Bill "Nine Fingers" Childs passed on an e-mail he received from a reader of his asking for his help...
I have traveled from my native Minnesota (still reading an online offering of your monthly Parent articles), and I now find myself in the arctic climes of Moscow - teaching english to juniors (age 7 - 10) and pre-teens (age 10 - 13). I am starting with british-based textbooks that are not well conceived from my perspective. It is too cerebral an approach to simple introduction of alphabet and phonics. Can you recommend some recordings of good basic ABC songs? What of the old camp songs for young children (ears hang low, hand shoulders knees toes, etc.)Well, I've got some suggestions after the jump, but would love for you to suggest the ones I've missed...The pre-teens are simply hellions. I don't know what to do with them. Music would give them an outlet for all their energy and desire to "perform". But again, what is appropriate or accessible for them? For them, it needs to be something that isn't "childish", if you understand that. It is so difficult... for them - for me, in a strange country and city.
Well, the obvious starting point is They Might Be Giants' Here Come the ABCs CD/DVD set. You're teaching the alphabet a letter or two or five at a time, but the songs are definitely not "childish." The bonus with this set, of course, is the accompanying DVD, which can provide some visual reinforcement (though I'm not sure what the Muscovite tweens will make of two guys walking around with a big "Q" and "U" where their heads should be).
As a general rule, I'm wondering if CD/DVD sets wouldn't help for this crowd. Would the Gustafer Yellowgold CD/DVDs, which include lyrics on all the videos, be helpful? I don't know...
The Blankies have a video which might work...
Beyond that, perhaps "Abby's Alphabet Soup" off Ralph's World's The Rhyming Circus, and maybe the title track, too -- Ralph is a particularly rhyming kinda guy, which might be of help. I would think that folk artists with nice, clear voices -- Timmy Abell, perhaps -- singing those traditional campfire songs might be helpful.
Finally, I think you'd do well to check out Devon's blog. He may be working with younger kids than you, but he'll certainly have a good perspective and his CDs may be of help, at least for the younger set.
Other thoughts, people?
