“Give yourself a big hooray!” Mr. Matt said during his “Matt the Music Man” show. Loud cheers echoed through the Westbury-Post Avenue campus as students smiled, giggled, and eagerly awaited their morning concert to start. To their delight, Mr. Matt performed everything from sing-alongs to magic tricks.
Activities like Mr. Matt support the most natural way preschoolers learn – through play.
To prepare for Mr. Matt’s visit, the Westbury-Post Avenue team set up a tent and chairs so that students from all four classrooms could enjoy the concert together. With his guitar, Mr. Matt invited students to sing along to popular children’s songs including “Mr. Golden Sun” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Students shared the spotlight by taking their turn on the mic. After singing, Mr. Matt reminded them to “give yourself a big clap!”
Children’s laughter rippled through the space when Mr. Matt brought out his many puppet pals—creating moments delighting children and adults.
“This is my jam for sure,” Connie Neylon, Special Education Teacher, said. Like many teachers, Connie sat among her classroom students, clapping and laughing.
Halfway through his program, Mr. Matt passed around drums for students to play. They especially liked the “chaotic part,” where Mr. Matt encouraged them to bang their drums as fast as they could.
Mr. Matt’s show was infused with positivity. After every exchange, he made sure to let students know how great a job they were doing as responsive audience members.
“I love that it’s so interactive,” Eileen Carter, Special Education Teacher, said. “He’s amazing! He’s holding their attention and the kids are having a blast.”
Mr. Matt’s ability to captivate students in such a nurturing way comes from his years of experience performing children and family shows at schools and community centers.
With more interactive surprises on the horizon, students will have plenty of opportunities to learn, laugh, and make lasting learning memories together.
