Messages from the Super Simple Songs Inbox

These songs can help me to bring a good atmosphere and some fun into my classrooms.
I like learn it versions of the songs (and my students too), because I don't have to do anything. I don´t have to copy the lyrics of the song or write the text on the blackboard. I only pre-teach some needed vocabulry and my students are able to sing the song very quickly.
My students´ favourite are action songs: The Pinocchio, The Hokey Pokey, The Bath song... It makes them very happy when teacher washes her feet during lessons and does lots of actions with them.

Thank you for everything (for beautiful songs, new teaching ideas, useful flashcards...)

Lenka Syrova, Czech Republic (website)

Your songs are a hit in my classes. My kids love the rhythm and the lyrics, not to mention that fact they they can move around!!!

Patricia Soares, Portugal

If you're a pre-school ESL teacher with just a little experience these CDs will make it effortless and fun just like teaching kids should be!

Mary- Osaka, Japan

I must tell you that your CDs have been a success. I've tried them for 4 days now and children love the songs. I played "Hello, Hello" and "Walking, Walking" for the 4 and 5 year-old students and they wanted to listen to it once and again. Today, after my lesson with them, they didn't want to leave so I played the "walking, walking" song once more and they did the gestures and sang some parts of the song without me. I also tried the "Pinocchio" one with my 8-9 year-old students and although the boys were a bit reluctant to follow my gestures, they had fun at the end and wanted to do it again during the next lesson (especially the girls).

Mónica Guillén Dorrego, Spain

I'm happy I bought the 3 cd set for my classes. This year i'm teaching for the first time to 5-7 years old children and it's very difficult to get their interest. I bought the cd and I tried the day after. as i'm a musician, I can remember easily lyrics and sing them. The kids loved the songs ( Five little pumpkins, Hello, Make a circle and Trick or Treat) . Thanks sooo much. You saved me!

Sarah, Belgium

I find your CD's just fantastic and just the thing I needed to refresh and upgrade my teaching style. The kids come out of the classes singing the songs. And a parent told me her son broke out into singing the bath song in the bath! I had only sung the song with the boy once. Thank you.

Luc Hyatt, Nagasaki, Japan

I am excited - it really is super simple, my ESL preschoolers enjoy it and we are using the songs to teach the kids the abc of English in a very funny way. Thank you.

Dita Spurkova, Czech Republic

My name is Martina Criscaut and I live in a small town between Venice and Trieste. I just found your webpage 3 days ago and yesterday I downloaded all 3 cd's !!

I believe that you are the answer to my "prayers". I have been assigned 21 ( twenty-one !) 5 yr old children to teach English to !! It's only once a week for an hour and I can't divide them,. I was going crazy wondering how to teach them some songs..until I found your site ! The fact that the songs are simple and not fast...is what I was looking for ! The worst part is that I have to prepare them for an "end of school year " show where they have to sing at least 2 songs ! ( I love the Say Cheese Song !)..so having your songs I feel much better.

I just wanted to thank you for what you are doing and I will let you know how it goes!!

Martina, Italy

Thanks for composing and singing so many much needed songs...just the kind of songs I'd been searching high and low for so many years, with mixed results. The kids we've had the chance to introduce a few songs to have really enjoyed them and it's great to see them break into a smile when either the tempo changes suddenly or an action is called for.

Paul Evans, englishpool.net, Tokyo, Japan

Super Simple Songs has simply changed the way we teach children. Music has now become a big part of our lesson plan, whereas before it was something fun to do if it could be squeezed in. We've always loved songs and have wanted to use them more, but it was so hard finding fun songs that were easy for the children to sing along to. These are the first CDs I've heard that really had the children in mind when they were made. Instead of buying a CD for one or two good songs that the kids will enjoy and be able to sing along to, every Super Simple song can be taught, memorized and applied with little extra effort. Our teachers are very happy with Super Simple Songs. Thank You Knock Knock English for making teaching English that much easier.

Shane Jones, Dekiru English House--Tochigi, Japan

The Super Simple Songs CD 1 and 2 are superb! I love them and I have used them with my students in Brazil. Their ages range from 3 to 6 year old. They really enjoy them and they have had a lot of fun acting out while they are singing. Thanks very much for such creativity!

Risa, Brazil

This CD is a godsend! I teach English to 4 and 5 year olds in Italy and found this to be the most effective way to teach the kids...They all love singing them and actually learn while having fun! Bravo!!!

D. Sean Smith, Italy

I work with different age groups in France. The 2 CDs "Super Simple Songs" are just great, the kids find them great fun. I noticed that it is easy for the kids to participate because there aren't too many words to remember. At last I've found what I've been looking for!!!!

Lena, France

I purchased Super Simple Songs and Super Simple Songs 2 and I love them both. Just like the first CD there are songs that have the slower version and then a faster version. This special feature allows the children in my class the time to hear and learn the words to the song before introducing the faster paced version.

Jan Scalsky, Texas, U.S.A.

As a former ESL and 1st grade teacher, I found the songs and materials on Super Simple Songs to be extremely useful and entertaining! Children will easily engage with the catching rhymes of many old family and classroom favorites, as well as some great new originals.

Paula Conley, 2005 Idaho Teacher of the Year

I just started working with a little girl in our clinic who has autism two weeks ago and at the end of each of our sessions, we play Bye Bye Goodbye from Super Simple Songs 3. We need a clear and pleasant ending because kids love coming to play with us and often have a melt down when it is time to leave. This little girl's mom told us that she had stopped going to the library because her daughter had such an embarrassing temper tantrum whenever they left the library. Mom tried it again this week and as she feared, her daughter fell to the floor and wailed when she tried to leave. Mom suddenly remembered the Bye Bye Goodbye Song and started singing. Much to her amazement, her daughter stood up, put her coat on, and walked out of the library singing with her.

One of the songs we have been using with children who have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome is Rock Paper Scissors, from Super Simple Songs 2. In this game we pull parents, siblings, and the child with Asperger Syndrome into a circle on the floor and and listen to the song on the CD. Then we all take a turn chanting the song and offering imaginative new ideas in the middle part. We might chant, for exampe "Right Hand Paper, Left hand Rock--It's a Baseball and Mitt!". For a child with any form of autism, including Asperger Syndrome, it is much easier to get the child started with social pretend play activities if the imaginative part of the play is sandwiched in a very predictable structure. The child feels so confident and happy doing the structured part of the game that the imaginative part does not seem overwhelming. This song/game is structured just right and kids request that we play it.

Tahirih Bushey M.A.C.C.C Speech & Language Pathologist (website)

I have used this CD in the Preschool Special Education setting and my students have been requesting to hear songs from it daily during circle time.

Michelle Nakazato, Hawaii, U.S.A.

Excellent for teaching English to preschool hard of hearing students and deaf students with cochlear implants. The words are are very clear and the music has a good beat. The CD has a collection of original songs, traditional songs and traditional songs with new words substituted which is great for vocabulary development. There is a nice balance of sit down songs and songs with a lot of movement. Kids love them.

Barbara Jo German

In my class for students with autism, we use this CD all day long! The songs with the 'learn' feature at a slower speed helps my students to pick up on the individual words. Incorporating music into our daily routines, morning meeting/calendar/work time/play time/clean up/goodbye, etc. really motivates my students-- And there's a song for just about every routine that we do!

Michelle P., Florida, U.S.A.

As a teacher of young students with autism, I love this CD. My students respond well to music, and we use it as a cue to call kids to the table, during activities, for clean up, etc. The slower pace of the songs makes it easier for my kids to learn. The practice and learn features are great!

Michelle, Florida, U.S.A.

I've been playing the CD to my daughter (who is now 15 months old) ever since she was 6 months old. Now every time the CD begins she grins ear to ear. She is learning to knock knock, point up and down, sit down, spin in a circle. It's wonderful. We love it!

Melissa Hinnant, Florida, U.S.A.

I took this to my son's preschool so they could play it in his classroom, and ALL the kids loved it! They would stop what they were doing to listen, then they ran around the room dancing and making up hand gestures that went along with the songs. My son is 3 years old, and he calls this his "Big Boy Music" and demands to hear it several times a day. He can even sing some of the songs, as they are very easy to understand. I would definately recommend this cd to anyone with preschoolers or younger kids, as they get an opportunity to dance and have fun, and it is even enjoyable for parents too!

Caran Johnson, Oregon, U.S.A.

I have purchased several CD's for my 2.5 year old son that he enjoys. However, when a co-worker gave me Super Simple Songs, it became the favorite CD asked for over and over. It is the only CD that I also enjoy and never tire of playing for him. I highly recommend.

Anonymous in San Jose California

Having 3 active boys under the age of 4 (twins), was not conducive to quiet story times. It is a delight to pop this CD in the player and have wonderful soft music and interact with my first granddaughter, Savannah. She and I have bonded over Super Simple Songs. And, I too can now touch my nose, knees and toes!

Marcia Stead, Florida, U.S.A.

My daughter loves to sing and dance and play, and I want her to learn English. With Super Simple Songs, we get all of that in a most effective and pleasurable way.
We play the music whenever she wants to hear it.
In an active way...dancing to it like recommended on the website to have fun. For the first weeks, the slow versions are very important!
Watching the demo videos to see how other kids have fun or counting the monkeys in the Five Little Monkeys.
Quiet music in the background while playing something else. (Very effective!)
In the car, not to be bored driving long distances. (The bus song is very important in the car.)
In the morning to wake up (Hello, Hello from Super Simple Songs 1).
In the evening to fall asleep (Lullaby medleys work great for that.)
And it's completely impossible to go to Kindergarten if she isn't able to hear The Wheels on the Bus before.

"Julia (3 years old) says: "eowibnwöihj woijöwehg olih hwefö" (that's Julia typing). Translation: "The bus song is my favorite! And 5 little monkeys, too." (Note from daddy: And all the other songs, too!)

Steffen, Andrea & daughter Julia, Germany

We found out about your songs and videos from youtube. My children (Genki, almost 3, and Hana, 15 months) really love the slower rhythm and sing-a-long-ability. And Mom and Dad don't cringe when the music comes on (I can only handle so many Wiggles songs in the car...).

Best of success to you and Knock Knock.

Susan, Florida

A big thank you to everyone for all these words of encouragement!! We love to hear from you !