Coming to a Nursery Near You

Archive for June 27th, 2008

That’s the tagline for Yummy English Snack Productions. As a home schooling family, finding anything to help my kids learn is always foremost in my mind. So when I received an email from William Avery, the creator of Cool Songs Collection and Times Table Fun, asking me if I’d like to review it, of course I said yes.

The day the cds arrived, I put the Cool Songs Collection in the cd player during breakfast and we listened to it over pancakes. Mr. Avery’s poems that he wrote while teaching English in Taiwan range from the Chinese Zodiac signs to seasonal and color themes. There’s 30 songs just on that one cd! Very creative and original, they had Zachary be-bopping in his high chair!

The Times Table Fun cd was a bit more challenging to sell, because as it turns out, Anthony has struggled with times table learning this year. He’s got MOST of them memorized, but not all. So when I put this on, he rolled his eyes and wanted to go to his room, but I asked him to please just sit there and listen – that, OMG – he MIGHT learn something.

By the time they got to the 5s, he was singing along. Libby was too, and of course, she has no idea WHAT the times tables are – but she was enjoying it nonetheless.

The music style isn’t what I’d consider “our” style – we’re more into country and/or rock – but the idea behind the songs is what I enjoyed. Making learning fun – making learning DELICIOUS – is what it’s all about with William Avery’s Song Collection. Also, you can listen to a sampling of several of the songs here.

Here is Mr. Avery’s recipe for Yesnack:

YESnack Recipe: 4 cups of creativity and teaching experiences. 4 cups of inspiration. 2 tablespoons of fun. Season with memorable melodies and groovy beats. Add a generous dash of happiness. Put in CD player and play for 70 to 90 minutes.

Here’s the best part! As part of my two year blogoversary celebration, I have an extra double-cd set for YOU! Yes, YOU! All you have to do is leave me a comment. Hmmm… for this one, tell me what your favorite kid’s song is/was. I will pick a random winner on June 30th!

Quote of the Day:
In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
–Henry Ward Beecher