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February 2010
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Mrs. Nancy Sings of Great Moments
by Mrs. Donna, North Canton, Ohio
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 Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling spent Monday mornings singing and dancing with Mrs. Nancy (Mapes) at Children First Childcare Center, but then he “graduated” to kindergarten, attending the Grandview Kids’ Club after school. When Nathaniel’s mother, Kathy, who has a “WeJoySing Heart,” heard that the Club was looking for music programming, she enthusiastically recommended WeJoySing. Hooray! Teacher and student re-united, the JOYOUS dance would continue!
At Kids’ Club, Mrs. Nancy implements a combination of the 4-5’s HeartStrings curriculum and games from Music & Me, WeJoySing's Kodaly based music literacy program for elementary school-age children. This ensures developmentally appropriate, high energy lessons that are challenging and fun. In true WeJoySing fashion, Mrs. Nancy weaves the songs, activities and games into a story line (“Aunt Dinah” is the current character-heroine!) which incorporates dramatic play that nurtures children’s creativity as well as musical, intellectual, physical and social development. Musical skills the children work on include rhythmic patterns, rhythmic reading, independent singing, playing rhythm instruments, movement exploration and musical terminology.
 This past fall, Grandview Kid's Club parents were given the opportunity to register and enroll their children in WeJoySing classes to be held there. Thirty children signed up! The children were divided into two, forty-five minute classes, meeting nine times (once a month) during the 2009-10 school year. Mrs. Nancy comments on the success of the venture: “I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm, excitement and participation of the children in this program. They are eager and quick to learn. I enjoy being with them!” One of Mrs. Nancy’s favorite moments with the children was when she was using a poster with pictures of long and short “noodles” to teach rhythmic patterns (i.e. long, short-short, long, rest.) The “noodles” would be added to “Aunt Dinah’s soup,” continuing the story from an earlier session. Suddenly, one of the children said, “Hey…that sounds just like the words ‘Peas Por-ridge Hot!’” Mrs. Nancy recalls: “It was such a neat ‘aha!’ moment.”
Each week, Courtney Price, Kid's Club Director, or her assistant, Laura Keves, has been a part of the classes. Mrs. Price says that WeJoySing is a “wonderful enrichment component” of the Kids’ Club program, because “it allows children to learn about music in a creative and supportive environment and complements what the students are learning in music class during the school day.”
 The mission of Grandview Kids’ Club is “To meet the needs of Grandview families and the community by ensuring that all children are provided with a safe and nurturing environment.” Mrs. Price says that WeJoySing supports the educational goals of the program by “allowing students to be goofy, to act like kids, to express themselves and play while learning. The children are given opportunities to participate as a group and as individuals, which helps to build their confidence.” One parent reported that her child had an increased ability to follow along with music in church after participating in WeJoySing.
One thing Price likes about the WeJoySing methodology is that “Mrs. Nancy is able to present the material to students in a way that is easy to understand and makes participation natural. The environment she creates is up-beat and supportive so that everyone feels comfortable.”
 Kathy Wallace is thankful for that type of musical enrichment for Nathaniel. “I’m so glad that Kids’ Club and WeJoySing were interested in providing this program…when [Mrs. Nancy] ‘followed’ him to kindergarten... [it provided continuity] both in terms of high quality music education and the adults in his life. The songs…appeal to his sense of humor and active nature...When Nathaniel starts singing or humming while engaged in other play at home, we know that this music has taken root in a really deep way.”
A Note from Mrs. Jo
Does your school district have an after-school program? Mrs. Price says that she would “definitely recommend WeJoySing as a component to any after-school program. It provides a high quality experience for students.” As Nathaniel and Kathy discovered, one WeJoySing family CAN make a difference in the lives of many.
Is someone’s life is waiting to be changed by YOUR recommendation?
For more information on how you, as a parent, teacher or administrator can help bring WeJoySing’s musical enrichment programming to your school district or community, call 614-868-0107 or toll free 1-877-299-8138 or email wejoysing@wejoysing.com. Visit us online at www.wejoysing.com.
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