MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN ENGLISH CLASSES FOR YOUNG LEARNERS THROUGH SONGS

Nury Supriyanti

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta

Educating children covers the

maintenance of discipline in

schools and among the children.

The ultimate goal of child discipline :

to foster sound judgment and morals

through which the children can learn,

develop and maintain self discipline for

the rest of their lives.

English classes for children are good

places to develop children‟s discipline

because learning language may also

mean learning what the language brings

with it.

Reasons for using songs and

chants

(Brewster: 2001)

A LINGUISTIC RESOURCE

New language introduced,

Structure and vocabulary reinforced and recycled

Familiar language presented in new and exciting

form in rich, imaginative context

lots of natural and enjoyable repetition provided

skills developed in an integrated way

skills developed in an integrated way

all aspects of pronunciation improved

A PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCE

Fun and motivating, help develop positive attitude

toward the target language

Non threatening especially for inhibited and shy

children ( feeling secure when singing in group or

in class)

A feeling of achievement developed

Confidence in learning built

An act of „showing off”

A COGNITIVE RESOURCE

Concentration, memory and coordination developed

Children sensitized to rhyming as an aid to meaning

Ability to predict what comes next through repetition

The actions or gestures accompanied help reinforce

meaning.

Children‟s high level of energy given positive outlet

The pace and the atmosphere of learning changed

A CULTURAL RESOURCE

Authentic and contributing to the cultural component

in a language program

Enabling children to compare their culture (notice the

rhyme “ Baa baa black sheep” and “ bebek adus

kali”)

A SOCIAL RESOURCE

Singing and chanting together is a social shared

experience and help to develop a class and group

identity

Songs can be used for performances or shows which

an effective drive for learning

HOW TO USE SONGS IN TEACHING AND

LEARNING FOR MAINTAINING

DISCIPLINES IN ENGLISH LESSONS FOR

YOUNG LEARNERS

Classroom management which is child

friendly can be designed by integrating

songs, rhymes and chants in some or even

all and every single step of the classroom

management.

Routines and patterns which are encouraged

by experts are exploited to introduce the

discipline or the rules to the children

TO CREATE CHILD FRIENDLY

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

To line up the children in entering the class

Let’s go in, let’s go in, let’s go in

to make the children sit before

class begins

Sit down, sit down

you’re rocking a boat

Sit down, sit down

you’re rocking a boat

to greet the children

Good morning to you

Good morning to you

Good morning dear children

Good morning to you

to get prepared for an opening

prayer

Rolling rolling up up

Rolling rolling down down

Rolling rolling up up

Rolling rolling in

to practice a long greeting

Teacher : Hi, How are you?

A child : I’m fine

Teacher : Hi, How are you?

A child : I’m fine, how are you?

Teacher : I’m fine, I’m fine. Thank

you

to check attendance

Teacher : Where is Doni?

Teacher : Where is Doni?

Doni : Here I am, here I am.

Teacher : How are you this morning?

Teacher : How are you this morning?

Doni : Well and fine. Well and fine.

to check attendance

I’m table number one, number one,

number one

I’m table number one

Where is number two?

to give instruction

Follow me, follow me, hands up, hands up

Follow me, follow me, hands down, hands down

Follow me, follow me, hands up hands up,

Follow me, follow me, turn around

CLOSING

There are more songs and chants for more

activities

Resources are unlimited so what we need is

creativity

Enjoy your class and your children‟s smiles

THANK YOU