Oh classroom tours.... how I love them. But yet, there never seem to be enough classroom tours when it comes to music teachers. Guys-- I want to see your classrooms! I figure that others must feel how I do to, so I am doing a classroom tour today! Now, it is not 100% clean (we've… Continue reading Elementary Music Classroom Tour
Tag: teaching music
DIY Music Manipulative: Battleship
Funny story: Last year, I was working really hard to get my students to learn the notes of the treble clef. Towards the beginning of this adventure, I gave them all staves to look at, and bingo chips. I’d say, “Put a chip on line one. Put one on space four.” And on and on.… Continue reading DIY Music Manipulative: Battleship
Easy-Peasy Differentiation in the Music Room
Differentiation. Woo that is a scary word… especially if you teach elementary music. We tend to sit through lectures and professional developments about differentiation and shudder in despair. I can’t do that, we think. This doesn’t apply to me. Well…. Yes and no. Now, some lessons really don’t lend themselves to differentiation. Some do. And… Continue reading Easy-Peasy Differentiation in the Music Room
An Easy (and fun!) School Wide PBIS Incentive
PBIS takes on many different shapes in today’s schools. We use it for individuals, classes, schools, etc. As part of our school’s PBIS plan, we have a school wide PBIS incentive periodically. Last year we did things once a nine weeks, this year the plan is to kick it up to once a month. For… Continue reading An Easy (and fun!) School Wide PBIS Incentive
Music Centers Classroom Management for Bad Classes
If you have been teaching music for longer than a day, you will know that not all classes are well behaved. If you have had your kids for a few weeks, you will have already figured out which the “good classes” versus the “bad classes”. It is easy to let the bad classes rule your… Continue reading Music Centers Classroom Management for Bad Classes
Free K-2 Music Lesson: A Train Jazz Lesson
All month, I have been sharing Jazz resources with you (since April is Jazz month!). I shared ideas for incorporating jazz and a jazz lesson on the song Blue Skies (which includes scarves!). This week I have another jazz lesson on the song A Train. Now, if it is not April, do not panic. Jazz… Continue reading Free K-2 Music Lesson: A Train Jazz Lesson
Routines You Need in the Music Room
All teachers know that classroom management is essential for learning. This is very true in the music room—without classroom management, how can you play instruments or do dances? An essential part of classroom management are routines. Routines keep things orderly. And if students do them enough, they will be so second nature that you do… Continue reading Routines You Need in the Music Room
Free 3-5 Music Lesson: Boomwhackers and Science
Boomwhackers. I love Boomwhackers. I love to use them for everything, really. Rhythms, chords, etc. This is a super simple, mini science lesson that I like to use with Boomwhackers. In Georgia at least, they talk about the science of sound in 1st grade and 4th grade. I have used parts of this with all… Continue reading Free 3-5 Music Lesson: Boomwhackers and Science
Really Specific Classroom Management Systems for the Music Room
Classroom management systems in the music room…. It can be a difficult thing. It is difficult because elementary music teachers teach every single kid in the whole school. And some classes are better behaved than others. And unfortunately, we still have to deal with the really difficult classes. And we all know, that nothing gets… Continue reading Really Specific Classroom Management Systems for the Music Room
Lessons from my First Semester Teaching Elementary Music
The week before Christmas break was hectic. It included my first PTA performance, my first field trip, eight parties for good behavior, 43 Christmas sing alongs, three songs sung in front of the church (twice!), a church Christmas party, one dress rehearsal, and two concerts. And that is not to mention the actual teaching part… Continue reading Lessons from my First Semester Teaching Elementary Music