The Best Children's Educational Music websites

We thought it would be a good idea to help teachers, parents and homeschoolers find websites to help their students and kids.
As we do more research, we will continue this series and update you with more information as we find more websites.
In our opinion, these are three websites worth a serious look:
1. http://www.discoverandlearn.net
2. http://www.childrens-music.org/
3. http://kidsmusic.about.com/

Educational Songs and Itunes

If you are still searching high and low for that magical teachers resource store, as a teacher, parent or homeschooler , your probably frustrated. Many of the large retailers, surprisingly do not have a large selection of materials for the classroom. They tend to focus more on supplies, pencils, folders, book bags etc.
There are still a few medium level outlets that sell educational materials, but they are few and far between.
Most administrators and teachers are going through a lot of catalogs and magazines to find material outside of the normal curriculum.
The good news is, a new tool for finding children's educational music is..Itunes, which comes from purchasing an ipod product.This gives you access to the Itunes Store once you install the software. It is a great experience. You put in a subject or title and hundreds of music choices pop up. Then you can listen to samples before you purchase.
Use Itunes as another resource for fun music and learning in the classroom.

The Best Educational Songs for Kids

We thought it would be a good idea to help teachers, parents and homeschoolers with a list of educational songs for kids. As we do more research, we will continue this series and update you with an additional list each month.
In our opinion these three are worthy of mention:
1. The ABC Funk Groove for Kidshttp://itunes.apple.com/us/album/learning-our-abcs-funk-groove/id395153634
Of course their is the traditional "ABC Song" we all grew up on. However, there is a really cool tune for kids that they will learn from just as fast and the song is really catchy.
2. States and Capitals with Gummie and Peter Puzzle
http://www.discoverandlearn.net/products.html
This find is more of a skit with a tune, but it is a very creative way to have kids learn their States and Capitals.
3. Math Help for Kids (find on Itunes)
Finally, a great collection for kids who are struggling with math.

Math Songs help struggling kids

Many kids by the time they reach 3rd or 4th grade start to struggle with math. In the United States, it is a crisis of low math test scores in math and science.
One problem is a shortage of math teachers overall, and in every group, there is always a group of bad apples. Of course the majority of math teachers are hard working and knowledgeable.
What we do know is, creativity, flexibility and patience will work.
Teachers that incorporate music, such as educational math songs, activities, group projects, games, contest and incentives, terms not usually associated with math, seem to have the most success.

Parents..be creative with your kids learning

If you've got kids, your probably aware that most of them are into some kind of music. Either their singing it around the house, watching a video, have their favorite star on their school folder or maybe a poster in their room. Most kids these days have an ipod or mp3 player. What's amazing is, the ages range from as low as five years old and up that meet this criteria.
If your a parent and your fimiliar with this scenario, you may want to try something.
Take your kids electronic device and download some music (if you know how) that you would want your kids to develop from. Maybe load some children's educational music, tell your kids to listen to it, then have them explain what they've learned.
Just another creative way to get something in your kids brains...Sorry Justin Beiber

Rest Time is Good for Kids

School can be a difficult thing for kids sometimes. Many of them get up very early in the morning to catch the bus. If they don't have uniforms, they have to find something to wear that won't put them in a negative category. They sometimes have to rush to eat, grab all of their assignments and homework, arrive at school, listen to their teachers lessons for the day, socialize with friends and hopefully understand the work that was given to them.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that this is just the way the world works and to be successful, you have to be a little tough.
However, hardworking good observant teachers are aware that sometimes during the day, kids just need to rest their brains. It's a good idea from time to time, to put on some nice soft rest time music and direct your students to take a deep breath and take a break.
By the way, as their teacher, you may enjoy it more than they will.

Teachers..Make Math Fun

When most of us hear the word math, certain images and thoughts come to mind. Maybe an accountant, or boredom, or difficult, nerdy or the phrase "oh oh". That is unfortunate. I recently observed a math teacher at a elementary school. I was amazed at the enthusiasm, energy and just down right fun the kids were having. Every kid had their hands up wanting to be the next one called. Even the ones that obviously were struggling, wanted to get in on the act.
Afterwards we spoke and I asked him his secret. He said" I don't want to be bored either." So he uses music, games, contest, characters and even story telling. Terms not usually associated with teaching math.
Math may be more left brain thinking, the side of the brain that is analytical, but don't forget to mix in the other side of the brain on the right, the creative side.
With a little "out of the box thinking" and some creativity, math can be just as enjoyable for kids as any other subject.

Kids learn through singing

Everybody remembers their "ABC song", thats pretty universal. The average american knows the theme to Sesame Street or if your 35 years or older, you probably remember a couple of School House Rock songs..conjuction juction, whats your function!
Something happens in the brain when kids sing. It's great for stimulating memory, and the right side of the brain, which is the creative side, gets a good kick. Math is also center stage, as music ,which is made up of notes, is actually a series of mathmatical equations.
So if you want your kids memory to be good, you want them to be creative and good at math, keep them singing songs that help them learn as much as possible.

The Phonics Song with Ms.Erika & Friends

If you are an educator, you know that it all starts with reading. When a child learns how to read, it opens up the whole world of learning.
This collection created by Discover and Learn contains Phonics 1 & 2. The first one is the basics of sounds and the second version is little more advanced with phrases. Great for word identification and reading. A great tool to use for kids who may be struggling or those who just need to practice the letter sounds.A great beat, singing and tune that kids will love to hear with Ms. Erika and her singing friends.This CD is excellent for K4 to 2nd grade students.

Math Songs for Sale

If you keep up with the news or any statistics that include data about education these days. I don't have to tell you that a high percentage of kids are struggling with math concepts and basics.
The Multiplication Song & Addition Rap created by Discover and Learn is the answer!
Broken down in groups of threes. 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 & 10 --- for each tune. Plus, the full version of the Subtraction Song! We did this to give kids the opportunity to concentrate on whichever numbers they may be struggling with or want to focus on the most.
Fun and exciting music tunes with Sleepy Sam, the Multiplication Kids and Dr. Discover himself.
This is one of our most popular CD’s in our collection. This collection is awesome for K5 to 4th grade students.

Learn the Solar System with the Nine planets gang

A wonderful collection to have introducing all the Nine planets and their characteristics and facts. Each planet has it’s own voice, personality and sound effects. Very helpful and fun describing the wonders of the galaxy. This CD will be fantastic for 1st grade to 4th grade students. Teachers and homeschoolers will love the for sale price and can be found at Discover and Learn.

States and Capitals with Peter Puzzle and Gummie

Listen to our two most popular characters sing and describe all 50 States and their Capitals with this wonderful skit & tune. Your kids will love learning about this wonderful country once they hear how excited Peter Puzzle & Gummie are about the United States of America. This wonderful skit and song is great for 1st grade to 4th grade students. This wonderful CD is for sale at a great price for teachers and schools.

Discover Itunes for Children's Music

Well, first there was the eight track, the LP or album depending on how old you are, the cassette tape, then of course the compact disc. Times have changed! You can now go shopping in your pajamas and house shoes, maybe, depending on your personality, just in your underwear. The digital age is here..and it's not going anywhere soon. In fact, it may be just beginning according to some. The good news is, it has made life a lot easier. No more worrying about parking, the weather, the crowds or traffic. Or for that matter, trying to find what you are looking for at a particular store. Im talking about the internet of course.
One company in particular, if you are looking for children's educational music or songs is... Itunes. Im sure by now you have at least heard of it. You can't throw a rock and not hit someone who does'nt download from their phone or computer these days. It is absolutely a great place to shop for great music for the classroom. Another added benefit in using this digital music service is, you can listen to samples before you purchase. Also, it is extremely cheap, only 99 cents per song on average. Once you have purchased a song , you can burn that song right to CD using the Itunes software.
So if you are a teacher, homeschooler, tutor or parent, look into buying your lastest music for your students the new digital way...and put some clothes on.

Music in the Classroom

Okay teachers, you have your desk setup,you have posters, calendars and artwork on the walls. You have thousands of worksheets, lesson plans, your teachers manuals are all bolded with yellow highlighter. You have a big bowl of candy, extra pencils sharpened, a nice big new stapler and a picture of you family on the desk. Your ready to go right?! Well maybe, you might want to consider one extra tool for your classroom instruction, a nice CD player and plenty of educational music to go with it.
Studys have shown that students, especially elementary age, absolutely love learning though music and songs. Not to mention, it makes the classroom setting a lot less mundane, keeps the kids moving and thinking, and makes the day seem to go a lot faster for teachers.
A really good place to start and a great place to find such materials is on the internet. You'll find many companies offer subjects such as: Phonics, States and Capitals, Addtion and Multiplication and a lot more.
Take the time to explore music in the classroom, it will be well worth it.

Music and its Educational Benefits

Music can be beneficial to several areas of development. First, music builds social skills and that it brings people together. Secondly, music is emotional and helps to bring about certain memories and brings about a change in our mood. Thirdly, music helps with physical development. Music can help us to get moving and bring about activity. Lastly, music helps with cognitive development. Music put to educational songs, can help children learn and retain numbers, letters and sounds (“ABC song”). Incorporating music can also help make learning enjoyable.

Music Makes Smart Kids

Music helps to build certain pathways in the brain. Over time, the connections or pathways we use regularly become stronger. Children who grow up listening to music develop strong music-related connections. Some of these music pathways or connections actually affect the way we think. Researchers believe that musical training creates new pathways in the brain.
Studies seem to suggest that listening to music, especially classical music, improves our spatial skills. "The Mozart Effect" suggests that listening to classical music helps the brain retain the information longer then listening to other types of music. This idea was so popular, that in the late 1950s, parents everywhere began to try to expose their children to more classical music. Even the governor of Georgia proposed a budget allowing for every baby born in Georgia to receive a classical music CD. Research suggests that the complexity of classical music is what primes the brain to solve spatial problems more quickly.
Children who play a musical instrument seem to have an even greater benefit. Children who are in a band or orchestra seemed to do better with social and emotional development. Learning an instrument like the recorder or violin helps with hand-eye coordination. Reading music helps children think differently. Children who can maintain a steady beat have a greater fluency in their reading. The music we sing provides vocabulary enrichment, teaches tenses and plurals, uses poetic language, allows visualization, and encourages good pronunciation. When teachers us music to teach subjects, children tend learn faster and to retain the information better. Listening to music also seems to help in the healing process, improves physical performance, productivity and induces sleep.
Based on the research provided, music and music instruction should be part of the core curriculum in every early childhood program. Music can be implemented and is beneficial to children's educational skills.

Music and Early Brain Development

Music is a powerful tool that works on all levels of development: socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively.
Because children love music, social interaction between adults and children using music can makes the interaction easier.
Music affects our emotions and can be used to calm and sooth a child who is having a hard day. Music should be used when a child has colic or is ill. Music also helps in the building of greater self-esteem
Music causes children to want to move about and helps children learn about rhythm, timing, orientation, and coordination.
Also, music has been known to affect children's educational and learning abilities and is linked to improved math, memory and reading skills. Music enhances intelligence, learning and IQ.