Music In Our Schools Month!

I am just returning from Spring Break and I am a little behind on celebrating Music in Our Schools Month!

Over break, I created a pennant/banner to display in the hallway in honor of the month!  Tomorrow the students will start to decorate their banner!  I am so excited!

Also, I have reached 50 Likes on Facebook so until I get home, the product is free!
 It includes color options as well as black and white ink saving options!

TPT:   Music In Our Schools Banner!

Also in honor of the month, I just have to thank all of you!  When I started this year my walls were empty and my "Wall of Answers" is so helpful to the students and it looks incredible!  I got a LOT of compliments during conferences.

Here is an updated Classroom Tour:

As you might remember, my wall is wavy to help improve the acoustics.  That means I can't really use it for shelving or tables so it has become "The Wall of Answers."  Students are used to referencing the wall and the are so proud to more pieces every day!

Yes, it's a bird!  This is my entrance door!

Teaching in a school that offers Spanish Immersion and I was thrilled when Cori Bloom of Rhythm and Bloom posted this set!

Spanish and English Music Classroom Decor Set

With the big open floor plan in this room Jena Hudson of Sew Much Music's 

Folk Dance Formation Posters Polka Dot has been very handy!

With the New Standards, this set from Lindsay Jervis has been very helpful.  Plus administration loves that it is posted!  National Standards

  

In the hallway before I even met my students this fall,  they learned of my small obsession with The Wizard of Oz.  This music advocacy set from Lindsay Jervis was too good to pass up!  

There's No Place Like Music

I am so grateful every day to have such a strong online community.  As a music teacher collaboration is sometimes hard to find and I just wanted to say thank you for your resources, advice and your hard work!

HAPPY MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH!

Quarter 2 Accomplishments!

     I can't believe that the school is halfway over!  Along with grades I send home a list of our accomplishments to each family.  This year is my first year in this building and I am really working on providing a well rounded experience.  I have been very spoiled and the wonderful teacher before me has every resource your heart could desire!  It has actually been difficult figuring out what to teach!
    I was thrilled when I found this clip art!  It was perfect for my quarter 2 summaries.  I color coded them by grade level (it matches the Share the Music grade books).
Paper:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Clip-Art-Let-it-Snow-Paper-Collection-978501
Snowman:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Clip-Art-Let-it-Snowmen-980894
Border:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kelly-Benefield
Font: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fonts-Fonts-Fonts-155-Personal-and-Commercial-Use-Fonts-ALL-KB-Fonts-by-Khrys-505757


Here is a sample of what I send home to Kindergarten Families!

Here are the sources from Kindergarten:

Grinding Corn: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grinding-Corn-A-song-for-ta-and-titi-1558017

Ho Ho Watanay: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ho-Ho-Watanay-A-Native-American-Lullaby-for-practicing-loudsoft-and-tatiti-955769

Twelve Days of Christmas: Actions as listed in Kindergarten Gameplan https://www.kid-sounds.com/index.php/kindergarten

Dance of the Reed Flutes: Actions as listed in Kindergarten Gameplan

Instruments to add sounds to a story:  I read the story of The Nutcracker (I love the pictures in this version https://www.maryengelbreit.com/store/mary-engelbreits-nutcracker.html) and then we list the main characters.  We talk about the sound of each character (the Mouse King could be loud and low) and then we find an instrument in the room to represent that character (a tubano).  I divide the students into groups to "play" each character.  I read the story again and each group plays when I say their character's name.  The students love it!  It is a great beginning composing lesson.

Ha Ha This Away:  I use the version found in http://shop.musicplaytext.ihoststores.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=731 and I teach a dance that I learned while student teaching that fits with the A section.

Mr. Troll: I use the version found here http://shop.musicplaytext.ihoststores.com/images/misc/Newsletters/11-03-25_MrTrollGame.pdf and for my spanish students we sing in English but the color must be sung in Spanish.


What have you accomplished this quarter?

What do you think I should do more of with Kindergarten?

How do you communicate with parents?  Do you have a newsletter?



Thanks for reading!

End of the Year/ Music Sub Tub Ideas

Packing Up!

   On my first day of summer vacation, I thought I would catch up on my blog!  I have packed up my classroom for the year and it looks pretty empty.
    I still have the Music Rules from Lindsay Jervis up ready for the fall.  The rules spell out music and they each have a song to go with them.
   They worked so well for me!  By the end of the year, I could just hum the tune to the rule and students will self correct behavior!
 





To keep dust out for the summer I have covered all of my instrument shelves with paper and written what is under it.



Some rooms are used for summer school so I left out basic pencils, pens, scissors, etc.



All of the resources I need for the summer are loaded up on the cart to bring home

Sub Tub

Before leaving for the summer I really wanted to collect materials for a sub tub.   I work very hard to leave lesson plans for a sub instead of movies.  In our district we are typically able to have a music sub or at least someone who feels comfortable singing in front of kids.  We have a few retired music teachers who can lead my normal lesson but sometimes we have a sub who is terrified of subbing in music.

So far, here is what it contains:

My Many Colored Days Kit: Book, Scarves and CD I also have the old VHS with the Minnesota Orchestra.

The manilla envelopes are full of games for note naming stations for my older kids.  These are things I have purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers:
Amy Abbott's Let's Go Fly a Kite Treble Clef Review: Students get to add letter bows to the bottom of the kite to match the notes on the treble clef
Aileen Miracle's Visuals and Activities for the Treble Clef: Students get to match donut letters to coffee mug notes!
Emily F's Recorder Mega Set: Students get to match ice cream cones to recorder fingerings and use fly swatters to practice reading the notes on the treble clef.
Lindsay's Sol and Mi Ready Set Print Great worksheets for assessing.  She has since made many additions La, High and Low and Do
The green playing cards are Amy Abbott's Uno Inspired Treble Clef Game: Just like Uno!  The students treble clef letters and rhythms (instead of colors) to play Uno!



Mallet Madness Strikes Again and the books needed for the literacy lessons

Wee Sing Sing-A-Longs a book and CD collection of folk songs and other common songs with games and activities

After using Facebook as a professional tool, I began to hear a LOT about John Feieraband:  I purchased some of his materials this year and I love his program!
John Feierabend book collection
First Steps in Music Curriculum and CDs: I was excited to hear Jill Trinka as the vocalist on the CDs- I studied with her for my undergrad!

There are two DVDs inside:
Folk Rhythms At MMEA this year, I attended a session with Nyssa Brown and loved this DVD instantly!

Oscar's Orchestra This DVD introduces instruments of the Orchestra
Many picture books with a lesson idea typed and put inside (some add sounds for certain characters, some have a way to keep the steady beat in the story, some add instruments on key words, etc.)

My main curriculum books (GAMEPLAN) are set on top before I leave for the night with the lesson plans for the next day.  I hope that helps you start or add to your sub tub!  Please feel free to share your thoughts and what you include in your sub tub!

Thanks for reading!
~ Kate