I don't really know how budget works at a normal school. I don't have a budget here, but can just ask for things and hope that I can get them. So, I have a list of things that I'm going to ask for, due pretty soon, for my General Music classroom (grades K-6). Let me give you a brief rundown of the resources I have in my room, and maybe you can help me by suggesting things I should get.
I have:
a piano
a set of Orff instruments (2 bass, 6 alto/tenor, 4 glocks)
a few random percussion instruments (agogo, tambourines, hand drums, triangles, stupid gourd cabasa things)
about 10-12 big djembe and double headed African drums, in pretty beat up shape, but still fine.
a bunch of chairs
a bunch of floor pillows
a projector and screen (new as of a few weeks ago!!!)
a white board (not a fancy one... just the dry erase kind)
a set of boomwhackers
a set of fairly current textbooks for all grades K-8
more than a classroom set of soprano recorders
random resource books, but nothing very current or legal copies...
access to lots of choral music scores
That's about it. Top of my list so far is:
rhythm sticks
woodblocks
what other simple percussion would you want?
They said I could dream, so I'm also asking for a smartboard and a doc-cam.
What important resource books, instruments, furniture, posters, would you ask for if you could?
(Nicole, help me out here!)
Friday, November 26, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Help! iPod Touch in the K-5 Music Classroom
My district's music department is starting an iPod Touch pilot program in which teachers will be given 8-10 iPod Touches per classroom to explore the possibilities. In order to participate, I have to submit a proposal detailing some of the plans I have for this new technology. I have some ideas, but they are pretty elementary in concept (no pun intended). I'm hoping that you smart teachers will be able to offer advice on the following questions:
1. Have you experienced, or do you know of, any good apps that would would be good for elementary music?
2. I have class sizes anywhere from 21-35 students, but would only get 8-10 iPods. How would you distribute or share these over the course of a class period?
3. How would you use this technology if you had it? What subject matter, or types of lessons would you use this for?
4. One of my biggest concerns is that it would be more of a behavior management nightmare (checking email, downloading and playing games, etc.) than an educational tool. Any suggestions for this?
1. Have you experienced, or do you know of, any good apps that would would be good for elementary music?
2. I have class sizes anywhere from 21-35 students, but would only get 8-10 iPods. How would you distribute or share these over the course of a class period?
3. How would you use this technology if you had it? What subject matter, or types of lessons would you use this for?
4. One of my biggest concerns is that it would be more of a behavior management nightmare (checking email, downloading and playing games, etc.) than an educational tool. Any suggestions for this?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Christmas Programs
Hi Colleagues,
My first post! I've been reading and trying many of your ideas. Thanks for the help!
I'd love to vent a little bit about Christmas programs. Because I only see my kids once a week, it becomes so hard to do a seasonally themed program because we have to start the music SO early (I don't want to be singing Christmas music in October!). We are getting started pretty late on Christmas stuff (this week!), but I hope to put a practice packet together, and classroom teachers said they'd be willing to help me by practicing at other times of the week.
Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders will share the stage on Thursday, December 16th in Jordan. It's been very crowded in there before, so this year the administration has decided to host Kindergarten and their families for a performance at 5:30, 1st graders at 6:15, and 2nd graders at 7:00. Basically there are not enough seats for families to share a space with three grade levels.
Kindergarten
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, 5 Little Snowmen, and Frere Jacques)
One K class plays jingle bells along with Frere Jacques
Penguin Polka
One K class dresses like penguins
Rudolph Saves Christmas (thanks Nicole Farley, for these two resources!)
One K class holds up pictures of our characters: Rudolph, children, and storm clouds
Snowpants
One K class wears outside clothing
Christmas Clock
One K class helps keep beat with rhythm instruments
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
1st Grade
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, O Mister Snow)
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle, the Happy Bell
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle Bells
One 1st class introduces long and short sounds with movement- dance.
North Winds Blow
One 1st class talks about hibernating animals, recites facts/poem?
Goodnight Irene
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
2nd Grade
Here We Come A-Wassailing
One 2nd class plays rhythm sticks and triangle
Yuki (Snow)
One 2nd class plays coconut shells for horse hooves
Over the River and Through the Woods
One 2nd class dresses up like detectives
There's Someone in the Chimney
Russian Dance (from the Nutcracker)
One 2nd class holds up homemade snowflakes and/or paper stars, demonstrating song's form.
Snowflake Carol
One 2nd class teaches sign language for "children," "teacher," "parent," "light"
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
Now I'm looking for some transition material to go between some of the songs that students can be a part of- special skits that have worked or easy poems to split up and recite. I hopefully will have small groups of students introduce each song or grouping of song.
Wanted Subjects:
-Holidays with family
-Snow
-Penguins
-Animals hibernating for the winter
My first post! I've been reading and trying many of your ideas. Thanks for the help!
I'd love to vent a little bit about Christmas programs. Because I only see my kids once a week, it becomes so hard to do a seasonally themed program because we have to start the music SO early (I don't want to be singing Christmas music in October!). We are getting started pretty late on Christmas stuff (this week!), but I hope to put a practice packet together, and classroom teachers said they'd be willing to help me by practicing at other times of the week.
Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders will share the stage on Thursday, December 16th in Jordan. It's been very crowded in there before, so this year the administration has decided to host Kindergarten and their families for a performance at 5:30, 1st graders at 6:15, and 2nd graders at 7:00. Basically there are not enough seats for families to share a space with three grade levels.
Kindergarten
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, 5 Little Snowmen, and Frere Jacques)
One K class plays jingle bells along with Frere Jacques
Penguin Polka
One K class dresses like penguins
Rudolph Saves Christmas (thanks Nicole Farley, for these two resources!)
One K class holds up pictures of our characters: Rudolph, children, and storm clouds
Snowpants
One K class wears outside clothing
Christmas Clock
One K class helps keep beat with rhythm instruments
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
1st Grade
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, O Mister Snow)
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle, the Happy Bell
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle Bells
One 1st class introduces long and short sounds with movement- dance.
North Winds Blow
One 1st class talks about hibernating animals, recites facts/poem?
Goodnight Irene
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
2nd Grade
Here We Come A-Wassailing
One 2nd class plays rhythm sticks and triangle
Yuki (Snow)
One 2nd class plays coconut shells for horse hooves
Over the River and Through the Woods
One 2nd class dresses up like detectives
There's Someone in the Chimney
Russian Dance (from the Nutcracker)
One 2nd class holds up homemade snowflakes and/or paper stars, demonstrating song's form.
Snowflake Carol
One 2nd class teaches sign language for "children," "teacher," "parent," "light"
Let Your Light Shine Over the World
Now I'm looking for some transition material to go between some of the songs that students can be a part of- special skits that have worked or easy poems to split up and recite. I hopefully will have small groups of students introduce each song or grouping of song.
Wanted Subjects:
-Holidays with family
-Snow
-Penguins
-Animals hibernating for the winter
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