615 The Surprising Power of Music and Movement in Early Literacy

Send us Fan MailHow can music and movement help young children build stronger language and literacy skills?In this episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair, I sit down with Alyssa Jewell, MLIS, and Melissa McCall to explore how songs, rhythm, movement, and playful classroom experiences can support early literacy development in preschool and Pre-K classrooms.We talk about practical ways educators can use music to strengthen vocabulary, phonological awareness, listening skills, memory, and language development. Alyssa and Melissa also share tips for choosing materials, building literacy-rich routines, and creating engaging learning experiences that help children connect words, sounds, stories, and movement.Melissa also shares more about her newly released song and how educators can intentionally use music as a teaching tool throughout the day.This conversation is filled with simple ideas that childcare directors and teachers can immediately bring back to their classrooms to make literacy learning more joyful, active, and meaningful.Support the showThe Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education.WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day.To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com.Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.