Preparing to Teach

The following information is combined from:

The Children’s  Songbook, pg 300 , .

"Teaching Children to Sing" Video Segment (from lds.org)

“How to Teach a Song”  (from lds.org)

Know the song:

•   Before you can teach a song effectively, you must know the song yourself. You can become familiar with the words and melody by playing the song on the piano, listening to a recording of the Children’s   Songbook, or listening to the music on the Internet, Study the song and decide what message the words convey. 

Practice the song

• Practice the song over and over practicing it until you really know it. 

Study the scriptural reference

• Study the scriptural reference included at the end of the song. Study the song to learn what message the words convey. Ask yourself how you might use any scripture references at the end of the song in your preparation or in teaching the song. 

Pray for inspiration

• Prayerfully find ways to teach the gospel through the song!  

Make a plan.  Ask yourself:

• “How can I use the scriptural references to insure that the children understand the message being taught in the song.?” 
• How can I capture the children's attention? (Perhaps with an object, a picture, a scripture, an experience, or simply a whisper.)
• Are there any key words?  What words will need to be explained so the children will understand?
• Are there any similar melodies that will make the song easier to learn? 
• What questions can I ask that will encourage the children to listen to the song? (Ask questions that help the children understand the gospel message—for example, What? Where? Who? When? Why?—and state the questions in such a way that children can discover the answer as you sing the song.)
•  How can I encourage the children to sing the song? (Invite the children to sing the phrases that answer the questions. Vary the tempo and the volume to add meaning. Ask the children to listen to their singing without accompaniment. Expect the children to sit tall and to watch you carefully.) 
•  What testimony can I leave with the children that will strengthen them? (Bear your personal testimony, or read testimonies recorded in the scriptures.)