Submitted by Teri Marconi, San Mateo, California

Idea posted June 13, 2003

I returned to the classroom this year after a two year leave-of-absence. I am so glad to be back and just have to say how much fun it is to be singing Music K-8 songs again! The parents and teachers are constantly asking me where I find all these great songs. Nine times out of ten, it is from Music K-8.

A favorite this year in the lower grades has been "Joggin' Jig" (from Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 4).

I have them run in place like a jogger, with their fists clenched, to the 4 beats on "joggin'" and then the students put their hands on their hips and kick-step, kick-step (like an Irish Jig) for "jig," also 4 beats. I have them keep running to the beat on the "Up Down, Up and Down, Up Down" section, raising their arms up then down on those words and then back to running in place for "joggin jig."

It's a fun little workout for everyone, and to those complainers I always say, "Oh come on... if I can do it, you can!" They get the message since I'm much older! (He, he.)

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