Wow! eBook
Tune Up to Literacy: Original Songs and Activities for Kids
Author(s): Alfred Balkin (Author)
- Publisher: ALA Editions
- Publication Date: July 1, 2009
- Edition: Illustrated
- Language: English
- Print length: 106 pages
- ISBN-10: 0838909981
- ISBN-13: 9780838909980
Book Description
Encourage literacy with twenty original songs by musician and educator Al Balkin! Children’s and school librarians will welcome Tune Up to Literacy, a handy package of music and activities that musically introduces and reinforces crucial literacy concepts such as the alphabet, vowels, consonants, nouns, verbs, adjectives, sentence construction, punctuation, sequence, rhyming, and much, much more. The book includes
- 20 original songs to encourage children’s development of literacy
- Rhyme-a-ton rhyming dictionary of commonly used one-syllable words
- Activities related to each song– from inventing new verses to telling stories to playing flash-card games
Catchy and strikingly original, the road-tested songs of Tune Up to Literacy are proven tools for acquainting kids with basic literacy concepts.
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Written by a music teacher and award-winning composer for children, this work encourages cross-disciplinary learning using music and creativity in the language arts program. Balkin offers 20 original songs, each addressing a language arts concept or supporting the language arts curriculum motivationally. Each song is a stand-alone instructional unit with sheet music, lyrics, activities, and a recording of the song available on the Web. The activities, which include art, music, and movement, are interdisciplinary and designed to reach every learning style. A rhyming dictionary of one-syllable words and word games for children are also provided. This is a valuable addition to any children’s librarian’s professional collection. –Sara Marcus
About the Author
Dr. Al Balkin, a continuing ASCAP award-winning composer for children whose songs appeared frequently on the Captain Kangaroo CBS television show, is a professor emeritus from Western Michigan University. A music graduate of Indiana University with an M.A. in musicology from the same institution, he received his doctorate degree from Columbia University Teachers College in music and music education. He also attended Boston University and the Manhattan School of Music. Balkin has taught music at every level from nursery school to graduate school, and is a dedicated advocate of multi-disciplinary learning and creativity through the arts. His articles have appeared nationally in Principal and Music Educators Journal. He also co-authored the Houghton-Mifflin college textbook, Involvement with Music. Balkin has performed on the NBC Today Show, and his song, “The Midnight Ride of Prescott and Dawes” was the feature on Charles Osgood’s CBS morning radio show, Newsbreak. As a professional pianist and singer, Balkin continues to perform in concerts where he presents the lives and songs of Broadway’s great show composers and lyricists.
