PEDAGOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING SONGS & POETRY TO YOUNG LEARNERS :

AGE & RESOURCES

Daniel Koh Chong Chin Tee Shu Min Nor Izzatty Bt Izhar

PISMP TESL 2 (SJKC)

AGE

When texts are selected, ensure that they will match with the age and maturity of the pupils.

-Must not be biased towards boys or girls.

-Must be impartial (neutral / unbiased)

Girls and Boys Come Out to Play Girls and boys, come out to play, the moon doth shine as bright as day, Leave your supper and leave your sleep, And come with your playfellows into the street. Come with a whoop or come with a call, Come with a goodwill or not at all. Up the ladder and down the wall, A halfpenny roll will serve us all. You find milk and I'll find flour, And we'll have a pudding in half an hour!

Avoid complicated and challenging stories that may have discouraging affects on children.

Example :
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat are you Waking Up? by Bill Martin Jr. This book has a repeating pattern and a rhyming text. It is a little cutesy but my kids love this little kitty who doesn't want to wake up and get ready to go!

Children can understand literature in simple words and as a teacher, use materials that are easy to explain.

 Nursery Rhymes and Action Songs contain music suitable for younger and more elementary children. They have strong, simple tunes and rhythms that children can enjoy and perform without difficulty.

 Stories with a musical background contain music suitable for older and more advanced children.
Prokofievs Peter and the Wolf Strong story and vivid music for the characters. Children can mime the story as they listen. bright and breezy Peter, gruff Grandpa, the wicked wolf catching the duck, the wily bird, clever Peter outwitting the wolf, and the great march at the end.

The songs and poetry needs to be related to their lives and fantasy as children in their ages have their own imagination.

RESOURCES
i.

When selecting songs and poems: Include different poets, genres, topics, and themes. ii. Cover multiple time periods (historical past, present, future). iii. Include literature with a collection of unforgettable characters.

It is important that appropriate resources and materials are used with pupils of different learning capabilities so that their full potential can be realized.

Teacher can select their own collection of literature materials. Materials also can be found in the text book or you can exchange materials with other workmates.

Example:

Teddy bear Teddy bear

It covers the same topics as kids are covering in the English lessons and other classes.