Head, Shoulders, Knees, and all that

Hokey Pokey Shake

We made Super Simple Songs because as children's ESL/EFL teachers, we had a hard time finding songs to use in class that were appropriate for our kids.  We could find fun songs that the kids could enjoy moving to, but not really understand and sing.  And we could find some ESL-type songs that maybe the kids could understand, but weren't a whole lot of fun to move around to. 

So we made songs, originals and adaptations of children's classics, that were both simple enough lyrically for young learners to understand (especially with the help of gesture and dance) and a lot of fun to sing and move with. 

Our version of the Hokey Pokey is a pretty good example of what a Super Simple Song is all about.  Actually, in terms of action and vocabulary, there is a lot more going on in our version than the traditional Hokey Pokey, which we think makes it a little more fun and a lot more educational.  But we did simplify it by replacing some of the language that can be frustrating and kind of meaningless to young learners (especially language that is difficult to teach through gesture). 

We also replace left and right with one and two, making the song more accessible for very young learners and introducing plural forms (one hand, two hands...one foot, two feet).

This clip is a group of 6 year-olds from Yokohama.  Thanks to Rina, Toshie, Sana, Kazuya, Aya, and Shioo!

We're finishing up Super Simple Songs 3 right now, and Troy has a fun new animation up at our website, so please stop by and see what's going on there. 

Farm Animal Friends

Great video from Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang.  Simple and gentle enough for the youngest learners, catchy and fun enough for older learners.  Been humming this one all day.

Happy Birthday Fred

A belated Happy Birthday to Mr. Rogers, who was born on March 20, 1928. 

Here's one of my favorite youTube videos:

(No) Snow Day

It's been a weird winter here in Tokyo.  This was the first year that no snow at all fell in Tokyo in the official winter months of December through February.  No snow.  Zero.  (Contrast that with my first ever blog post from January last year).

And then,  just the other morning, it snowed for the first time this year!  On March 19th!  For about 15 minutes.

Alas, no snow days for us this year.  But all is not lost.  Eric Herman has a great new video out reminding us what we're missing.  I love the rhythm of Eric's lyrics in this tune (based on a poem by Ken Nesbitt), and Eric's wife did a great job with the animation.  What a team!

Enjoy!

Subcribe to Eric's videos at youTube here.

Pi Day

I'm obviously a little late with this, but Mama Lisa had a great post celebrating Pi Day (3.14) and how you can celebrate it with your kids that's worth going back a couple of days for, and Jeremy-sensei made this amazing video in commemoration of the occasion. 

Happy Pi Day, 3/14!! (Lip-Dubbing: Pi)

Belated Happy Pi Day to you!

Vote for your favorite kid vid

Over at Zooglobble, Stefan is hosting a March Madness Kid Vid tournament.  He has selected and seeded 15 videos in 4 brackets, but he's asking his readers to vote in the 16th video.   Head on over and nominate your favorite kid vid, and then vote in the head-to-head competitions that will take place throughout the month.

If you're looking for a place to find some fun kid vids, try Planet KidVid.

I'm pulling for The Elephant Song to come in as the 16th entry.

Good luck with your brackets!

Great readers for young learners

If you happen to be in Japan, listen to this week's Kodomo to Eigo de Hanasou podcast for a chance to win one of five free sets of Potato Pals from Oxford University Press.  The deadline to enter is March 17. 

We use Potato Pals with 4-, 5-, and 6-year old students here at Knock Knock English, and we love it.  (more importantly, the kids love it)

Regardless of whether or not you are in Japan, you can still listen in to learn some simple English and Japanese phrases you can use with young children.  Enjoy!

English through lip-synching

Nagi-chan + Jeremy-sensei + The Black Eyed Peas =

This is Nagi. on Vimeo

How to get kids reading

Just found out this blog was nominated for a Hot Stuff Award over at GNM Parents.   Thanks to Barb for the nomination!

One of the several great blogs nominated is Scribbit, which has a couple of outstanding posts with simple tips for improving your child's literacy...things every parent should know and every teacher should practice and share with parents.   Here are a couple of my favorites: 

4. Practice what you preach. Children imitate and they'll be more inclined to read when you are reading. Talk about and share the stories you are reading.

5. Don't force a child to finish a book. It's okay to discard, in the time it takes to plod through something they've lost interest in they could have read two others that they like.

Check out the other blogs over at GNM Parents and take a second to vote if you have a chance.

Ralph speaks

The Ralph's World/House of Blues Tour is rolling on.  Check out these interviews with Ralph over at the Orlando Sentinel and Zooglobble.