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My goal is to try and give children a song to make them smile. In this world of technology and negativity, I want to give them something sweet and innocent and FUN. Maybe that's why what I do is appealing to high school kids - it's so opposite the world in which they live. If interviewed, I would tell people to "turn it off" and start talking and interacting with each other. I would mention that God is good and that he loves us and wants us to be happy. I would talk about how precious and wonderful children are. "The opera ain't over til' the fat lady sings." The response to my YouTube Channel has encouraged me to keep on singing and dancing, and I thank all of you for your interest. Kids, parents and teachers could improve learning by singing every day in class and at home. Here are the top ten reasons to SING every day! 1. When you sing your brain emits endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! Emotions are critical to learning. 2. Music is multi-sensory. The more senses you get going to the brain, the more likely the message will get there. 3. Music is powerful for prior-learning. If children are exposed to concepts while singing, it is easier for them to learn when formally introduced. 4. Music nurtures phonemic awareness (alliteration, rhyme, etc.). 5. Songs and chants are a natural way to develop oral language and auditory memory. 6. Poems and songs lay a foundation for fluency and enhance short term memory. 7. Children are able to use their imaginations and create pictures in their brains when they sing. This is an important part of reading comprehension. 8. Repetition is a key to learning. It is much more fun to repeat songs than worksheets! 9. Singing and dancing relieve stress and oxygenate the brain. 10. Through music and movement ALL children can feel successful. A “community of learners” is enhanced when teachers and children enjoy something together! There was a study that was reported on National Public Radio called “Alive Inside.” In the research study they made iPods of songs that had a special significance to patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. These patients didn’t recognize family members, but when they heard the music they tapped their feet, sang the words, and smiled! So many things that we do in our classrooms will be forgotten, but the songs will be stored in children’s brains for a lifetime! What a privilege to be able to do this!