Teaching of rhymes and songs in Kandergarten_a case study of Agortemam Municipal Assembly basic school

Abstract

The topic for this study is the teaching of rhymes and songs at the Kindergarten and the primary objective of this study is to identify problems associated with the teaching of rhymes and songs at the Kindergarten, and how can these rhymes and songs be taught effectively. This study was conducted at Agorteman Municipal Assembly Basic School in Kwashiekuma Circuit in Ga West Municipality in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling method was used to select six teachers for semi-structured interview and twenty pupils for direct observation. The findings of the study were: most of the Kindergarten teachers do not have formal training in early childhood education, hence do not teach the rhymes and the songs effectively, there was no instructional material and instructional time for teaching of rhymes and songs, audio Visual Aids which can enhance effective teaching of rhymes and songs were also not used, the teachers do not write detail lesson note on rhymes and songs and the rhymes and songs were only used to arouse the pupils’ interest in literacy lessons. The following recommendations were made to enhance effective teaching of rhymes and songs at the Kindergarten; teachers at Kindergarten must have a formal training in ‘early childhood education’, instructional materials and a course book containing methods of teaching rhymes and songs as well as a refresher in-service-training should be provided for Kindergarten teachers for effective teaching of rhymes and songs at the Kindergarten. The teachers must write detailed lesson notes on rhymes and songs for effective teaching. Rhymes and songs should be made a full lesson on its own to be allocated enough periods for effective teaching.