LGA 3102 SONGS AND POETRY FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

Topic 4: Pedagogical Principles of teaching songs and poetry to young learners.

-Interest (students interest, enjoyment, experience)

How to get young learners interested in songs and poetry?

Read poems and sing in class so that children will thoroughly enjoy.
Poetry should be introduced first and frequently to children in an oral form. Teachers need to practice reading the poems ahead of time and frequently. Keep in mind that poetry should be read for its meaning and enunciated words clearly. Slow down your normal reading pace to give full value to each sound.

One very effective way is to match kids up with poems and songs based on their personal interests.

Try to find poems and songs that each child can relate to.

Find songs and poetry that are familiar and have been experienced by the students for example, themes on family, school holidays, hobbies etc.

Encourage kids to read poetry aloud or recite it from memory.

Kids need to practice their reading and performance skills. You can tell how well kids comprehend the poetry by the way they phrase and deliver it.

Getting the whole class' attention (and applause) after the recitation will serve as a psychological reward for each child.-this will arouse the interest of students personally.

Characteristics of songs that are suitable for YL.

Catchy lyrics Simple melodies Simple words Offers repetition Straightforward Contains motivation elements( positive values)

Characteristics of songs that are suitable for YL.

Catchy lyrics

Contains motivation elements ( positive values)

Simple words

Straightforward

Simple melodies

Offers repetition

Early Childhood Songs

Action and Movement Songs The Calendar and Seasons Colors, Shapes and Sizes Everyday Routines Fingerplays Lullabies Number & Counting Skills Nursery Rhymes for Children

Suitable poems
Riddle poem Humorous poem

Limericks

Rhythmic poem

According to Fisher & Natarella's (1982) and Terry's (1974) studies on children's poetry preferences, they found that Most children preferred narrative poems over lyric poems. Limericks were the favored poetic form; free verse and haiku were not well liked. Children preferred poems that had pronounced sound patterns of all kinds, but especially enjoyed poems that rhymed. Children preferred poems with regular, distinctive rhythm.

Children liked humorous poems, poems about animals, and poems

about enjoyable familiar experiences.