Elementary music can be so much fun– or it can give you a giant headache. Seriously, it gets loud– especially when you are using instruments. So how do you handle classroom management for instruments? Is it possible to have a chaos free classroom when you are using instruments? The short answer? Yes. The longer answer… Continue reading Elementary Music Classroom Management for Instruments
Category: Elementary Music
Everything about teaching elementary music! Instruments, classroom management, songs, etc.
Using The Wolf Singing Game (We Are Dancing) in Elementary Music
Wolf (AKA We are Dancing) is one of my third graders’ all time favorite singing games. The Wolf singing game is simple, it is fun, and it can be used to practice quarter and eighth notes or la. This song has an official game, and also a way-that-we-play the game that is much less chaotic. We'll… Continue reading Using The Wolf Singing Game (We Are Dancing) in Elementary Music
The Best Halloween Folk Songs for Elementary Music
Halloween is coming up, so let’s sing some Halloween folk songs in your elementary music room! Now, full disclosure, I am not huge into Halloween, so most of these just dance around the topics of Halloween, with pumpkins, cats, and more. This is perfect, though, in case you want to add a tiny bit of… Continue reading The Best Halloween Folk Songs for Elementary Music
Your Simple Guide to Differentiation in Centers (for music!)
Doing centers in the elementary music room has a ton of benefits, but one of the main benefits is that it supports differentiation. Differentiation in centers is so easy because the students are already split up into groups– so giving them assignments on their levels is much easier. If you’re ready to get started with… Continue reading Your Simple Guide to Differentiation in Centers (for music!)
How to Play Kaboom! in Elementary Music Class
When it comes to teaching elementary music, fun is one of the most important words. You want students to love music, and fun is how you get there. When it comes to reading music, it can be boring, but it doesn’t have to be. Enter: Kaboom! Kaboom is my students’ favorite elementary music centers game,… Continue reading How to Play Kaboom! in Elementary Music Class
Write the Room : An Exciting Way to Write Rhythms and Melodies
Let’s face it– if you want elementary music students to be able to read and write music, then you need to have them read and write rhythms and melodies. It can feel boring to have them read and write notes on the staff, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. If… Continue reading Write the Room : An Exciting Way to Write Rhythms and Melodies
Best End of Year Music Lessons for Upper Grades
It’s here, it’s here! It’s finally here! Well…. Almost. It’s almost the end of the school year… so how do you keep kids engaged right now?! The upper grades (third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade) can be even more difficult to make music lesson plans for, because they are older and sometimes think they… Continue reading Best End of Year Music Lessons for Upper Grades
Best Sol Mi Songs for the Elementary Music Classroom
When it comes to teaching solfa, sol and mi is where we start. The best way to get these notes engrained in students’ heads is with sol mi songs– especially sol mi songs. Using sol mi songs allows students to have authentic musical experiences while learning their first two melodic notes. Now, by the time… Continue reading Best Sol Mi Songs for the Elementary Music Classroom
Best Games And Lessons To Teach Kids Solfege
Coming up with games and lessons for solfege can seem daunting. You may feel like the only thing to do is to have students read flashcards on the screen. And while I do think there is value in that-- especially before an independent activity-- it’s not all there is to teaching solfege or melody. After… Continue reading Best Games And Lessons To Teach Kids Solfege
How to Play Lucky Lemons Solfege Board Game
Picture this: Me, teaching online for the millionth time. My students, showing up to every few classes, sometimes coming or going halfway through. It’s March and we’re STILL working on la with second grade. As we have been for weeks. I needed something new, a new solfege board game, and Lucky Lemons was the solution. … Continue reading How to Play Lucky Lemons Solfege Board Game