WHY USE MUSIC FROM THE NATIVE LANGUAGE AND HOME CULTURE? 

Ideas from Stanley A. Lucero.

I sing songs and games in Spanish with children in the public schools because I want the children from Spanish speaking homes to feel that they are a part of the school. I want them to know who they are and where they came from. I want them to feel proud of their cultural heritage.

EDUCATIONAL SKILLS

Here are some educational reasons for singing Spanish songs in Bilingual, ESL, Two-Way Immersion and Sheltered Immersion classrooms:

Reinforce cultural values and promote self-esteem * Use music for school assemblies and parent programs * Oral Language Development in Spanish * Develop knowledge of new concepts * Build upon previous knowledge * Develop pride in their native language and home culture * Provide a strong school-home link * Match the home culture to the school environment * Promote a successful learning atmosphere * Develop self-confidence and poise * Develop a larger vocabulary bank

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Using songs and games from the culture and language of the Spanish-speaking students will lead to many smiles on the faces of your Spanish-speaking students. The use of Spanish music in your classrooms will help your non-Spanish speaking (NSS) students become more sensitive and aware of the beauty of other cultures. Your Spanish-speaking students can become the experts, for a short time, and translate the songs to their non-Spanish speaking classmates. You can also develop a large variety of classroom activities based on your program of Children's Music in Spanish.  Here are just a few ideas:

Art activities - Cloze assignments - Plays and skits - Illustrated Songbooks - Short stories - Thematic units - Vocabulary lessons -Big Books

MUSIC SKILLS

Singing songs, playing games and performing them for audiences develop many skills in the children that will last them a lifetime. Where else can a child learn self-confidence and feel proud when his parents see him on stage? Performing with a group of students requires that the children learn how to work together to produce a musical production and then receive the rewards of an appreciative audience. Here are some of the musical skills that you can provide your students through music:

Tonality - pitch - rhythm - timing - eye/hand/body coordination - teambuilding skills - memorization skills - auditory discrimination - sequencing skills - stage presence - listening skills - rhyming skills - songwriting skills.

REINFORCE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

Let your imagination create new and exciting activities based on the native language and home culture of your Spanish-speaking students. Most of all sing because you enjoy singing with the children. I DO!!

Page updated July 12, 2009