CONNIE'S BLOG:
Moving Is Learning!
Connie has been blogging since 2011. Her posts range from tips for teachers, the benefits of dance, playful class plans, to how to choose a creative dance class for your child, and much, much more! All of her posts are below, starting with the most recently-published ones.
Read about these beautiful creative dance-centered picture books by
five talented authors. You will love these colorful books filled with fun, play, creativity, and movement!
Connie's picks for picture books about dance and creativity (published by Shepherd.com)
Do your little ones love to move, groove, dance, tap, rap, play, bend, twist, stomp, chant, freeze, balance, make silly shapes, jump, hop, slither, stretch, crawl, leap, tiptoe, twirl, and gallop?
Our new picture book TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE (Free Spirit Publishing) will inspire them to do all of these and more, plus they will use their imaginations while having fun.
The fourteen original dance chants, like "Tappity Rap," "Thumbs Up," "Lively Feet," and "Quack, Quack, Quack, Moo!" provide everything you need for a creative, playful dance activity, while at the same time, reinforcing early literacy skills. The activities also nurture important developmental skills such as body awareness, spatial awareness, listening to and following instructions, multi-tasking, and problem solving.
One of the best parts about this book is the gorgeous illustrations by talented artist Debbie Palen. The beautiful, colorful pictures truly capture the joy and energy of children in movement. Little ones will love all of the lively and fun characters Debbie created.
TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE is coming in October, 2023, and is available for pre-order now:
Debbie and I are excited to share our fun-filled book with you!
Keep on dancing,
Connie
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An energetic brain break is always a welcome activity in the middle of a busy day. These playful, active, and enriching brain break ideas will be fun for a small or large group of children.
1. Category Caper
Time: 10 minutes
Directions:
This activity can be done in a small space. All of the movements can be performed in place.
Identify 3 categories: i.e., colors, fruits, vegetables.
Then, match an action to each category, i.e. color = jump, fruit = sit, vegetable = run in place.
Name, show a picture, or hold up an object and the children will categorize it.
The children then perform the corresponding action.
*This game should progress quickly, to keep the children moving constantly from sitting to jumping, to running.
2. Time to Rhyme
Time: 10-15 minutes
Directions:
This activity can be done in a small space. All of the movements can be performed in place.
1. Say the following poem line by line, allowing the children to respond in movement to each movement prompt.
I like to march right under the arch.
I like to jump and land with a thump.
I like to learn how to turn.
I like to run – it's so much fun.
I like to hop then quickly stop.
I like to freeze and bend my knees.
2. Repeat the activity, and instead of saying the action word, give the rhyming word and encourage the children to fill in the blank with the appropriate motor skill. For example, say, " I like to _______, and land with a thump." Once the children guess the action word, they respond in movement.
3. Vary this activity for a larger space. Ask the children to think of rhyming words for the following additional motor skills: walk, crawl, slide, gallop, prance
3. My Turn!
Time: 10-15 minutes, depending on the number of children
Materials: Movements written on file cards, one movement per card (enough for one per child, or several per child for a small group).
With the children standing evenly spaced in a circle, say to them: We will go around the circle and each child will have a turn. I am going to choose a card from this stack. When it is your turn, you will do the movement on the card.
Movement suggestions:
Once you have gone around the circle, shuffle the cards and go around again, if the children are still engaged in the activity.
Other suggestions for continuing the activity:
*Ask the children to think of their own movements as you go around again
*Ask the children which one was their favorite movement, and have them all do their favorite movements at the same time
*Continuing with the favorite movement idea, ask them to repeat their favorite movements five times in a row
*Play a lively musical selection, and allow the children to move about in the shared space, trying out many of the movement ideas from the circle.
Keep on Dancing,
Connie
MOVING IS LEARNING!
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Hello!
I was invited by Kids & Company, of Toronto, Canada, to lead a thirty-minute video movement session for young children in May. Kids & Company requested a presentation that would get children up and moving while spending more time indoors during the Covid quarantine.
I thought it would be fun to create a short activity for each letter of the alphabet. I devised 26 movement prompts that children and families can do together. This creative movement session will definitely use a lot of that great kid energy!
Watch the Video Here: DANCE THE ALPHABET!
For more ideas about movement, the alphabet, and early literacy, check out my picture book
From A to Z with Energy! 26 Ways to Move and Play
Keep on Dancing, Everyone!
Connie
