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!)
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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
Virtual Music Lessons for Teaching Music Online
This situation sucks. This is the guide to making teaching music online manageable and fun with this ebook full of lessons. Let's make online learning simple for you and fun for the students. You never thought you'd be teaching music online. It's not ideal, but it's necessary. This ebook has everything you need to… Continue reading Virtual Music Lessons for Teaching Music Online
How to Play Asteroid! An Active Rhythm Game
Teaching music on a normal year is difficult. On a normal year, I am constantly looking for ways to get students reading music while having fun and being active in music. This year, with some people teaching music on a cart, 6 feet away from their students, other people teaching music virtually, and some music… Continue reading How to Play Asteroid! An Active Rhythm Game
Book Based Lessons for Elementary Music
When thinking about going back to school-- from six feet away!-- the first thing that came into my mind was books. Book based lessons for elementary music seemed like the most logical answer. But how do we make books fun? That is the question. I love to read. I really, really love to read, and… Continue reading Book Based Lessons for Elementary Music
How to Teach Elementary Music Digitally for Distance Learning
I don't know about you, but I was not good at using digital activities in my elementary music room. Like at all. I got a grant for iPads to use, and every time I tried to use them, it was a disaster. Then, in March, many of us were expected to take our entire curriculum… Continue reading How to Teach Elementary Music Digitally for Distance Learning
No Touch Movement Lessons for Elementary Music
At the end of last year, my principal held a meeting where we just talked. We were on Zoom, we read through the CDC guidelines for going back to school, and thought about what that might possibly mean for us. What that would mean is no students in the cafeteria, no students in the gym,… Continue reading No Touch Movement Lessons for Elementary Music
No Touch Singing Games for Elementary Music
This year has been.... an adventure, to say the least. And it is continuing to be an adventure, as schools reopen and teachers are forced to change their curriculums once again. This time, we are focusing on activities that can be done without touching or being near students... For elementary music teachers, that means no… Continue reading No Touch Singing Games for Elementary Music