Communication is a common need for special education students. Here is one example of how a music therapist can help!

I wrote this Thank You Song several years ago to address one of my student’s signing goals in special education.  Since then it has become a favorite and is a great way to teach the concept of saying thank you while giving space for practice, and examples for application. You can listen and find the chords and lyrics below. It is very simple in structure and tonality but the timing and harmony is such that it creates a sense of expectation for the key phrase “thank you”. Most students begin to anticipate it after just a few verses. The timing also lends itself nicely to a rhythmic sign of “thank you” right to the music! Enjoy 🙂

THANK YOU SONG

Thank You Song

by Jaycie Voorhees

             D                                           A              D
When someone does something nice I tell them Thank You (2x)
A                D              A             D
Thank you thank you thank you thank you
A         D                                           A              D
When someone does something nice I tell them thank you

When Mommy gives me food to eat, I tell her thank you…
When someone shares a toy with me…
When teacher helps me tie my shoe…
When someone does something nice…

I hope you can use this song with your special education students! Best of luck to you.