Kindergarten teacher uses songs to take on difficult subjects

Posted: May 22, 2012 5:06 PM by Andy Koen
Updated: May 22, 2012 5:59 PM

In Christina Watson's classroom at Audubon Elementary, you'll meet some of the brainiest kids in the city. Thanks to a couple of catchy jingles she wrote, the five and six year olds know the difference between their frontal, parietal and occipital lobes and the various fucntion they control.

Watson took masters courses in brain development at Colorado College this school year and says her students showed interest in her work.

"The kids wanted to learn songs about that," Watson explained. "So, we went ahead and I created some songs and they learned the songs and now they know quite a bit of information."

In her 23 years in the classroom, Watson has taught reading to 2nd graders, math to 6th graders and just about about everything in between. But she says kindergarten holds a special place in her heart.

"They're such a huge growth from the beginning of kindergarten to the end of kindergarten," Watson said. "You have a lot of satisfaction in any grade you teach, but the vast amount of change that is evident is really huge in kindergarteners."

While dramatic transformation excites her for each new school year, it's Watson's excitement for learning that makes her our Teacher First recipient for the Month of May.