Visual and Rhythmic Prompt In part one of this post, you learned how I use echo singing to work on auditory comprehension, turn taking, and keeping a steady beat. I also briefly introduced a strategy for cuing speech using a dry erase board and […]
Sentence Segmentation to Improve Communication – Part 2 of 2 Read More »
Echo Singing or Chanting One of the skills I almost always include in both one-on-one and group music therapy sessions with young children is an echo song or rhythmic exchange. During this type of intervention, the following areas in the Phonological Awareness
Sentence Segmentation to Improve Communication – Part 1 of 2 Read More »
Today’s focus is on math. I started writing math songs before I learned about phonological awareness and the development of literacy skills. Math is still a love of mine, and luckily comes pretty easily to me, due in large part to all my years learning
Improper Fractions and a FREE Division Song for You Read More »
This picture of my two little girls reminds me of my childhood with my own little sister. We were blessed to grow up in rural Wisconsin, spending the majority of our time outdoors. We had a massive garden and helped our parents at a young
I’m always on the lookout for picture books that can easily be set to music or ones that illustrate well known songs. I recently came across a new version of “What a Wonderful World” that is my current favorite of all picture books. It is
What a Wonderful World — New Book for Your Collection Read More »
I’ve been thinking lately about what it takes to raise a successful reader. My oldest daughter, now 12, was reading Boxcar Children when she entered Kindergarten. The reading specialist who tested her reading level was amazed at her ability to read with expression. My middle
Recipe for Reading Success Read More »
While this post has a catchy title, it also could have been called “Transforming a Challenge into an Opportunity” — the theme for this year’s Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month. After reading posts and listening to stories from other music therapists (posted here), I
I Was Fired from My First Job as a Music Therapist Read More »
#1 If you are a musician and also have a strong desire to help people, music therapy as a career may be perfect for you. Personally, I was torn between becoming a music teacher or a special education teacher. I vividly remember learning about music
Top 5 Reasons to Choose Music Therapy as a Career Read More »
As my final post for you in 2014, I offer a story… It was a wintery Friday morning in Wisconsin. I was teaching a “Learning Through Song” class for kids with special needs and their parents. Through a strange set of circumstances, I only had
Mirror Neurons at Work Read More »
As promised in my previous post, it’s time to delve further into the topic of rhyming. We learned last time that the onset is the first sound in a one syllable word and all that follows it is a rime. Nope, that’s not a typo.
Rhythm, Rhyme & Repetition – Part 2 of 2 Read More »
