Using literature in your elementary music classes is a great way to get students interested in music AND reading– as well as integrate with the other subjects. What better book to use than Where the Wild Things Are? This picture book is beloved by all, and it makes a perfect book based music lesson. So…… Continue reading Where The Wild Things Are Music Lesson Ideas (with instruments!)
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Using Los Pollitos Mexican Nursery Rhyme in Music Class
One of my favorite songs for younger elementary students is the Mexican nursery rhyme Los Pollitos. This adorable song is all about little chickens, and it is so cute. We use it in the Fall for Hispanic Heritage Month and in the Spring for Spring time lessons. Want some free music teacher resources? Join the… Continue reading Using Los Pollitos Mexican Nursery Rhyme in Music Class
The 11 Best Songs For Teaching Quarter Rest
It’s time to teach quarter rest, and you need quarter rest songs for preparing, presenting, and practicing rest… without letting your lessons get boring. That’s a lot of folk songs, so here are 11 of my favorite quarter rest folk songs and singing games (plus one listening activity!) for teaching rest to first or second… Continue reading The 11 Best Songs For Teaching Quarter Rest
Bow Wow Wow Singing Game for Teaching Quarter Rest
When it's time to teach quarter rest, I need folk songs-- and lots of them! Bow Wow Wow is a folk song that I use every year to teach quarter rest. It's simple, it's fun, and it has a game... or two. So let's sing and dance along with Bow Wow Wow, the song your… Continue reading Bow Wow Wow Singing Game for Teaching Quarter Rest
How to Deal with Chatty Classes in Elementary Music
Teaching is an art and a science… but it’s impossible to do if your students don’t know how to be quiet. If students are talking, then they won’t be able to hear directions or learn anything. Because of this, one of the most important pieces of classroom management is making sure that the students are… Continue reading How to Deal with Chatty Classes in Elementary Music
Different Ways to Use Bee Bee Bumblebee in Elementary Music
Happy Spring! Springtime in the music room means all the fun Spring songs– of which I have a lot– and one of my favorite Spring folk songs is the chant Bee Bee Bumblebee. I use this chant to teach rhythm with quarter and eighth notes, as well as steady beat, and I’ve also used it… Continue reading Different Ways to Use Bee Bee Bumblebee in Elementary Music
The Best Spring Music Centers
Spring time can be really fun... or really stressful as an elementary music teacher. There’s so much going on, the kids are wild, but it’s almost time for summer. One of my favorite things to do in spring is spring music centers activities– it keeps the kids occupied, they can talk a bit (read that… Continue reading The Best Spring Music Centers
The Best St. Patrick’s Day Elementary Music Lessons
It’s Spring time, and down here in Savannah, Georgia, that means St. Patrick’s Day! I know St. Patrick’s Day is not a huge deal everywhere, but in my area, we get the day off and have a huge parade. Because it's such a big deal here, I try to add Irish music lessons to my… Continue reading The Best St. Patrick’s Day Elementary Music Lessons
5 Free, Fun Rhythm Games to Play in Music Class
Teaching elementary music can be a lot, and we often need a lot of activities. So if you need to practice rhythm, fill a few minutes, or just do something fun, here’s a few FREE rhythm games for elementary music class. All of them can be done with no money and little time. Note: Some… Continue reading 5 Free, Fun Rhythm Games to Play in Music Class
The Best Name Games for 1st Day of Music Lessons
Being a teacher can be hard (especially if you're new!), and being an elementary music teacher presents its own problems. One of the hardest things about teaching elementary music is the NAMES. When you teach a lot of students, how do you remember all 700 names? And if you’re a new elementary music teacher, then… Continue reading The Best Name Games for 1st Day of Music Lessons