Teacher Tip: Use Music and Movement to Reach English Language Learners

The R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference is Saturday, Jan. 27. Get a glimpse of the valuable resources you’ll receive by attending through our series of featured teacher tips from our superb presenters. This year, we supplement our grades pre-k through 2 curricula with optional sessions for educators who teach children ages birth-3. #ECWC18

Dr. Gilberto Soto is currently the professor of music education/guitar at Texas A&M International University and teaches early childhood, elementary and secondary bilingual music education courses. He is also an author and owner/director of Soto Academy of Music for children ages 2-18.

Lesson: It is important to employ the best practices for English language acquisition to help enrich the overall learning experience for English Language Learners. One such practice is labeling instruments, furniture and other items in the music classroom with their English names.

Also important is demonstrating what you expect from the students through modeling and verbal explanation. For example, beginning ELL students benefit when educators show visuals and real objects, use gestures and/or activate on prior knowledge before reading.

To learn more, attend Soto’s session at the Early Childhood Winter Conference Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Kingdom Builder’s Center, 6011 West Orem.

Session description:

Music and Movement to Enhance Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom
Music and Movement is a very valuable asset when it is linked to enhanced subjects such as motor skills, math, science, ELL/ESL, fluency level, language, mainstreaming and behavior management, among others through aesthetic and artistic learning experiences. This lecture is 100 percent hands-on, so be ready to move, sing and dance from the beginning to the end!

Learn more about the conference and register at www.hcde-texas.org/ECWC.