Classroom management is a term used to describe keeping a classroom full of children functioning throughout the day. This includes all of the rituals, routines, structure, and more that allows you to keep your classroom running. But classroom management for elementary music teachers is a a little bit different than for classroom teachers, so after… Continue reading Classroom Management for Elementary Music Teachers
When it comes to December, every elementary music teacher has The Nutcracker on repeat. This is for good reason– Tchaikovsky’s ballet is absolutely beautiful and has some incredible music. After reading this article, you’ll have 4 (new!) Nutcracker music lessons to use with your general music class. Before we get started, I wanted to mention… Continue reading Best Nutcracker Elementary Music Lessons for the Holiday Season
With all of the holidays that happen at the end of the year, I have to say, Thanksgiving definitely gets looked over. The fact that the stores were already covered in Christmas decor by mid-October suggest that. In my elementary music lessons, I definitely look over Thanksgiving. I see my students for a week at… Continue reading 9 Thanksgiving Music Lessons for Elementary Music Class
Have you ever heard someone say teachers don’t smile until Christmas? Well, don’t fall for it. But they say that because the beginning of the year is the most important part– it sets the tone for the rest of the year. I would venture to say the first few weeks of elementary music are the… Continue reading 4 Most Helpful Tips for the Beginning of the Year in Elementary Music
Can I tell you a secret? I love lesson planning! I know, I know, it’s crazy. So many people dread lesson planning but to be honest, it’s one of my favorite things. Part of this is due to the fact that I have found ways to make lesson planning easy– even as a music teacher… Continue reading Tips to make Lesson Planning Easy (as a music teacher!)
Let’s go for a Sleigh Ride… This is the unofficial soundtrack to the holidays. This is a classical piece students are familiar with– so use it to your advantage and use it in your elementary music classroom! I was in choir all through middle and high school (and college and now…). At my high school,… Continue reading Greatest Lesson Ideas For Sleigh Ride In Elementary Music
One of my new favorite December lessons is the song Hanukkah, Hanukkah. There are a lot of different music activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah that you can do, but I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorites! When looking for holiday songs last December, I really looked for songs and lessons where students… Continue reading Greatest Music Activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah (teaching half note!)
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
The Holiday season is the best time of the year. Everyone is a little happier and gives a little bit more. It’s full of sparkle and music and peppermint everything. But everyone knows the Holidays can get stressful. That is even more true when you are a music teacher. If you are not careful, music… Continue reading Music Teachers’ Guide to Self Care During the Holidays
4 DIY Music Manipulatives that are perfect for centers– and easy to make! Centers can be difficult to figure out, but they don’t have to be! These simple DIY music activities can be used over and over again to help students learn about rhythm and melody. Becca’s Music Room
