By Demarquis Johnson
In a world where attention spans are fleeting, it is becoming ever more difficult to engage young learners. To capture their interest, teachers have to think outside of the box and come up with creative methods to make learning enjoyable. One approach that I’ve found to be highly successful is the integration of music into the classroom.
As an early childhood educator, I am of the belief that learning should always be fun and accessible to all students. That’s why I make an effort to incorporate music, movement, and interactive activities into my lessons as much as possible. Not only does this create a lively and dynamic classroom environment that keeps my students motivated, it’s also given me the chance to see with my own eyes how music plays a key role in the way children absorb and retain information.
Music has long been acknowledged as a valuable asset in the field of education. Rhymes we put to melodies can transform the learning process into a playtime affair, increasing student participation and focus, and even helping to reduce short-term attention issues. When students find joy in what they are doing, they tend to concentrate better, are more involved, and stay on task. This is especially true for young learners, who often find it difficult to maintain attention for long periods.
By taking complex topics and turning them into catchy tunes, this makes learning feel less like a task and more like a fun activity. Additionally, music greatly enhances memory and retention. Presenting information alongside melodies helps students remember it more effectively, as music stimulates various brain regions, which in turn improve the process of encoding and recall. In the case of young readers, songs can become great tools for teaching basic skills like phonics and rhyming, as well as introducing new vocabulary, sight words, and other base literacy skills.
Music in the Classroom
I like to include music and movement in my class’s “Show and Tell” segments. After a few presentations, we take a short pause to get up and dance. These breaks, which typically feature upbeat educational songs like “Shake Your Sillies Out” by The Wiggles or “Count to 100 Silly Song!” by Jack Hartmann, give students a chance to burn off energy and at the same time review concepts that we have learned throughout the week. At one point during a unit on number recognition, for example, we danced and counted to the “Place Value Song” by NUMBEROCK. The kids were laughing, moving, and learning all at the same time.
My students love music time and are often asking for their favorite songs. Their requests range from camp songs like “Baby Shark” to music from YouTube channels such as Gracie’s Corner or Ms. Rachel. This student input adds a layer of ownership and excitement to our learning.
Practical Tips
By weaving music into lessons, educators can foster a lively and interactive atmosphere that keeps students motivated and engaged. So, how can you start incorporating songs into your own teaching? Here are a few suggestions:
- Build a playlist: Gather a collection of songs that align with your goals and objectives. For example, if your class is working on letter sounds, try out phonics songs. Some of my favorites are “Phonics Song 2” by KidsTV123 and “ABC Rock” by Greg & Steve. For rhyming words in particular I like to use “Down by the Bay.”
- Make it interactive: Encourage student participation by having kids sing along, clap, stomp, or dance. You can also assign movements to specific parts of a song, which will improve comprehension and memory.
- Use music to reinforce learning: Repeating the same songs at the same times every day (during morning meetings or between transitions, for instance) reiterates skills that students have been taught and provides additional practice opportunities.
- Be creative: Don’t be afraid to explore different methods or various styles of music. You could even try writing your own lyrics to the tune of songs or nursery rhymes the kids already know.
- Have fun with it!
Adding songs to your lessons is a simple yet effective way to capture students’ attention and get them excited about learning. By harnessing the power of music, teachers can create an engaging classroom environment that also improves concentration, focus, and retention. What are you waiting for? Try out that playlist, sing that song, and watch your students thrive!
Demarquis Johnson, or Mr. Mark as the kids call him, is a VPK/school readiness teacher. He’s also served as a content creator for educational sites for a number of years, and as a visual artist his work has been exhibited across the U.S. and U.K.
