| From the Where2sing.com forum: Boulder Creek USA teacher sings the praises of karaoke in school
Source: Redding.com
Jon Ward teaches fourth grade at Boulder Creek Elementary School in Redding, where he shares his love for karaoke with his students. Following are excerpts from a recent conversation.
Q. How do you use karaoke in the classroom?
Right now we're getting ready for our Christmas program. (And) when the kids read one million minutes, we (the teachers) got up and performed. I also use karaoke as a reward. If they do their homework five weeks in a row they get a party. We have open mike at the end of the year and the parents come and sing.
Q. What kind of music are you working with and what kind of music do fourth-graders like?
James Taylor - 'You've Got a Friend' and 'Shower the People,' 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,' 'With Bells On' by Dolly Parton, 'Thank God for Kids' by the Oak Ridge Boys - when the kids sing it all the parents cry. The boys wanted to do 'The Letter' (the 1967 hit by the Box Tops). They said, 'Mr. Ward, that's the coolest song!'
Q. Is there a self-esteem benefit?
A big self-esteem benefit. Everybody wants to get up and sing. If they could, they would come to school and they would sing all day. What's amazing to me is that every kid thinks they can sing. Music, if you play music, or you sing a song, the research shows it's all about studying, it's all about persevering, it's all about improving.
Q. The singer has to follow words on a screen. Does that reinforce reading skills?
It does, because it's going fast.
Q. What else do the children learn through karaoke?
We talk about copyright. The kids get into ownership; they have to put the mikes away and take care of the equipment. I tell them that when someone is singing, you do not talk. You only clap. (I tell them) they're baring their soul to you and you are saying they have a no-good soul (when you interrupt). I teach the five R's: reading, writing, arithmetic, respect and responsibility.
The saddest thing for me is when I have kids that come back to me and say, 'I have a bad voice.' Some people ask me, 'How do you stand the kids' singing?' None of that stuff affects me. Even if a kid has a horrible voice I can pick out a song and make them feel successful.
Q. You do this at home, too, right?
Yes, it's a real family thing. It's really neat when relatives come over. I can actually record you singing the songs. I have about 5,000 songs at home.
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