BOCA BETH: One Song at a Time

So, you find yourself up and atom! Ready to face the day with 12 two-year-olds! Let me help you bring a smile, some language learning fun and beginning reading skills to each and every child in your care today!

Hope you all had a great Christmas and that you are looking forward to a great New Year in 2008. Now, as you get ready for your day back with young children (be it in your home as a family child care provider, a preschool, a learning center, a faith based school or other), use the following preschool activity ideas, music fun and second language learning suggestions to make your day fun and full of learning.

The following fitness fun song helps children get up & get movin’ for foreign language fun with Boca Beth and her bilingual music. From the CD titled Sing Along with Boca Beth / Canta con Boca Beth:

“Getting Ready for My Day / Preparando” (an original beat by Ken Veenstra of Progressive Media & Music)

I wake up, I wake up every day.
Me levanto, levanto cada día.

I use the bathroom, the bathroom every day.
Uso el baño, el baño cada día.

I wash my hands, my hands every day.
Me lavo mis manos, mis manos cada día.

I comb my hair, my hair every day.
Me peino mi pelo, mi pelo cada día.

I get dressed, I get dressed every day.
Me pongo mi ropa, mi ropa cada día.

I eat my breakfast, my breakfast every day.
Tomo desayuno, desayuno cada día.

I brush my teeth, my teeth every day.
Cepillo mis dientes, dientes cada día.

I start the day with a smile every day.
Comienzo con una sonrisa, sonrisa cada día.

I share my joy, my joy every day.
Comparto mi felicidad, felicidad cada día.

I can do it, do it every day.

Puedo hacerlo, hacerlo cada dia.

This song off our Boca Beth fitness fun CD can have some cute movements that allow the children to act out each part of getting ready for their day. The one about “I use the bathroom/Uso el baño” gets lots of laughter from little children, but it works if you are willing to put up with the giggles. Using the bathroom is a real part of each day, and when kept in check, the motions of the entire song work together to assist in the learning of two languages. Suggested movements are listed below by the getting ready action:

• I wake up/Me levanto = arms up overhead like a “Y” with full extension on the first “wake up” words followed by little squats with arms down and repeat through the Spanish.
• I use the bathroom = controlled small squats with hands on knees on the downward motion and hands to hips as you come up to standing. Try to keep the children from making noises or getting too out of hand by first explaining how this is a part of everyone’s day.
• I wash my hands = An exaggerated sliding motion of the hands with the elbows pulled way back on each slide creates a rubbing sound and some good side and arm work.
• I comb my hair = Exaggerated over the head arms one at a time for a pretend combing motion.
• I get dressed = Fun to see how the children act this out on their own – we have found a rowing motion towards the ground with a slight bend at the waist works well (as if pulling on pants or shorts).
• I eat my breakfast = With a pretend fork or spoon in their hands the children alternate one at a time up to their mouth with elbows elevated and out to the side. Nice arm work out.
• I brush my teeth = Small circular motions with their hands and a pretend toothbrush make this one fun and a great reminder.
• I start the day with a smile = The children go to an extended “Y” above their head as their hands brush along their cheeks making their smiles even bigger.
• I share my joy – Giving themselves a big hug for this one and twisting side to side accomplishes some good flexibility movement and gives them a nice hug every time.
• I can do it – Making strong fists and flexing their muscles to show they can do it makes the children feel strong and empowered as they sing the words “I can do it/Puedo hacerlo.”
(Of course, ad-libbing works well on this one if you are up to it!)

A great book to use before or after this song is the following board book which can be found easily on amazon.com:

I Can!/¡Yo puedo! (English and Spanish Foundation Series)

Available on Amazon for $3.17.

It’s important to teach children that there’s nothing they can’t do. This

exciting learning book in English and Spanish gives you a head start. Come

along with a diverse group of children as they demonstrate a wide variety of

fun activities and helpful tasks they can do by themselves. Children will love

the colorful and whimsical illustrations. A complete pronunciation guide is

included in the back of the book for quick and easy reference. This book is a

great tool for helping to instill children with a sense of pride in

accomplishment.

Reading level: Ages 4-8 (20 Pages)

If you want more ideas to use in conjunction with this theme simply leave a comment after this post, and I will send you the complete one month theme for free from our Boca Beth Educator’s Club - it’s a cool and easy-to-use membership that provides you a monthly lesson plan centered around a theme that evolves from one of my Boca Beth bilingual songs.

Introducing Spanish and English to children will never be this easy again!

Happy Educating! ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

ESL ESOL foreign language for children introduce languages to kids preschool activity preschool curriculum Spanish for children teach Spanish