Educator writes the book on teaching with rhymes
By AMANDA CUDA, Staff writer, CT Post
BRIDGEPORT — “ Rocka- bye baby, in the treetop, when the wind blows, the cradle will rock...”
As Joyce Gerber sang the words to that familiar nursery rhyme, she gently rocked an imaginary baby in her arms. Tentatively, the group of nearly a dozen preschool- aged children gathered in a classroom at Housatonic Community College’s Early Childhood Laboratory School began to follow suit.
When they were done singing the song, Gerber had them do it again. But this time, she had the children pair up. Gerber told them to sit, legs outstretched, feet touching, and hold hands. The kids then rocked back and forth while singing the soothing nursery rhyme.
Then, Gerber decided to read the kids a new nursery rhyme. But the tykes still had the previous tune caught in their heads, and some continued humming “ Rock- a- Bye Baby” after Gerber had moved on. “ You really liked that ‘ Rock- aBye Baby,’” she mused.
Gerber wasn’t surprised that the children responded so strongly to the simple tune. The longtime educator and Connecticut native is the author of the soon- tobe- released book “ Teaching with Heart: Educational Activities for Teachers & Parents using Traditional Nursery Rhymes.”
The book contains a number of beloved nursery rhymes, including “ Rock- aBye Baby,” along with vivid, colorful illustrations by Gerber’s friend Caroline Lygo and a bevy of handson activities centered on the rhymes.
Gerber, a retired professor and coordinator of early childhood education at Housatonic, has more than 30 years of teaching experience. “ Teaching with Heart” is her first book, and she wrote it with the intent of helping parents and teachers encourage child development through the use of nursery rhymes, which she sees as a valuable educational tool. “ I always felt nursery rhymes were important,” Gerber said. “ They’re done with very simplistic language. They have a meter to them. They give children an understanding of language.”
Though she now lives in Maryland, Gerber travels to Connecticut frequently to work as an education consultant at area schools. That includes occasional stops by her former place of employment, Housatonic. On Tuesday she was at the Laboratory School to read to the children and do some of the activities from her book. The school is part of HCC’s Early Childhood Education Program, and is a fully functional preschool for the children of students, faculty, staff and community members.
The classroom where Gerber read was helmed by teacher Yotisse Williams, a former pupil of Gerber’s. Williams agreed with Gerber that nursery rhymes are useful for teachers, particularly those working with young children who are still developing their language skills. “ There’s a predictable pattern of words,” he said, of the rhymes.
That pattern makes the ditties easy for the kids to learn and understand. Gerber said that learning is enhanced when children can act out the rhymes, as they did when “ rocking” that imaginary baby.
But nursery rhymes can be used to teach children a lot more than language. If used correctly, they can also encourage critical thinking, socialization and physical development. In the book, each rhyme is accompanied by activities that focus on these different areas of learning. For instance, when Gerber had the children at Housatonic rock back and forth while s i n g i n g “ Ro c k - a - B ye Baby,” she was helping them hone motor skills through simple move ments.
Of course, the kids at Housatonic’s Laboratory School didn’t know that. They were just having fun playing and reciting the rhymes. Along with “ Rocka- bye,” Gerber also read the children “ This Little Piggy,” and “ Little Jack Horner.”
When she was done, she left a copy of the book behind for the class. Williams said he enjoyed the reading and liked the ways that the activities in the book can be used to encourage different areas of learning. “ There’s a lot of possibilities there,” Williams said.
“ Teaching with Heart” is scheduled to be released next week. To order a copy, or for more information, visit www.teachingwithheart.
net.
Nursery rhymes can be used to teach children a lot more than language. If used correctly, they can also encourage critical thinking, socialization and physical development.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu