Song of the Month

I CAN ADD
Author unknown

Learning through song has been proven a very effective method of teaching academic and cognitive information for memorization. The rhythm and the melody help embed the information in the brain to be easily retrieved. So here's a song to help with learning some basic addition facts. Using the traditional tune of "She'' Be Coming 'Round the Mountain," everyone can sing this song to help their child. People tend to remember the last words of a line easiest, so after singing the first four lines of each verse, leave the last word of the last line out to see if the student remembers and fills in the blank. "I know 1 plus 1 is 2, go tie your ______." If they don't remember, go ahead and sing the word for them, then repeat the whole verse for them again.

Once they've learned the rhyming word for the desired number, you're ready to move to the next step. Singing the chorus and verse, this time leave out the sum after singing the first four repetitions to see if the student will fill in the blank. "I know 1 plus 1 is _______." If they get it right, go ahead and sing the last phrase with the rhyming word. If they don't remember, go ahead and give it to them and sing "it rhymes with shoe" instead of "go tie your shoe." This gives them the clue needed to get it right next time. Then repeat the whole verse.

This should be fun and playful, maybe even add in some dancing or clapping to engage the child's sensorimotor system in the process. After the child has learned the equations, introduce visual aids such as flash cards or the written equations on paper, chalkboard, or with magnetic numbers on the refrigerator! Then you can move into the process of writing the correct answer down.

I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.
I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.
I am learning how to add, I am learning how to add,
I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.

I know 1 plus 1 is 2. Go tie your shoe.
I know 1 plus 1 is 2. Go tie your shoe.
I know 1 plus 1 is 2, I know 1 plus 1 is 2,
I know 1 plus 1 is 2. Go tie your shoe.

I know 2 plus 2 is 4. Go shut the door.
I know 2 plus 2 is 4. Go shut the door.
I know 2 plus 2 is 4, I know 2 plus 2 is 4,
I know 2 plus 2 is 4. Go shut the door.

I know 3 plus 3 is 6. Go pick up sticks.
I know 3 plus 3 is 6. Go pick up sticks.
I know 3 plus 3 is 6, I know 3 plus 3 is 6,
I know 3 plus 3 is 6. Go pick up sticks.

I know 4 plus 4 is 8. Go through the gate.
I know 4 plus 4 is 8. Go through the gate.
I know 4 plus 4 is 8, I know 4 plus 4 is 8,
I know 4 plus 4 is 8. Go through the gate.

I know 5 plus 5 is 10. Let's sing it again.
I know 5 plus 5 is 10. Let's sing it again.
I know 5 plus 5 is 10, I know 5 plus 5 is 10,
I know 5 plus 5 is 10. Let's sing it again.

I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.
I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.
I am learning how to add, I am learning how to add,
I am learning how to add, I'm very smart.

More Songs! - Past Song of the Month

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