TAP AND RAP; MOVE AND GROOVE by Connie B. Dow

Of music, dance, picture books, and children . . . according to Connie and Tonnye

Join Connie Dow and me as we talk moving, grooving and jamming. The book is so fun, and full of chants that will have your kids jumping, hopping, rapping, tapping and more! We chat about how you could use the book in various situations and talk about why she wrote the book, her process and more! Don't miss a single groove!

TAP AND RAP; MOVE AND GROOVE by Connie B. Dow

Written by Connie Bergstein Dow, illustrated by Debbie Palen, and published by Free Spirit Publishing, this book is absolutely perfect for a classroom or for a fun music-integrated playtime at preschool, daycare or at home.  It is chock full of fun little chants which seamlessly integrate music and movement. Each has its own rhythm and its own theme, but each chant encourages children to move in fun and interesting ways.  The illustrations are bright, colorful, diverse, and child-friendly.  Connie puts her years of dance experience into creating a fun and fit experience that children will thoroughly enjoy!

​A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

My kinders, firsts and even many of my second-graders really enjoy Danny Go. He's the perfect blend of fun and silly but with some good skills, strategies, habits and learning mixed in. In this song, he encourages dance and movement in a variety of ways. It's a great extension of Connie's lovely book!

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
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Free teaching guide *TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE Digital Download supplemental materials are available for free on Free Spirit's website.

Getting kids up and moving is always a great thing (check out the list of benefits below).

Here are some ways I would suggest using the pieces in this book:

1. Circle time, class meetings, etc. -- Choose one piece; write it on chart paper, put it on doc camera, or simply read it aloud and move along with the chant.
2. Take the book out during recess and use it during their outdoor time (or it's also perfect for those rainy days when you have indoor recess.)
3. Use a chant as a brain break -- in between activities or when you see you are losing your students' attention.
4. Find the ones that have curriculuar connections and use them as part of your lesson.
5. Perfect as little filler activities when you have 5 minutes until your next thing or when kids finish up early. Keep this book nearby for those moments.
6. If kids are falling asleep, it's a perfect time to pull out one of these.
7. Since they are chants with rhythm and words, they're a natural fit for fluency practice.

​If you've used this book in your classroom, leave a comment telling how you used it.

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
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While these chants don't rhyme typically, they do depend on rhythm, which makes them perfect for music class.

• Use them as "sound stories", using instruments to represent various words in the chant.
• Have students partner up; one taps a steady beat while the other one reads; then they switch
• Using one of the chants with several sections/stanzas, do the movement activities together. In between stanzas/sections, do a copycat rhythm, or give instruments to students and tell them to create 8 counts (2 4/4 measures of a stanza transition.)
• Integrate one into your program/concert.
• Practice fluency by reading them over and over and doing some movements.
• Any of the activities from the teacher section above.

Writing Prompts from Tonnye
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1. Which chant is your favorite and why?
2. Which chant is your LEAST favorite, and why?
3. Choose one of the chants and see if you can add another section/stanza.
4. Write a chant about opposites.
5. Write a chant about the alphabet.
6. Write a chant about music
7. Write a chant about science (or health or social studies)
8. Write a chant using some skills you learned in PE class.
9. Write a letter to the author telling her whether you like her book and why/why not.
10. Write a chant about your favorite animal.

Tips from Connie

1. Learn everything you can about your genre -- take workshops, courses, access webinars, and read lots and lots of books. The same thing applies to the submission process: Attend workshops and seek out information about query letters, pitches, etc.

2. The kidlit community is kind and supportive. Connect with other authors, both online and in person, for critique groups, advice, and to create networks.

3. Enter contests -- this is a wonderful way to practice your writing skills.

4. Be persistent, but also patient!

5. Write about things that are close to your heart.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!
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Pinterest board with lots of music and movement ideas for multiple ages, more info about Connie, and more!

YouTube playlist with interviews with Connie and lots of movement songs to supplement her book.  You can also look for songs that specifically relate to each chant if you wanted to extend a particular chant/lesson surrounding a chant.

​Links to supplement TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE

Book search - find a book
bookshop.org

https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/free-spirit-publishing/p/tap-and-rap-move-and-groove/930763/


Tap and Rap, Move and Groove
amazon.com

:

*TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE Digital Download supplemental materials are available for free on Free Spirit's website:

https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/media/uploads/tcm/images/fsp/pdf/tap-rap_digital.pdf

Seven Benefits of Creative Dance
for Young Children (from Connie)

1. Physical:


Balance
Coordination
Strength
Body control 
Age-appropriate large motor skills
Posture
Exercise
Stimulation of the vestibular system
Range of motion and flexibility of joints
Proprioception, which is the awareness of the position of the body in space


2. Accessibility:


Movement activities can be done in any space, large or small, with
very little or no equipment


The basic tenet of creative movement/creative dance (the terms are interchangeable) for young children is that the process of the activity is what is most important. Kinesthetic learning happens as a result of the child’s movement exploration.This allows creative movement to be inclusive of all learning styles, even those children whose ability to move or participate is limited. 


3. Social-Emotional Skill Development


Body awareness
Spatial awareness
Self-expression, awareness of emotions
Individual and group problem-solving skills
Cooperation and taking turns
Impulse control and delaying gratification
Listening to and following instructions
Setting goals


4.  Creativity


The essence of creative dance is to inspire children to find new ways to move their bodies and learn about the world through movement


5. Kinesthetic Learning, or learning by doing


Piaget and many child psychologists understand that preschool children do not conceptualize abstract processes. They primarily learn through physical and sensory experiences. Movement can be used to teach virtually any subject.


6. Classroom Management


As children learn to control their bodies, understand personal versus shared space, listen and follow directions, and respond to cues for stopping, starting, and changing direction, simple movement activities can easily be incorporated into their daily routine.


7.  Moving is FUN! It is easy to engage children through movement

PBJamz Snack -- PBJ Smoothie
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I can't think of a better snack before or after a fun physical session of music and movement than a yummy PBJ smoothie.  Smooth, cold, delicious, and easy to customize and make it your own. Start with the recipe here and have some tasty fun! A little slurping, a little sliding -- perfect combo for a perfect day!

Guest Links and Giveaways
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Connie's links:

https://www.movingislearning.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnieBergsteinDow
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbergsteindow 
LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/movingislearning
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conniebdow/ 
Pinterest: Pinterest: @conniebdow
www.movingislearning.com/works.htm

Links to purchase Connie's books:
https://www.movingislearning.com/works.htm​
Amazon


Connie has generously offered a winner's CHOICE.  So one winner will be selected and you may choose from:

1. a picture book critique (rhyming or non-rhyming, up to 800 words)  OR
2. A 20-minute Zoom (author chat, lesson demo for a teacher, etc.)
3. a copy of TAP AND RAP, MOVE AND GROOVE

In order to be eligible for the drawing, simply leave a comment below.