What is HeidiSongs?
Learning can be fun! Research shows and studies support that in order to get the best learning outcome possible, children need to actively and simultaneously use as many of their senses as they can when they learn and practice.
HeidiSongs is the creation of Heidi Butkus, who has been teaching in California public schools since 1985 with experience in preschool, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grades! Combining a strong knowledge of brain research with practical experience, Heidi has created a wealth of fun and engaging teaching techniques that work well with diverse populations. She has written over 500 songs that are used and enjoyed in classrooms around the world!
And now, did you hear? HeidiSongs has internet videos! You can visit HeidiSongs to get your class up, moving, and happily learning, with no DVD player required, and no ads, ever!!!
But where should you start? ThinkFives asked Heidi to share with us the best videos for teachers and kids, plus info on how you can try it out for free! Here’s the Top 5 list.
Phonics Videos
Coming in at number 5 are HeidiSongs’ Phonics Videos. These are great for teaching high flying kindergartners and first graders the sounds for vowel pairs, such as -ea, -ee, -ai, -ou, igh, etc.
Also, the videos for the digraphs, such as th, sh, and ch are a fun way to practice these sounds. Plus, each video has an optional section afterwards that helps kids practice sounding out words with those spelling patterns, too.
CVC Word Family Videos
Another great video to start is HeidiSongs’ CVC Word Family Videos. These are especially helpful for kids that struggle with sounding out short vowel words consistently, and they are perfect for kindergarten!
Heidi recommends that you play them as a fun intervention activity! Then you can have students try to read a few of those words together.
Number Jumble 0-30
Another great video in the HeidiSongs’ catalog and one of her favorite video collections is Number Jumble 0-30. These videos help kids review how to recognize and write the numbers from 0-30, count to 100, etc. They are also especially helpful for teaching the numbers “two-teen,” and “three-teen,” “five-teen,” and “two-zero.”
Alphabet Videos
In second place, Heidi recommends the HeidiSongs Alphabet videos. Heidi wrote one song to teach kids what the letters look like, as well as how they sound! We dare you to find another set of alphabet videos that teach the letters and sounds better than this collection.
And the very best one of all? The song Alphabet Action, which is a three-minute review of every letter, its sound, and an action to go with each one.
Sight Word Videos
Topping the list of Heidi’s recommended videos for your classroom is the HeidiSongs collection of Sight Word Videos. Sing these songs with your kids, and they will be able to both read and spell the words you are trying to teach them!
This is hands-down the most efficient and fun way to teach sight words, ever! After they have learned each song, we recommend that you have the kids write the words as the videos play to help cement those words into long term memory. Before you know it, your kiddos will be singing these songs as they write their sentences!
Where can I find Heidi’s videos?
Want to try these videos with your class? You can get a free 30-day trial, and you can cancel any time! Choose one or two collections of videos to rent, (prices start at $1 per month with a 3-month minimum – or the entire catalog for $9.99 per month.)
Want it all free? Refer a friend or parent, and for each person that signs up, you get another free month added on to your subscription! We also take school purchase orders.
What is your favorite HeidiSong song or video?
this sounds a lot of fun!
So fun! Music helps kids learn and remember so much.
I hadn’t heard of these videos before. Thanks for sharing!