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: 3-5
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
Al Citron: Mexican Passing Game for dotted quarter note
This month is Hispanic Heritage month! I love Hispanic Heritage month, because I love teaching lessons from different cultures, and I also love a good theme. I find themes to be the easiest way to make lessons really flow together. This year, I am sharing one of my favorite lessons: Al Citron. Al Citron is… Continue reading Al Citron: Mexican Passing Game for dotted quarter note
5 Simple Movement Activities Using Stick Figures
Looking for a super simple movement activity for your elementary music room? Whether you need a warm up, a time suck, or to just wake the students up, these 5 movement activities with stick figures are the way to go. They are easy, require almost no prep, and the kids LOVE them.
How to Use Ickle Ockle Singing Game in Elementary Music for Rest
Have you heard of the song Ickle Ockle? It is a really fun singing game... with like 20 different versions of it in cyberspace. I have seen it as Bickle Bockle, with do, without do, different wording.... yeah. But, no matter how you sing it, it is a really fun folk song and my students… Continue reading How to Use Ickle Ockle Singing Game in Elementary Music for Rest
Write the Room: An active instruments review
Ever since the huge push on teachers having data based instruction, I have felt the pressure of pretests. I am pretty good with grouping students (see here!) based on data from assignments, but I still have a hard time giving kids true pretests-- I mean, giving them a test they are basically supposed to fail?… Continue reading Write the Room: An active instruments review
Fun and Engaging Activities for Flashcards
Think flashcards can't be fun? Think again! I use flashcards in my elementary music classroom all of the time to help students get engaged in music literacy. By using them different ways and mixing them up, I am able to help students stay engaged and become more musically literate. These flashcard activities will work whether… Continue reading Fun and Engaging Activities for Flashcards
Elementary Music Lesson: Breezes are Blowing
Breezes are Blowing is a Luiseno Indian Rain song that I used with my second and third graders. The rhythms are very simple, but the melody is a bit complex for those grades-- it includes low la, do, re, sol, and la-- but it was really great to talk about form and improvisation, so that's… Continue reading Elementary Music Lesson: Breezes are Blowing
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Most music teachers include lots of books in their elementary music classes. I see this all the time on social media, in trainings, and in classrooms. But can I admit something to you? When I was first starting out, I felt like i was very unclear as to HOW to go about incorporating books. Like--… Continue reading I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Irish Music Lesson for St. Patrick’s Day
Is St. Patrick's Day a big deal where you live? It is one of those holidays that either your city takes very seriously, or no one cares. Here in Savannah, we take it very seriously. We actually have the third largest St. Patrick's ay parade in the US-- yes, right here in South Georgia! I… Continue reading Irish Music Lesson for St. Patrick’s Day