ABCs and 123s of Teaching Songs
February 17, 2016 at 6:42 am | Posted in Children's Songs | 2 CommentsTags: teaching English with songs
I had the pleasure about a year ago to do a presentation at the ETJ Expo in Japan, to some very enthusiastic teachers. I did another presentation this year, but more on that later!
The basic idea of the presentation was the simple way to get started teaching with songs. I’ve written about this before, but it never hurts to review. So here it is:
ABCs of teaching Songs
A- Always smile.
B- Be Yourself.
C- Continuous Eye Contact with students.
To keep it simple, smile and your students will enjoy singing with you. Be yourself, if you are low key, be that way. If you are energetic, that’s great too. Either way, teach how you feel comfortable. Always look around the room and make eye contact with all of your students. That let’s them know that you are interested in how they are doing!
1, 2, 3, Go! Method
1- Pre-teach vocabulary
2- Teach the songs actions
3- Sing the song!
This is the easiest way I can break down teaching a song. Teach the vocabulary and actions, then sing the song. Or just start singing and the students will pick it up.
My point of this post? Enjoy what you are doing, be yourself and sing, sing sing! Oh, and need a song to try this with? Feel free to download one of my 100 or so for free here!
Kids Songs in English iPad and iPhone Apps!
December 11, 2011 at 4:55 am | Posted in Children's Songs, Education | Leave a commentTags: children's iphohe app, iPad app for kids, kids songs in english
I am really excited that I have had the opportunity to work with Cambridge English Online to bring you the Kids Songs in English Apps! Now you can take 5 Dream English videos with you wherever you go. Here is what people are saying about the Apps: “Awesome App!! – It’s an awesome App, my kid learns the songs and loves Matt.” + “Kids love it – Our kids love singing the songs.” Check out the iPhone App here and iPad App here!
Kids Songs in English App Mash Up Video. Check it out!
New Video: Rain, Rain, Go Away!
August 18, 2011 at 3:17 am | Posted in Children's Songs, fun songs for kids series | Leave a commentTags: children's songs, rain rain go away, song for kids
I wanted to do something very special for the support that Dream English has received these last few years, so I made this video. This is a very popular children’s song, and can be sung in the classroom, or just for fun! Enjoy!
If you would like to share this video, please copy and paste the following code and email it to your friends: http://youtu.be/aabZ9CzNY98 Thank you for your support!
New Children’s English Video: How are You Lesson?
July 25, 2011 at 5:59 am | Posted in Children's Classes, Children's Songs, Education | Leave a commentTags: children's english, youtube nextup japan
I made a very simple video to help teach young ESL learners how to say, ” I’m happy, I’m sad, I’m hungry, I’m thirsty.” I have a few videos with this vocabulary, but this one is different because there is a quiz at the end. This should be fun for kids, and help reinforce the vocabulary.
YouTube NextUp Contest
YouTube is holding a contest to help independent video makers, like myself, improve the quality of their videos. The video below made it to the second round! If I win, then I will get help from YouTube to make even higher quality videos. You can vote for this video, and I have put details on that here:
1. Go to http://www.youtube.com/nextup from now until August 7th 2. Sort by country and choose Japan 3. Scroll to find the "How Are You? Lesson Video" I am in the video wearing a yellow jersey. Click on it, then click on the thumbs up! 4. You have to be logged into YouTube to vote. You can vote once a day! Thanks for your continued support! Matt
Phonics Song Video for Kids: The Letter D
July 1, 2011 at 12:35 am | Posted in Children's Songs, Education, Phonics For Kids | Leave a commentTags: alphabet, kids songs, phonics, reading
Phonics is a really important building block in teaching children how to read. If children can recognize the sounds that the letters make, then it will be much easier for them to recognize and read words. I have made this new phonics video with that in mind. At the end there is a little quiz, so kids give it a try!
New Weather Song Video for Kids
June 17, 2011 at 12:45 pm | Posted in Children's Songs, Education | Leave a commentTags: efl, esl, teach the weather free materials, weather, weather song for kids
I wrote How’s the Weather? a few years ago, but I only recently had the chance to make it into a video. I think the video really helps illustrate the song. I showed this to my students, and they got the weather vocabulary right away. For some reason, this song just makes me happy, too. I hope you enjoy it!
New Animal Song Video: It’s a Dog
June 9, 2011 at 4:42 am | Posted in Children's Songs, Education, fun songs for kids series | Leave a commentTags: animals, kids songs
I wrote the It’s a Dog song years ago. Maybe one of the first Dream English Kids’ Songs. It has been an enduring favorite. Probably because of the “ba-ba” part, and the animal voices. I always teach this song by doing little actions for the animal sounds. Kids love this. So here is the video, I hope your children enjoy it!
If you would like to share this video, here is the link code: http://youtu.be/tNK0ToOgntw You can also download a free mp3 of this song here! Happy singing!
New Food Video For Kids!
May 31, 2011 at 11:53 pm | Posted in Children's Songs, Education, Elementary Class | Leave a commentTags: fun food video for kids, kids songs
Kids love to be told they are “Big kids” by eating well. I made this video to teach some important phrases like, ” I can eat a lot” and “I like spaghetti.” I also made some fun hand movements and dances, because the singing and dancing combined makes for a great learning experience. So have a look, and please let me know, ” Are you a big kid?”
If you would like to share this video: http://youtu.be/_Semo3zTJMY
ELF Learning
May 30, 2011 at 6:12 am | Posted in Children's Songs, Education | 2 CommentsTags: childrens songs
ELF learning are teachers of young learners who, like me, love music. I have not met these guys in person, but from chatting a bit online they seem to be really nice guys. They have also been kind enough to add some links to my website from their site. Cool! They have a new CD out, a new website, and many cool videos for learning English. So if you have a second, check out ELF Learning! 
Live Ustream Show: Matt Sings Live # 1
May 26, 2011 at 6:24 am | Posted in Children's Songs, Education, Matt Sings Live | Leave a commentTags: kids songs, live kids shows, twinkle twinkle
This morning I did my first live show on Ustream. It was really exciting to sing the songs you requested live, and know that there were people around the world watching! Thank you so much for your comments and support! If you would like to know about the next live show, and request some songs, please join us at http://www.facebook.com/dreamenglish and you can watch the show in its entirety below!
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