If you have been around the blog, you'll know that I've been on a mission to include books into my music classes. I've done lessons with favorites like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?, and today I am sharing some of my favorite Black History Month Books for… Continue reading 10 Best Black History Month Books for Elementary Music
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The Best Music Engagement Strategies for Distance Learning
Who would have thought that we would still be dealing with distance learning in 2021? Whether you are brand new to teaching music online, or your students are losing steam because it's been so long, this post has some of the best distance learning engagement strategies. I've been teaching from home March-December. I am writing… Continue reading The Best Music Engagement Strategies for Distance Learning
Greatest Lesson Ideas For Sleigh Ride In Elementary Music
Let's go for a Sleigh Ride... This is the unofficial soundtrack to the holidays. This is a classical piece students are familiar with-- so use it to your advantage and use it in your elementary music classroom! I was in choir all through middle and high school (and college and now...). At my high school,… Continue reading Greatest Lesson Ideas For Sleigh Ride In Elementary Music
Greatest Music Activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah (teaching half note!)
One of my new favorite December lessons is the song Hanukkah, Hanukkah. There are a lot of different music activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah that you can do, but I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorites! When looking for holiday songs last December, I really looked for songs and lessons where students… Continue reading Greatest Music Activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah (teaching half note!)
How to Use Boom Cards in Elementary Music
Have you ever heard of Boom cards? I learned about them in Spring of 2020, although, if we're honest, I did NOT have the brain space to think about them because..... #corona Later that summer, though, I investigated Boom cards, and I'm in love! Using boom cards in elementary music has been so great for… Continue reading How to Use Boom Cards in Elementary Music
How to Use PDFs on Teachers Pay Teachers Digitally
Did you know that you can now make digital activities on PDFs IN Teachers Pay Teachers? TPT Released digital activities this summer, and it’s going to change your life. It is a way to use PDFs (even some you've already purchased!) on Teachers Pay Teachers digitally-- and it's so easy. Teachers Pay Teachers gave the… Continue reading How to Use PDFs on Teachers Pay Teachers Digitally
Exciting and Effective Ways to Play Four Corners from 6 Feet Away or Virtual (in music class!)
I was talking with one of the Children's Church teachers at church this week, and she told me, "No matter what fun, creative games I come up with, the kids just want to play four corners." Four Corners is a super simple, super fun game, and I have adapted it a few ways to work… Continue reading Exciting and Effective Ways to Play Four Corners from 6 Feet Away or Virtual (in music class!)
How to do Candy Bar Composition for Halloween Fun
Halloween…. A teacher’s nightmare…. When it comes to Halloween/Halloween time, I try to “harness the power of the candy” instead of trying to get kids to sit still. I do that in two ways: I either do movement activities, or we do centers. One center activity that I like to do is candy bar composition.… Continue reading How to do Candy Bar Composition for Halloween Fun
The Very Best Halloween Lessons For Elementary Music
Halloween makes kids crazy, but it is so much fun! Whether you can celebrate Halloween officially at your school or not, it is fun to get a little bit into the Halloween spirit with some Halloween lessons for elementary music class. Many of these qualify as fall, so if you don't do Halloween at your… Continue reading The Very Best Halloween Lessons For Elementary Music
How to Survive Distance Learning as a Music Teacher
I never thought that I would be teaching online. If you'd told me a year ago that this was happening, I would have thought you were completely crazy. Distance learning as a music teacher is tough-- but it's not impossible. In the Spring, I had a really, really hard time. I was beyond stressed out.… Continue reading How to Survive Distance Learning as a Music Teacher