

Ours is a privileged profession ~ keep making a difference in children's lives, and remember,

'A teacher affects eternity; (s)he can never tell where his/her influence stops.' ~ Henry Brooks Adams

Yours in Teaching,

Nuala :-)

Q: What do you consider to be traits of a great teacher?

LINKS:

• HEART OF A TEACHER by Paula Fox:  A short, inspirational moviefrom Simple Truths
• An Inspirational TeacherQuote Presentation 

♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥ ♫

FYI:
If you are a teacher we'd love you to check out our Curriculum Karaoke™ series of read, sing, & learn-along song videos, curriculum-aligned song packages (songs & lesson materials), poem videos... 

Our publications target outcomes of curriculum documents, and support & integrate classroom learning across key subject areas.

They are perfect for:

• Motivating and engaging students
• Introducing new units of work
• Kickstarting discussion
• Summarising & reinforcing learning content
• Aiding recall of important information
• Extending literacy
• Assembly & performance items
• Integrated learning
• Arts integration
• Poetry study/units (lyrics)
• Distance learning & homeschooling...

A Review:

'In terms of application to the classroom, and usability by teachers, they rate a tick in every box.' ~ Brendan Hitchens, Teacher, Music In Action: A Magazine for Educators

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter 
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• Linkedin
• Blog
• Amped Up Leaning
• TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) Store

 'A Lesson in Every Lyric'®

CURRICULUM KARAOKE™ ~ Integrating Classroom Learning Through Song

 'Your students can learn the arts as well as learn through the arts.' ~ Andrew Miller, Educator

♫♫♫

Kathryn and I are very excited to bring you our latest, innovative classroom teaching resource line ~ CURRICULUM KARAOKE™!

When I mentioned this concept to a few teacher friends a while back, their amused response was, 'Do you mean to tell us we're going to be singing the curriculum?!'. 

Well, singing curriculum content, yes, that's exactly what I meant to tell them! That is to say, this highly motivational, interactive resource, with its illustrated, read, sing & learn along video format supports, enhances and integrates classroom learning across key subject areas ~ through song.

Our downloadable curriculum-aligned songs extend literacy and add another dimension to the way our students learn curriculum content, themes and concepts ~ all at the touch of a button!  

Not musical ~ NO worries!

• Just download the MP4 file and play on your classroom whiteboard or computer!
• Students read/sing & learn along as the song plays and the lyrics display on the screen.
• No need to print out lyrics or create a powerpoint - the Mp4 does it all for you, making it easy for the whole class or school to follow the lyrics on any screen and read/sing along together.

‘Because when kids are learning through the arts, they end up getting a deeper understanding and the concepts end up sticking much better…’ ~ Elizabeth Peterson 

Music is a very powerful and effective medium for helping young people to connect with learning content ~ it's a language they understand. It makes perfect sense to utilise song as a learning tool in our classrooms. 

Singer-songwriter, Bruce Springsteen illustrates perfectly the powerful effect of music on memory, in a line from one of his songs, 'Surrender': 

CURRICULUM KARAOKE™

• Comprises curriculum-aligned songs that target outcomes & learning sequences of curriculum documents. There's 'A Lesson in Every Lyric'®
• Supports, enhances  and integrates classroom learning across key subject areas
• Plays on your classroom whiteboard and other devices to help students learn curriculum-aligned content, themes and concepts
• Extends literacy ~ reading(students read / sing along with the lyrics, as if they are reading a book), comprehension, grammar, punctuation, poetry text type study...
• Energizes classroom discussions
• Enables students to take a more active role in their learning and have a better understanding and memory of content
• Aids recall
• Reinforces learning content
• Hones listening skills
• Contributes to a positive learning environment
• Creates and promotes unity
• Makes learning fun... 

Here's a preview sample of 'Four Seasons' (Grades Pre K-3):

Here's a preview sample of 'Busy Bodies' (Grades 3-7)

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS FOR USE: 

• Students take turns reading the text, while the rest of the class follows the rhythm ~ brains and bodies work together to garner meaning.
• Pause the power point at any time to choose new readers, clarify meaning, make a point, question the class on a line of text for comprehension, define key words, etc.
• Students sing along with the vocal track (this aids accurate singing of melody and lyrics)
• Divide the class into groups for chorus, verses, etc.
• Create a cloze passage to assess comprehension of content
• Perform as a class item for school assemblies
• Project lyrics onto screen for whole school participation!  

CURRICULUM KARAOKE™ is a growing line of MP4 song & lyrics videos, including:

'Tables Time!'

 

'Workers In Our Community' 

                                                     ‘LivingValues’ 

                                                    ‘OneWorld’ 

                                                    ‘HealthyKids’

                                                    ‘Bully-FreeZone!’ 

                                                    ‘Our Class Rules!’

                                                    'Australia'

                                                   'Busy Bodies'

 'Keep It Clean!'

                                                          'Our Solar System'

                                                          'Summer Sunday'

'All Weather Friends'

'Australian Democracy'

'Living Things'

Sample Slides:

'One World'

'Bully-Free Zone!'

FYI: More CURRICULUM KARAOKE™ song videos have been added since this blog post was written! 

Until next time!

Yours, in singing to learn,

Nuala ♫ 

         Nuala O'Hanlon

         Teacher; Lyricist; Director,

         Keystone Creations ~ Educational Songs

         'A Lesson in Every Lyric'®

         A Review: 
‘In terms of application to the classroom, and usability by teachers they rate a tick in every box.’ ~ Brendan Hitchens, teacher: Music In Action, A Magazine for Educators

        
Follow On:

•            Facebook
•            Twitter
•            Pinterest
•            Instagram
•            Linkedin

             

FYI: 
Our curriculum-aligned teaching resources are available as: 

•          Hard copy (books/CDs)
•          Downloadable song packages (MP3 & MP4 songs & lesson materials)

Links

• How Integrating Arts Into Other Subjects Makes Learning Come Alive ~ By Katrina Schwartz

• Learning Through Music: The Support of Brain Research ~ by Elizabeth Carlton

                                                                'A Lesson in Every Lyric'®