TAMIU Prof’s Work Part of National Series

Teachers from across the nation—perhaps around the world—using “DLM Early Childhood Express” will now have the opportunity to listen, sing and move to the bilingual music arrangements from the latest new co-author for this series, Texas A&M International University music education professor, Dr. Gilberto D. Soto.

This marks the fourth national series in which Dr. Soto has been invited to co-author since 2004. The others include national reading series “Treasures” (“Tesoros de Lectura”), national mathematics series (“Matemáticas”) and national music series “Spotlight on Music.”

“ ‘DLM Early Childhood Express’ is a comprehensive, research-based bilingual program created according to state and national early-childhood guidelines. The program links language and early literacy, math, science, social studies, fine arts, health and safety, personal and physical development, and technology,” said Soto.

Materials include lesson plans with 36 engaging and relevant weekly themes complete with activities that help children make connections, expand on experiences and build new knowledge of a variety of topics.

As the new music education bilingual co-author and researcher for the “DLM Early Childhood Express,” Soto said he contributed to the series by involving the use of hands-on music activities through the program, linking the themes and units with his own bilingual music arrangements, which leads teachers to create hands-on music activities related to such units and themes.

“I was approached during the summer of 2010 after some of DLM executives saw my lecture presentation at the Early Childhood Summer Institute,” he recalled.

Soto researched and completed the music arrangements during the 2010 fall semester. His music arrangements and lesson plans were implemented in January of this year.

Currently, several states have approved the “DLM Early Childhood Express” curriculum for their pre-k programs, including Arkansas, Florida, California and Texas, among others.

Soto, who is also a professor of guitar, teaches early childhood bilingual music education courses, supervises and directs the guitar studio and is also the director of the TAMIU Guitar Ensemble.

He is the sole author of the bilingual music education books “Fiesta de Canciones,” “Music of Our World, Mexico,” and co-author of the ELL book, “Multi-level Strategies for English Language Learners,” and has written music education articles to “Southwestern Musician” and “Music Express.”

Soto holds a bachelor’s in education from the Universidad Autónoma del Noreste, a bachelor’s in music from Abilene Christian University, and a M.M. and Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268 or email prmis@tamiu.edu.

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