Friday, December 11, 2015

Sleigh Ride Cup Song

In 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades we have been exploring the history of "The Cup Song" activity, the song When I'm Gone and learning our own version of this activity, using the Christmas song Sleigh Ride. The website and video with the activity we have been using are available below.

Here is the cup song activity/history website, from Midnight Music Technology:
http://midnightmusic.com.au/2013/09/the-complete-guide-to-the-cup-song/

Here is the Sleigh Ride tutorial video:

Now all you need is 2 cups!!! Have fun practicing!

The Nutcracker Plate Activity for K, 1st, and 2nd

This week Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades have been learning a little about The Nutcracker, which they are very excited about! Most students recognize the music from Little Einsteins, so excellent job, parents, introducing your children to this music from an early age. Also, many students have recognized the Sugar Plum Fairy tune from the movie Home Alone.

Recordings of The Nutcracker are available from many places and performers. I have a subscription to Rhapsody, and the link for the album I'm using is available here.

This website has a video with the motions we are doing in class. We used heavy-duty white paper plates, and they worked great!

http://emilyskodalymusic.blogspot.com/2014/12/favorite-nutcracker-activities-for.html


Sunday, December 6, 2015

K-2 Holiday Concert Monday

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the Holiday Concert for Kindergarten, first, and second grades tomorrow! Doors will be open for seating at 6:00 p.m. At that time, students are welcome to head to their assigned room to prepare for the concert. Kindergarten will meet in Ms. S' former classroom, which is in the kindergarten hallway. 1st grade will meet in the music room, and 2nd grade will meet in the library. Students are to dress in colors of the holiday season-red, green, silver, gold, white. Look festive! See you there!

Friday, November 20, 2015

The Lion King Jr

Many students have shown interest in seeing "The Lion King Jr" performed by Artstarts at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center this weekend. Tickets for all 3 performances are selling out fast, so you may want to call ahead to be sure tickets are still available. If you get the chance to see it, I would love to hear your thoughts on the performance. I'll be there on Sunday! I can't wait!



Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Recorder Karate for 3rd and 4th Grades

3rd and 4th grade students are beginning a new recorder program called Recorder Karate. It is incorporating songs from our Quaver curriculum. All information is available at the following link:

GJAL Recorder Karate

Once you get there, you may access the original note being sent home, the recorder rubric, and all songs needed to earn recorder belts. For more detailed information about this exciting program, please refer to the note at the GJAL Recorder Karate link.

Once students have earned a belt, they will put their name on the Recorder Karate board in the classroom.

Here is an example of a recorder with all belts earned!
 

Monday, October 19, 2015

America's White Table and Reminders


  • 5th grade students, don't forget that essays for the essay contest are due this Friday, October 23. Information is posted on a previous post.
  • When report cards come home, please take the time to look over the 2nd quarter specials newsletter from the entire specials team: Music, PE, and Technology.


Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Veterans Day Activities for 5th Grade

We are preparing for the Veterans Day Concert in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. The concert is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium.

There is an essay contest for 5th grade students. The necessary papers are included in Jpeg format below. They are also available at school.


In addition to this, 5th grade students who would like to may audition to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" for the start of the concert. The music for this song is also included at the following link. https://drive.google.com/a/mhs.org/file/d/0B6j_nw8SC2ccdnRwTFpDVkx5anc/view?usp=sharing

Friday, September 4, 2015

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Music Story Time

This week we have been singing to the book "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." We use an old lady puppet, along with a bunch of animals she swallows in the book. The kids love this song!

This book can be purchased at the following weblink:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670869392/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687522&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0859531341&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KBDY6DNXFMJMJXF59KB

Friday, August 28, 2015

A Couple New Books, Concert Dates, and Newsletter

Concert dates are set for this year:

  • Tuesday, November 10 is the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Veterans Day Concert. It is at 6:30, with doors opening at 6:00.
  • Monday, December 7 is the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade Holiday Concert. It is at 6:30, with doors opening at 6:00.
  • Friday, April 15 is the Kindergarten musical and the 3rd and 4th grade recorder concert. More details will go home at a later date.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

I Got the Rhythm Music Book

During the last music cycle, kindergarten students used the book "I Got the Rhythm" to move their bodies and explore ways to keep the beat. To find out more or purchase this book, go to the following link: 

http://www.amazon.com/I-Got-Rhythm-Connie-Schofield-Morrison/dp/1619631784

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Kindergarten Story Time

This specials cycle kindergarten students listened to the book, "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" We practiced singing part of it, and we acted out parts of it. Then we learned interesting facts about the ear.



You can purchase this on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Ears-Hang-Read-Along/dp/0545651360

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

How "Specials" Classes Work

Many times parents are unsure of how the specials classes work at our school. Each day your child will attend a specials class (music, PE, or technology) for 45 minutes. On half days, these classes are 25 minutes. We are on a 3-day rotation for specials, so rather than your child attending music on a day of the week, such as Monday, they attend on either blue, yellow, or white day. All classes, except for 1st grade, remain on the same rotation all year. When I refer to a group of days (blue, yellow, white) I call it a cycle. Here is the schedule of classes for 1st Quarter in music:


Story Time

Throughout the year, we will use books we can sing to, dance to, or learn about music from in the music room. As these books are read, I will post a link to the book. The children often ask where they can get the book, so I will always try to post a link to purchase it, also. I usually shop from Amazon ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Floor-Raffi-Songs-Read/dp/0517885530

This is the first book we have read and moved to in kindergarten.

Friday, August 14, 2015

2015-2016 School Year

The school year is off to a great start! As important events are scheduled, I will begin to put dates on this blog, as well as sending them home in student backpacks. So, keep your eyes open for this important information. 

All music class lesson plans are listed to the side of this screen in a list. Click on the dates you are looking for, and you will be redirected to a separate screen. The lessons are in PDF format. Just click the back arrow to take you back. If anyone has any questions about any of the songs or activities, please email or call. There is a teacher contact form to the right hand side of this blog. 

Please take the time to sign up for updates to this blog, also along the right hand column. You will then receive an email any time it is updated.

I'm looking forward to this year with all of your children!!

Saturday, January 31, 2015

IL Music Education Conference Day 4 Notes

8:30-9:30
Managing Extreme Behaviors in Elementary Music Classrooms-Christine Lapke
Base things on a PBIS model.
Just because you teach something doesn't mean learning is taking place.
Conditions provided by teachers and subsequent student actions:
1. Expectations and Procedures: 
Get real: Follow directions first time given-sets students with ADHD up for failure
Calming or finding our focus:
Beyond transitions, might need a quiet place, a place to walk, something to squeeze
Motion Breaks
Teach them how to cope: wheel of choices, coping wheel, darn-it doll
Procedures-to set them up for success!
How to enter and leave the room:
How to move to instruments:
When to move to instruments: Only when they're going to play
What to do with mallets? Ready position 1, ready position 2
Sing while distributing papers.
Moving to music in our Safe Place.
Keep them busy or they will keep themselves busy.
Staying on the correct page in the book: Project the book, Smart book, Big books
Seating charts
Seating comfort (Maslow): Sometimes the floor is not comfortable for all children
Opening and closing songs: "Jambo"-hello in many languages, these songs are like giving a hug when they walk in the room.
How do we teach expectations?
Have them practice the expectations in isolation.
Ask students why the expectation is important.
Ask  students to develop expectations/procedures.
2. How to Establish these Expectations
Teacher Reaction: Make eye contact, use physical signal, state the expected behavior, tell the student to stop, cue with marking a notecard that they are holding
Tangible Recognition: For the desired behavior or cessation of inappropriate, Often a behavior chart for Tier 2 or 3 (specific for that student, goals), Eat lunch with them, Spend time with them at recess, Personal care items, Remembe the causes of EDB
Direct Cost: Time alone, Draw or write about a better choice, Lose a turn, "I will hold your mallets", Group Contingency (Positive peer pressure, Natural supports), Home contingency (iTunes card, parents buy apps), 
Easy behavior tracker app, Social story
Maslow-When you follow these expectations....Focus on the reward of music!
Do not follow the expectations....Focus on the loss of music!
3. Teacher-Student Relationships
Making eye contact
Establish clear learning goals
App: Silent Light-Classroom Timer and Decibel Meter by Glen Storey
Provide flexible learning goals
Taking a personal interest in students:
Before and after class/school
Music journal or note card-what do they like
Say hello to each student
Greet them at the door
Feedback is better than Praise: Instead of "You're such a good musician" say "You sound great because...."
4. Mental Set
Stay Calm and Rationally Objective
Keep your sense of humor
Laugh
Reward yourself
Sometimes you need help, and sometimes the non-disruptive students need help coping with a classmate.
App: You Can Handle Them All

9:45-10:45
Intentional Movement in the Movement Classroom-Lillie Feierabend
Discussion of neuronal fiber growth from birth through early childhood
Fingerplay: One on one, then small group, then large group
Gross Motor: Do the same thing
Three Little Words: 
Developmental: 
Kinesthetic
Proprioseptive

11:00-12:00
The Road to Improvisation-Brian Burnett
All interactive-handout given

1:00-2:00
Props, Toys, Games & Strategies for Developing Confident Elementary Age Singers
Vocal Exploration: Beach ball, Tennis ball (cut hole and draw face), rubberband (to show embouchure), mirror (to look at self), Sing-a-ma-jig (toy's mouth shows embouchure), Hoberman Sphere
WarmUps learned
Assessments ideas discussed
Research about the childs' developing voice discussed
Student self-singing evaluation and Post-concert evaluation
Tricck-performing frog (only responds when you ask in a singing voice), Sirens, Stories with repeated vocal sounds, slide whistle (imitate with voice), Flying Pig (vocal explorations), whistling tubes

2:15-3:15
Authentic Assessment-Brian Burnett
Handout on Orff website
Five Reasons to Assess: Report progress to others, Feedback to the students, Homogeneous grouping, Evaluate instructional program, Extinguish unwanted behaviors
Assessment, not Measurement
Rubric Structure: List the criteria for a piece of work, or "what counts." Establish the graduations from "Excellent" to "Poor" with between 4-6 items of quality.
4-Yes
3-Yes, but...
2-No, but...
1-No
Music Skill Criteria:
Vocal Skill-Pitch, Pattern-objective, Keyality-tonal center, Tone/Diction
Rhythm Skill-Steady beat, Pattern-objective, Phasing: rush/drag, Hand/body position
Citizenship (these address state standards): Cooperation/Leadership, Cultures, Historic Context
Literacy (reported 3+): Form/Symbols, Notation: Rhythm/Pitch, Improvisation
Shenanigans CD (Australia)


Friday, January 30, 2015

IL Music Education Association Conference Day 3

8:30-9:30
What's Going on in That Classroom?: The Wonderful and Varied Possibilities of Student-Centered Ensembles 


How do "we" as a class do this? Not "I" as a teacher.

9:45-10:45
Creative Movement for All
A completely interactive session giving ideas for incorporating movement, art, and music.

11:00-12:00
Cooperative Music Learning: Fostering Independence 
Billie Jean by The Bottle Boys, an example of collaboration 
The 4Cs: Critical thinking/Problem Solving, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration 
PIES-Positive Interdependence Individual Accountability 

1:15-2:15
Applying Multiple Intelligence Theory in the Music Classroom: The Math Connection 
Handout on the ILMEA website 
Do More from An Enemy Called Average 
Athenian Model of Education:
Body-Physical Education 
Spirit-Singing, Dancing 
Mind-Mathematics 
Howard Gardner's Frames of Mind:
Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalist
Every child that comes to our door is a portfolio of these intelligences, not one particular one. 
Learning about music does not strengthen Musical Intelligence but does use music to strengthen other intelligences. Doing music does strengthen music intelligence. 
Instructional Strategies:
Explicit, meaningful, intentional, worthwhile 
Johnny Had One Friend: Addition, Estimation 
Patterns: Musical Forms, Literacy 
Algebra and Functions: Mary, Over in the Meadow, Mulberry, Chop Chop
Qualitative Changed: Minka, Riding in a Buggy 
Numerical and Proportional Reasoning: Number songs (this old man, 5 little ...., hickory dock pry dock, over in the meadow), operations (wheevily wheat, muffin man, wishy washy, rig a jig jig)
Ratios/percents/proportions 
Spatial relationships (Bluebird, squirrel)
Sequence Events (Tailor and the Mouse, Clementine, Mouse, Cousin Peter)
Positional Language (Creative movement, Jack in the box, In and out the Window)

2:30-3:30
Differentiate Instruction Using Movement 
Handout on the ILMEA website 
Use gross motor on body to help with fine motor on recorder. Remember to hold if the fingers don't come up on the recorder! 
One side, other side, both sides, alternate
In 2nd grade have students practice moving fingers (left hand especially) to prepare for playing recorders 
Flutaphones for self-contained students who have major difficulty finding/covering holes 

3:45-4:45
Applying Multiple Intelligence Theory in the Music Classroom: The Linguistic Connection  
Learning styles, Personality styles, Gardner's frames of mind
Language on walls:
Assignment on board, instrument names on tubs, etc; Objectives on wall, Composer names/pictures, word wall (different types)
Early Literacy Instructional Goals 
Book: Mama Don't Allow 
Sense of Story and Sequence: She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain, The Fox, Hush Little Baby 
Phonemic Awareness/Phonics: Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go-Catch a little bear and.... (kids make a book and the book goes home from the classroom). 
Every Friday send home a letter encouraging kids to sing, or put it on website. 
Background knowledge/Vocabulary: London Bridge is Falling Down (architect, wood and clay, iron and steel)
Basic Spelling Patterns (Kindergarten): Wake Up You Lazy Bones 
Comprehension Strategies: Prediction, Teach them not to be afraid to give answers...they are not wrong; Infer, Question, Determine Importance, Summarize/Synthesize

5:00-6:00
Collaborative Integration of the National Core Arts Standards into the Elementary Music Curriculum 


Thursday, January 29, 2015

IL Music Education Conference Day 1 & 2 Notes

January 28, 2015
8:00
Air National Guard Concert Band
What an outstanding performance put on by this band out of Peoria! I especially enjoyed their patriotic music and wish I could share this live experience with my students. You can check out this group at ANG Band of the Midwest on Facebook!

January 29, 2015
9:00-10:00
The PERA Law and Measuring Student Growth 
Growth defined: the change in performance between two points in time, must occur along the same continuum for learning 
Why is growth fair? Takes into account measures beyond control of the school, no penalty for where the student entry point is for achievement, focuses less on "bubble" students
Current measures of success: Schoolwide vs. in music
Assessment means any instrument that measures a student's acquisition of specific knowledge and skills. Assessments used in the evaluation of teachers, principals, and assistant principals shall be aligned to one or more instructional areas articulated in the Illinois Learning Standards...
Assessment Types:
Type I: No existing ones for music
Type II (Team): We need to develop district-wide performance rubrics to adapt for each area. Also, possibly in other areas (rhythm, melody, etc)
Type III (Individual): Sight-reading, playing/singing, rhythm dication, etc., must align to curriculum 

10:15-11:45
Opening General Session and Keynote: Milt Allen
We need to look at what we have, not at what we don't have.
We are dealing with people. Let's learn to deal with them.
Kids: Brain development-tons of brain synapses, have developed primary and secondary emotions
12-13 year olds and up: Develop taste, puberty, oxytocin (hug drug), dopamine levels are high, frontalization, more conscious control over thoughts and actions, great experiences hugely impact them, all areas of the brain light up when they perform or even just think about music 
Let's consider that the next Mozart is sitting in our class!
Parents: Our biggest advocates and decision makers 
Boomers: reward with recognition and status 
Generation X: chance to be involved (Latchkey Gen)
Millennialist: Personal and public chance to develop 
Generation AO: 24 hour of access "breadth not depth"
Look for more at Milt Allen website!
Looking at us: Why did we choose this profession in the first place? Finding that passion will help light up that Mozart in our classroom. 
Start showing that music is relevant, rather than important. Don't fight for excellence, fight for artistry. Do what you can, where you are, with selfless teaching. 

12:30-1:30
Non-Traditional Composing in the General Music Classroom 
MART: Music-Art Fusion
     Contour line Project
     Kandinsky Soundscapes 
Found Sound or Inspired Composition 
     Nature songs
     PBL-Problem-Based Learning 
Composing with Iconic Notation
     Open composing
     Playing with notation 
Aleatoric Composing 
     Rolling the dice 
How do I assess these projects?
     Can they respond?
     Rubrics, discussion, debate, performance critique

1:45-2:45
Active and Creative Classrooms: An Introduction to the Orff Classroom 
All of the following activities have Danielson domains noted throughout the lessons:
What fun to be in Peoria!
Chicka-Boom (I already use this book, and this is a great musical activity to accompany it)
Gray (recorders)
Movement Inspired by shapes
Music classrooms have to have activity, creativity, and community.
Allow students choices.

3:00-4:00
Common Core in the General Music Classroom 
Extras handouts will be on the ILMEA website
Listening log: Adjective list
Music tells a story: Use music without lyrics, use 4 sheets of paper, paper slide video
Video: Sand Art, Ukraine's Got Talent- Sets the stage to tell a story through the music and art.
Resources: Powtoon, wideo.com, animoto, discovery Ed, safeshare.com (use to show a YouTube video without ads)
What songs? Nickle Creek, Broadway Overtures, less known movie music
The Best Beatle: Comparative Organizer 
Stations in the Music Classroom
1. Think about noise
2. Anchor yourself strategically 
3. Only have one high-maintenance center
4. Think about how students are grouped 
5. Give you and your students enough time 
Ideas: 
Solfege fun
Rhythm cards
Compare/contrast: Must be focused!
     Description (hook), Comparison, Conclusion, (Are the items more alike or different? What is the Biggest difference/similarity?), Application 

4:15-5:15
iPads in Music Education: The Latest Trends, Apps, Accessories, and Strategies 
For Chromebook: Noteflight or NeoScores
Ipad latest and best: iPad Air 2, do not buy less than 64GB
If interested in mini, get last years model 64GB 
If you have ipad 1-3, soon 4 it is almost time to upgrade, due to 64-bit notice that came out 2 weeks ago.
Mirroring-See Tony Vincent's "10 Ways to Mirror an iPad"
iOS 8' most exciting change? MIDI over bluetooth LE
Best accessories: Airturn foot pedal, Apple TV, VGA dongle, thegigeasy iPad mounts, styluses (Evernote boxwave capactive stylus, Magnus stylus with microfiber)
New: Jamstik, mi. 1 wireless MIDI dongle (connect iPad to keyboard), c24 keyboard case, bluetooth styluses 
Apps:
Forscore (pitch, tuner, audio recorder), 
Notion
Notability or Noteshelf (notetaking)
PDF expert $10 get signatures, etc. within PDFs
NotateMe with PhotoScore ($70)
NotateMeNow (for one-line compositions is free)
Attendance2
Flubaroo, Socrative, Kahoot (like a game show)
Showbie (performance assessments)
Keynote (Warmups and announcements)
Incorporate writing (AVID, WICOR, Google forms, Showbie)
Accompanist (Norton)
Remind (communication)
Videos (Titan video player)


     

Monday, January 26, 2015

Mrs. Hanson at Conference: January 29-31

After school on January 28, Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Schubert (Carruthers) will be heading to Peoria for the annual state music educator's conference. During this time Mrs. Pugh will be teaching in the music room. The following lessons will be taught:

Kindergarten:

  • White Day (Thursday)-Watch a nursery rhyme DVD, followed by the extra recess at the end of specials.
  • Blue Day (Friday/Half Day)-Have Farkle McBride read to them, reinforcing the instruments/families previously learned about, followed by one or two movement activities from Go Noodle.
1st and 2nd Grade:
  • Watch part of the original Fantasia DVD, along with a couple brain breaks at the end of class
3rd Grade
  • Unit 1 of The Firebird by Stravinsky
4th and 5th Grade
  • Unit 1 of Appalachian Spring by Copland
During the conference Mrs. Hanson will post updates about sessions she is attending!