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
Category: Elementary Music
Everything about teaching elementary music! Instruments, classroom management, songs, etc.
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
Fun Zoom Music Lessons for Distance Learning
When all of this distance learning stuff began, I was STRUGGLING to figure out what to do with my students on Zoom music lessons. How can I teach elementary music on Zoom? The sound lag made it impossible to sing or play rhythms together. Fortunately for you, I have now figured out a couple of… Continue reading Fun Zoom Music Lessons for Distance Learning
What to do when the Lesson Plan Goes off the Rails….
Ah, teaching. Probably the only profession in which you are expected to write detailed plans, turn them in and then stick to the exactly. As if you could ever plan what 30 five years olds are going to do or say or understand. We aren't taught to adjust things as we go along, even though… Continue reading What to do when the Lesson Plan Goes off the Rails….
Card System for Classroom Management
In my classroom, I focus highly on PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System). But let's be honest-- no matter how many class points or Dojos are given, all kids are still going to act up. And that is why I now use the card system. So when you are thinking about classroom management in your own… Continue reading Card System for Classroom Management
Christmas Tree Hunt and Music Charades
So I started my TPT shop in September. So when it came to Christmas, I said, "I'm only going to make one or two Christmas products." Then I made five. Three of them are from my classroom, so it's not as bad as it sounds. Then I said, I'm not going to make any more… Continue reading Christmas Tree Hunt and Music Charades
Im Herbst Fall Listening Lesson for Timbre
I have a really funky schedule for when I see my students-- I see them everyday (well, let's be honest, four days) for a week, and then I see a new set of students next week. A lot of interesting things have occurred because of that schedule-- Mondays are really tough, but behavior has improved,… Continue reading Im Herbst Fall Listening Lesson for Timbre