Movement and Dance!!

Welcome to our classroom. Throughout this school year we will be incorporating a lot of creativity into our daily routine. There will be a lot of fun activities including movement and dance activities that provide the opportunity for children to participate. We will be learning about different kinds of music and rhythms and how we can express music with our bodies. Children will learn new songs, and movements to go along with the songs, and the significance of the expressing what they feel through dance and movement. Music, dance, and movement offer a varying level of engagement. Students can choose to listen, participate, and even perform for others. We will be taking a look at dance and movement from other cultures to show students that dance is something that everyone can relate to and enjoy.
We want your child to feel free to express their unique personality and individuality through music, movement, and dance. We encourage students to try new dance moves and be open to learning about music and movement from other cultures. We look forward to having your child in class and for all of the fun activities we have planned. Below describes what your child is gaining through music, movement, and dance.
Music, movement, and dance contribute to the psychomotor development of children. It is natural for children to start moving their bodies when they hear music. When children develop the psychomotor skills, it helps build confidence and lead to the possibility of participating in other sports when they are older. Music, movement, and dance heighten the perceptual development of children by allowing children to recognize differences between voices and other sounds around them. Social and emotional development are also being practiced as students share their experiences with others and work together to make music. It also gives children an awareness of others around the world and a way to connect with many different people. As you can see, there are many benefits to music, movement, and dance and we want to include a risk free environment where children feel free to express themselves.
Below describes the skills that your child will be learning throughout the year from music, movement, and dance.
Cognitive Stages of Music, Movement, and Dance Development
• Infants and Toddlers- Physical activity and music are intertwined.
• Preschoolers- use items to represent their experiences.
• Elementary School- Use abstract symbols and language to represent their ideas.
How children feel about Music, Movement, and Dance.
• I can listen to music and watch people dance.
• I can join in and dance and sing along.
• I can make music, movement, and dance on my own.
• I can understand the language in music.
• I can create my own music and choreograph my own moves.
• I can perform music and dance for others.

What Children Learn from Music, movement, and Dance.
• Motor skills
• Perceptual skills
• Cognitive skills
• Social and emotion expression and development.
• Aesthetic awareness as well as awareness of others around them.
Ways Movement and Dance can be used in a classroom.
• Begin the day with a song or dance.
• Greet each other in a Morning Meeting.
• Helps to create and warm and inviting atmosphere.
• Helps to establish the mood of the room.
• Helps to focus children and keep their attention.
• Keeps children active throughout the day.
• Can help ease tension or nervousness of students.
Ways to incorporate movement and dance in a classroom.
• Morning Meetings.
• Special Events (Birthdays, Holidays)
• Celebrate Diversity
• Refresh and Relax
• Focus and sharpen thinking skills
• Helps to promote a child’s creative expression.
• Bringing the day to an end.
Music, Dance, and Movement in an Inclusive Classroom
• Provide opportunities for every child to participate.
• Have a step-by-step process in place
• Include Music, Movement, and Dance in IEP’s
• Use a variety of different kinds of instruments.
• Be aware of instrument preferences of the students.
• Encourage all students to use Music, Movement, and Dance outside of the classroom.
• Have many resources available to you at all times.
Benefits about Children, Music, Movement, and Dance
Children:
• Have potential in music and movement.
• Bring unique interests and abilities.
• Come with diverse backgrounds.
• Should experience exemplary musical sounds, activities, and materials.
• Should not pressured to perform for an audience.
• Learn best in safe, pleasant environments.
• Need effective, enthusiastic role models.
• Need diverse learning environments and varying opportunities.
• Are capable of developing critical thinking skills through music and movement.
• Should have the enjoyable music and movement experiences.
When children dance they are learning:
• To express themselves physically.
• To be conscious of the moods and rhythms of music.
• Balance and coordination.


Miss Caltagarone