Listen, Move, Think is an approach to arts integration the features music and gross motor creative movement. It was designed for use in early childhood and elementary classrooms as a way to increase children’s opportunities in the fine arts, to provide an alternative to YouTube movement videos, and to be the context from which both teacher and students can begin intelligent conversations in social studies, mathematics, language arts, and science.
The reading vocabulary (Type II) came from the leveled reading books. National standards influenced math vocabulary. Since “more than” and “less than” are critical concepts in math, I added short phrases to the list of choices. NOTE: View the words in each list as suggestions. It would be presumptuous to think I know what words you need to use. Therefore, use words that fit your instructional need. For example, you’re about to review angles, and you create the following sentence: Think of something that has an obtuse angle and move it with your heel. For those who work in a formal school setting, most likely, you already have a good idea of the vocabulary that you need to reinforce or extend your students’ learning. Use that vocabulary. Remember, it’s the conversations that are important, not any particular word.
Yes. The materials and strategies will work in the home, with one or more children, and in childcare settings.
Yes. Since Listen, Move, Think does not require special music or dance skills, your interns and helpers will find it easy to use.
Children benefit from LMT in two ways. First, the music was composed to develop and strengthen children’s musical intelligence. Like language acquisition, listening is key to future success in music. The compositions were written to highlight tonal structures, rhythmic structures, and form. Second, by engaging in this approach, children will develop fundamental movement skills in dance/creative movement.
At a practical level, the purpose of Listen, Move, Think is to engage children in conversations about what they are thinking. The approach allows kids to think and express their thoughts non-verbally, through movement, and then to verbal communication via questions and conversations. Therefore, you create a movement prompt, children move to that prompt, and then, you engage them in conversation.
No, a background in music or dance is not needed. Listen, Move, Think was created for moms and dads, classroom teachers, child-care providers, and anyone who wants an artful and creative way to interact with children.
Yes. There are professional development courses that will help you maximize your effectiveness with the approach if you want to enroll in them. However, the site, the music, and the strategy are free to use.
No. All you need is the ability to access the Internet. If you have a smartphone connected to a BlueTooth speaker, then you’re set. Actually, a smartphone with a BlueTooth speaker will allow you to move around your space, which will help you reduce off-task behaviors.
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