New
York State Funding for Arts Education
Partnerships - SAP
M.C.C.S.
School with Map Global "Chinese
Children's Folk Song/Dance/Art in Language
Class"
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The
Chinese Children’s Folk Song
program uses the artistic approach
to touch the child's sense of perception
and movement, enhance their interest,
and let them enjoy the process.
This opportunity for children’s
song, dance and painting with the
Chinese language curriculum enriches
the language curriculum of M.C.C.S.
school and reinforce oral language
development. In turn, it also nourishes
the children’s artistic sense
and social experience, and facilitates
balanced development. |
Included
were such exercises as finger games,
clapping, jumping, circle walks,
dances, and various games that
encourage the development of the
child’s listening and speaking
language ability.
The
children learned to follow Chinese
directions to play a game. They
learned vocabulary about and drew
pictures of numbers, colors, shapes,
senses and symbols through the
game rhymes and songs. They
sang, retold, danced and performed
Chinese folksongs by this multiple
approach. They also made their
own first Chinese book.
"M.C.C.S.
students are enjoying their singing,
dances and games very much.
They
also like to share their songs
with their parents and grandparents.
They
say, 'Chinese is easy !' ” |
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Teaching
artist Ning Yuan Yu: "I
spoke and sang folk songs with
movement, then focused on the
main vocabulary that they already
learned from their teacher until
all the children could understand
the meaning. Then the children
followed my speech or song with
movement. Every child participated
in the process of creation and
performance in the folk song.
In the game or dance, children
in turn performed different roles.
I introduced the use of the brush,
ink, color and paper. Sometime
the children divided into different
groups to draw or paint together.
When the work was done, I encouraged
the children share their work
to help the children recognize
and understand similarities and
differences in their work." |
Teacher
Guan Hui Guo:
"Throughout this process, I
learned from Mr. Yu how to present
the rhymes with gestures to the children,
how to keep an interested atmosphere
in the classroom, and how enjoy every
moment with each individual child,
and even when he or she is not responsive
at first. Also I learned from children
through their movement, their drawing,
their sounds. I learned what they
need, what kind of teaching style
is their favorite, what is the best
way to deal with each individual." |
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One
parent indicated that their child
never spoke Chinese at home before
this program. Since this program
started, the child is singing
and speaking Chinese rhymes with
movement all the time. She also
likes to show other children
and adults what she has learned
from school in this program.
Most of the parents have indicated
how amazed they are that their
children can not only speak Chinese,
but are most impressed with their
enjoyment and pride in speaking
Chinese. |
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The
M.C.C.S School students participated
at the Annual “World Children’s
Peace Festival” at the Donnell
Auditorium of the New York Public
Library in Manhattan. |
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