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Hi! My name is Heidi, and I blog over at HeidiSongs! Abigail invited me to share a little bit about Teaching Number & Shape Recognition through Music using my Jumpin’ Numbers and Shakin’ Shapes DVD, plus do a giveaway for the DVD and $20 to my website!
Teaching Number & Shape Recognition through Music

I thought that sounded great, so here I am! This is a great time of year to talk about number and shape recognition, so let’s get right into it.
 Jumpin’ Numbers and Shakin’ Shapes DVD
 
 

Jumpin’ Numbers and Shakin’ Shapes was designed to help children learn to identify to the numbers 0-10 out of order and the seven basic shapes. Here are the basic features of the DVD:

Watch the Number 8 Video NOW!

I especially love the 1-100 song! I have used it as a clean up song, as an exercise song, as a song for the Hundredth Day of School, and I know that I used it for other purposes that I can’t recall right now! It just really comes in handy. And some children even sing it to themselves when they are being tested on counting skills.

Watch the 1-100 Song NOW!

One thing that you should know is that I designed the songs to be used with the Jumpin’ Numbers and Shakin’ Shapes cards. It’s fine to use them without the cards, but they are more effective to teach the shapes and numerals when used in conjunction with the cards.


So what’s so special about these flash cards? They contain a visual clue to the movement embedded into the numeral or shape. When kids do the movement and say the number or shape at the same time, they use all of their learning modalities and styles (visual, auditory, musical, kinesthetic) to help them recall the names of the numbers and shapes.

The character embedded into each number or shape that serves as a mnemonic device to help jog the memory.

This is how it works:
1. The children are shown a flash card of a number or shape with a visual cue on it.
2. They make a motion that relates to the visual cue. (Ex. For number 8 they make a monkey scratching motion, since there is a monkey on the numeral eight card.)
3. They learn songs that further reinforce the names of the numbers or shapes and its corresponding motion.
4. Later, the visual cue on the number or shape is removed, and the kids respond as before, saying the name of the number and doing its motion.
5. Soon (usually after about 3 weeks of school), most Kindergartners have learned all of the numbers and shapes in a fun and painless way.

Preview the video of the Song along with the Visual Cues NOW!

For example, there is a monkey on the number eight card. When the children see it, they are coached to make a monkey motion and say, “Eight!” Often, if they cannot immediately remember the name of the numeral, when they make the motion the memory is jogged and the number often pops right out of their mouths, often much to their surprise!

The movement of the hands work to activate the muscle memory that some children need to help them remember the name of that number or shape. As an added bonus, many of the motions mimic the form of the number or shape. For example, the motion for number eight with the hands overhead and the knees bent forms the shape of the eight. The motion for number four is to hop with two hands up on your head like bunny ears; this is meant to look like the two top lines on a number four.

 

You can save 15% on your whole HeidiSongs order by using the code SCHOOL2015 at checkout.


Want to win your own copy of Jumpin’ Numbers and Shakin’ Shapes or $20 t0 HeidiSongs and choose your own DVD? Here is your chance!!

HeidiSongs Giveaway

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This giveaway has been sponsored by Kindergarten Chaos and contains affiliate links.


16 Responses

    1. Me too apples4me!Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I haven’t used the Classroom Management DVD, but plan to this year!

  1. I love using heidisongs to teach in my classroom! They get to know the songs so well they sing them on their own spontaneously throughout the day:)

  2. I have learned so much from Abi. After shadowing her for a day last year, I implemented many of her classroom ideas. I look forward to purchasing these DVDs for me and my students. Thank you for always looking for ways to keep our students engaged and learning. )

  3. I am back in K this year after a several year hiatus (was in 1st/2nd), and am looking for ways to include music and movement in my lessons- Love HeidiSongs and would love to incorporate them into my kinder curriculum 🙂

  4. I use music daily with my students. It motivates them to pay attention, and helps them rememberr what they are learning. HeidiSongs are a favorite in my classroom.

  5. I love using music to teach my muti-age preschool class. They absolutely love the alphabet and jumping numbers and shapes DVD’s! Music + movement = loads of fun and learning!

  6. I used the Colors and Shapes DVD last year and my kiddos loved it! It was something they really got into! I also used the Reading Street Sight Words DVD and it was great for my ELL students!

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