So, Let's Talk Centers

So, I haven't posted in quite sometime.  Once the hustle and bustle of school started, I started teaching piano again and my student load rose to to a record 19 students.  So that along with my mom and wife duties I decided that I had to let go of a few things.  But I have a lot of new ideas  and can't wait to share them with my fellow music teachers.

I have been really wanting to focus my summer on putting together some centers for my classroom.  I have spent quite a bit of time checking out ideas on Pinterest and have put together what my students need to review when we get back to school.  Those things would be note names, rhythms and musical terms.  I'm including some pictures so that you can see what I have so far.  For more ideas follow my Music Games and Music Centers folders on Pinterest.  There are some amazing teachers out there who are sharing their amazing ideas, so why reinvent the wheel.

For this center, each frog has a note value.  You then match that frog to the corresponding log.

Each barrel has a word which you need to then match to the monkey.  I call this one Barrel of Monkeys.

For this one match the note on the cone to the note name on the scoop of ice cream.  I chose not to add a clef symbol so that the game could be interchangeable between both the bass and treble clef.

The ideas for the centers above came from http://katietraxler.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=466

I used the game Lucky Ducks for this one. Though, I took out the batteries because I can only take quacking ducks for so long. I'd personally rather be in a classroom full of 35 beginning recorder students.  lol Each of the 12 ducks has a music symbol on it.  Students turn over a card and have to match with the ducks. It's basically an old fashioned matching game.  I think that my students will love this! Here is the link to the original game that I came across on Pinterest http://musicclassideas.blogspot.ca/p/music-games.html
The second center is Lego Rhythms.  I took it directly from this website http://elementarymusicresources.blogspot.ca/2013/05/centers-lego-music.html 

This year, I will be assigning my students to small groups for these centers.  These groups will be changing quarterly.   Within each group I will have a variety of students. They will be grouped in a way that all students feel successful and feel that they have contributed.  This will be a great way to assess student learning.



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Sonic's Limeades For Learning

 If you don't know about Sonic's Limeades For Learning program, you should take a few minutes and check it out.  It is a great program that comes around every October.  You write a grant on donorschoose.org, then spread the word.  Projects are funded based on votes.  You can get votes by visiting a Sonic and getting a sticker worth 2 points.  You can also get votes by voting daily. Projects with the most votes get funded.  This year I was fortunate enough to get 3 Remo Tubanos!  Thank you Sonic!

Halloween Fun

So, I love getting all of my fun Halloween stuff out.  Some of my favorite activities include listening to the old song Monster Mash and showing them the book that goes along with it.  We also loved reading "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid Of Anything".  If you haven't read this, it's a great one to read and perform with your students.  We assign an instrument to each of the parts of the scarecrow.  My students love doing this.

As far as technology goes, we used http://www.classicalkusc.org/kids/opera/teachers.asp  They have a great interactive game that teaches students about the components of creating an opera.  Choreography, backgrounds, lighting, etc...  It is a great SMART board activity.  It tied in really easily with my student's this year as we had just gone to a ballet performance. :)

On October 30th, we read the book The Aliens Are Coming.  This book was based on the October 30, 1938 radio broadcast based on the book War of the Worlds. I was able to find a copy of the original broadcast. The kids and I had a great discussion on how entertainment has changed and how the lives of our family's have changed. We learned that in the 1930s very few families had televisions.  Most families during this time relied on radios for entertainment and news. We also talked about how it was common during this time during WWII for broadcasts, songs, plays, etc.. to be interrupted by news bulletins.

Back to School

Well, we have been back for over a week. I'm starting to get back into the swing of things. I've been so busy that I haven't posted pictures of my classroom. So, here they are  :) You'll see lots of "Pinteresty" things such as the poofs, cans for sharp (#) and flat pencils, the bubblegum machine full of pencil top erasers which I have to add my students think is SUPER cool.  :D

These are the cabinets on the east side of my room.  You'll notice a sink which is great for cleaning recorders.  There's also a closet on the far end that you can't see in the picture.  On the middle of the shelf is my stick storage. 

My awesome stick storage.  I use one of those long wood candle holders that you can pick up at a craft store. It's perfect for mallets and sticks. :)

Here are my Recorder Dudes.  Norm Sands came up with them.  You can get a template and many great ideas in the Recorder Classroom curriculum.  I have one for every note, but I'm only displaying these three for a few weeks.  While my 4th graders review from last year and my third graders begin their recorder studies. 

 My SMARTboard area.  Here are my computer key chairs.  I found them on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $20 each.  Thank you PTO!  Did I mention we have the BEST PTO ever?  They have been so much help as I establish the music program.  This is only the third year that our school has been open.  You may notice that my carpet is in squares.  They come up! Great for stains and such.  Though in all honesty I haven't had to replace any.  Yet. :)

Here is my area other side of the SMARTboard.  The shelf behind the drums has become my workstation.  I keep my Ipad, Ipod, Bose, cd player, extra pencils, sharpies, goodies and story books for those times when I have an extra few minutes.  Basically, anything that I may need at a moments notice. Next to that I have my rhythm instrument area.  We are a new school, so I'm still working up to Remo Tubanos and Orff instruments.  We do have 19 glockenspiels that I recieved through Donors Choose.  If you haven't been to that website check it out.  Also, Adopt A Classroom.  :)

Here is my library.  My dad make these bifold shutter doors for my sister's law office and when she moved she didn't know what to do with them.  I of course grabbed them I needed something to break up that ugly yellow and blue stripe that goes around my ENTIRE classroom.  YUCK!    Initially, I wasn't sure what to do with them.  Then I came up with the idea to us them as a book display.  Since this picture was taken I attached the braces.  There are eight which makes it very safe for my students. 

I hope that you have enjoyed a look into my classroom.  I also have built in 3 step risers.  I'll try to get a picture of those as well as my desk area which is next to my library.

Summer Lovin'

As I look back at the summer, I realize that it is coming to an end quickly. I've enjoyed my time with my kiddos. I've seen them do great things, my son is swimming, floating and singing. My daughter has started ballet. She loves to sit at the keyboard and compose. Wow! Where does the time go? As the summer winds down, enjoy your family. I have to remind myself to put work away and enjoy these times when my children are young and want to hang out with me. One of these days I will long for the good old days. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Take some time to relax and enjoy your much deserved break with your family and friends.

Freddie the Frog App

Freddie the Frog is now an free app! I don't expect the "free" to last long, so check it out!  Right now author Sharon Burch has an amazing deal the first 25 people who review the app.  They will each get a free Freddie Book and Mysterious Wahooo DVD!  Wow, what a value! That's about $50 worth for $5.00 - you just have to cover shipping.  I went ahead and ordered and Eli doll while was at it. :)
It is set up similar to the freddiethefrog.com, with a few extra options.  You can add some extras for .99 each. I added 3 for a total of $3.00.  It will be great for my Ipad/Ipod center.  I will also be using it in my piano lessons.  Great one on one note reading fun.  Check it out and enjoy!

Lego Rhythms

Follow this link for PDF lesson plan and worksheets http://www.scribd.com/doc/100348999





This would be read Ti-Ti Ta Ta-a



Each circle or "stud" is worth 1/2 a beat. That being said one stud  would be equal to 1/2 a beat or an eighth note, 2 studs equals 1 beat or a quarter note, 4 studs would equal 2 beats or a half note.

First of all let me give credit where credit is due. I found this lesson as I was doing one of my daily “check –ins” on Pinterest. It is was created by Jennifer Fink from Pianimation.com. Here’s the link to her website http://www.pianimation.com/2010/05/18/lego-rhythms/ . I encourage you to check it out. She has AMAZING ideas! So, here’s how I adapted it for my students. I use this with my Kindergartners all the way up. I have a 6 year old son, so I knew that it would be a huge hit in my classes. I even had a couple of parents ask me about our “Music Legos”. Next year, I will follow it up by using Jennifer’s “Hot Cross Buns” idea where my students can use the Lego rhythms to notate a song on the staff.
I have adapted her lesson to fit the needs in my classroom. The first thing I did was go to our local Lego store. My husband told me that they had a whole wall of loose Legos where you just choose what you need and fill a cup. I filled a large cup for $14.99 and had more than enough for my classes of 32. I was lucky enough to get the exact ones that I need and they were in our school colors. I also bought a few Lego plates for $4.99. Needless, to say I was one happy music teacher.
I then went home and created a interactive SMARTboard lesson to go along with the lesson. It’s on my school computer. I’ll attach it here asap. The first lesson, I just introduced the concept on the board and used Mega Blocks as my hands-on tool. I had the students create their own Lego rhythms on the SMARTboard. It was a huge success. They still had no idea that they would all be getting their own to “play” with the next class period. The first lesson, I was informed by one of my 2nd graders that it’s not a dot on top of the Lego, it’s called a stud. LOL So, I explained to my students that each “stud” is worth ½ beat, an eighth note and 2 studs equal 1 beat or a quarter note and so on. It’s all laid out in the SMARTboard lesson.
For the 2nd lesson, we reviewed the previous lesson and I had a big surprise each of my students was getting their OWN bag of Legos! Oh the excitement! I assembled “Lego” bags which I numbered from 1-35. Students have numbers in my classroom, so this made for easy set-up. Each bag consists of 8 eighth note Legos, 4 quarter note Legos, 2 half note Legos and a Lego plate. I cut the Lego plate into pieces for the kids to display their rhythms. This can be done with scissors. I was able to get by with just one plate. I then played a rhythm and the kids recreated the rhythm with their Legos. Then I had them put the Lego Rhythm on the SMARTboard. We then counted the rhythm aloud using ti’s and ta’s.
For the 3rd lesson, we reviewed the previous lesson and added one more element. I had the kids come to the board and write the rhythm in rhythmic notation. This was a great lesson and is now a favorite of my students. Some of the best $20 that I have ever spent for my classroom.