Description

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Young children play and learn together with lively dance chants.

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove brings movement into homes and early childhood classrooms with rhythmic chants for children to move and dance to. Designed to link movement, language, and rhythm, the chants are for children and adults to do together, saying the words while performing the movement prompts.

Step and clap, step and clap,
As we do our waving rap!
Wave your arms, way up high.
Reach your fingers to the sky.

Woven throughout Tap and Rap, Move and Groove are many opportunities for children to contribute their own ideas and explore movement possibilities, nurturing creative thinking, problem-solving, and self-expression. Dance chants also provide language benefits, as children incorporate new vocabulary, recognize rhythm, repeat the sequence of words and movements, and learn how the chants partner with specific movements.

No music is required for the dance chants, but it can be added. Tap and Rap, Move and Groove includes information for adults who want to enhance and expand the dance activities with music, props, varied words, and movements.

About the Author

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Connie Bergstein Dow has an MFA from the University of Michigan and is the author One, Two, What Can I Do? Dance and Music for the Whole Day; Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers; From A to Z with Energy; and Tap and Rap, Move and Groove. She has also written a preschool teacher handbook for WeTHRIVE! with movement activities that address the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards for language arts and mathematics and contributed to the development of a dance curriculum for the Ohio Department of Education Model Arts Curriculum. Connie has also written articles for Highlights High Five, Teaching Young Children and Young Children (NAEYC), and Early Childhood News. She divides her time between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Boulder, Colorado.

Praise For…

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“Tap and Rap, Move and Groove is a cleverly written children’s activity book that will unlock and captivate the heart of any child, while teaching useful sensory life skills. The amazing illustrator truly captured the perfect formula for a child to embrace learning, by focusing on diversity, inclusiveness, and having fun while doing creative activities that explore, develop, and stimulate the child’s mind through the art of creative movement. I love this book!”
— Ka-Ron Brown Lehman, retired dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor for 58 years

“Author Connie Bergstein Dow and illustrator Debbie Palen have created a joy-filled guide to truly imaginative movement activities. Tap and Rap, Move and Groove?is a treasure chest of thoughtfully developed and playfully combined words, sounds, rhythms, numbers, and illustrations expressing a range of emotions. This classroom guide is sure to spark the imaginations and lift the spirits of young children.”
— Christopher Watson, Ph.D., former co-director, Center for Early Learning and Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

“I dare you to read through Connie Bergstein Dow’s Tap and Rap, Move and Groove and not want to start dancing with young children immediately! The collection of fourteen imaginative dance chants, such as ‘Lively Feet,’ ‘One, Two, Cha-Cha-Cha,’ and ‘Tappitty Rap’ is sure to delight movers of all ages. With lively illustrations of young children in motion by Debbie Palen, and easy-to-follow instructions on how to successfully introduce and use the chants in group settings, this is a must-read for any early childhood educator or parent. Highly recommended!”
— Lynn Slaughter, former professional dancer/dance educator and award-winning novelist

“Connie Bergstein Dow’s new book is filled with ideas on how to reach and interest young?children. Teachers of this creative and energetic age group will gain so many wonderful ideas from this delightful book. In addition, the illustrations are absolutely marvelous and inspiring.”
— Elizabeth Weil Bergmann, retired dance director, Harvard University