I love using children’s literature in the music classroom whenever I can. After paging through “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anne Dewdney, I noticed that there are two recurring rhythmic patterns in the text:

With these repeating patterns, I knew I could use it to prepare or practice “ta” and “ti-ti.” When preparing quarter notes and eighth notes, I use the terms “long” for one sound on a beat and “short-short” for two sounds on a beat. Last week, after presenting “long” and “short-short,” I read the book “Llama Llama Red Pajama.” Then we did the following:

• Discussed what happened in the story (students can make real life connections to their bedtime routines)
• Read the first few pages again and had students clap the rhythm as they spoke the text
• Focused on one page and had students figure out the rhythm with “long” and “short-short.” I downloaded this file from SMART Exchange so that the pictures from the story could be projected onto the SMART board, and then we could write the corresponding patterns on the SMART board: http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=1726685f-9dda-4e5d-91ed-87298247e317.

There is a series of “llama llama” books, including “Llama Llama Time to Share,” “Llama Llama Home with Mama,” “Lllama Llama Misses Mama,” and more.

Other great books for “ta” and “ti-ti” include “Orange Pear Apple Bear” by Emily Gravett, “Please Puppy Please” by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, and “Doggone Dogs” by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow.

Lookimg for more ideas for ta and ti-ti? Check out my “Songs and Activities for Teaching Ta and Ti-Ti” on Teachers Pay Teachers: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Songs-and-Activities-to-Teach-Ta-and-Ti-Ti.

The product includes:

• Notation and games for five songs/chants
• Composition mini-lessons for “Orange Pear Apple Bear”
• Learning center directions
• Flashcards
• Three SMART board files (Surprise Symphony, koosh ball, and form work)
• Pre- and post- tests
• Picture worksheet

Have any other great books for ta and ti-ti? Please list them below. Happy reading!