Jericho Jenga!!

     One of our favorite games in music class is Jericho Jenga.  Students sit in a circle with a jenga stack in the middle.  One student walks the circle (to the beat) as everyone sings the first half of Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.  At "the walls came a tumblin' down" the students tops in front of someone in the circle ad that person goes to pull out a jenga block while the class sings the second half!  Repeat (over and over).  For big classes use two Jenga stacks and two people walking.

Hallway wall for everyone!!

  I am soooooo excited about the music staff in my hallway at school.  The caption is "Each of us a single note, together we create a masterpiece at DSE!"  Each note has a student's name and each color is a different class.  I am thinking I will leave it up the whole year as a teaching tool, but we will see how that goes.

Back to school

Ok, haven't written on my blog since April!  I sincerely apologize.  My goal this year will be to post more.  (Trust me, it isn't that I don't have anything to say!)
  So, that being said, my job description has changed at school.  I am now half time Dean, half time music.  I am excited that I get the chance to use my leadership skills and yet still teach what I love.  I am a little concerned about confusing the kids with the Jekyll and Hyde type of stuff, but it will all figure itself out!  My music room is ready to roll (I think) and I have decorated my office.  Bring on the kids!!

Music Centers
In classes of 25 to 32 students I decided I needed to have 6 centers per 40 minute class period
Students get through 3 - 10 minute centers per class, getting through all of them in a week.  I introduced Guitar Hero as a center and the kids are loving it!!!

Music Genre Project

We have spent several weeks learning about music genres, what makes a genre unique, and how to defend our musical preference in a musical way.  (This unit is based on Band Slam clips from the Grammy Hall of Fame.)  As a final project the students develop a CD cover for their own "band".  This is the back of the cover and they do a creative artistic design on the other side!  Look in the next few weeks for some samples!!

Band Kids are fun!!

I got to spend the weekend filling in for the PWHS Band at the Colorado State University - Pueblo Festival of Winds Honor Band.  My only issue was reminding myself that I am the teacher and not one of them!!  I am always amazed that you can work through 5 pieces of music in two days and have them performance ready.  The highlight of this festival (in addition of course to the final concert) were the 5 concerts for the students to relax and enjoy.  I enjoyed having the chance to enjoy everything from a full brass band to an electric bassoon!!

Brass Week for second grade!!  They have been learning about brass instruments and today my student teacher demonstrated trumpet and flugelhorn, then we borrowed a sousaphone from the high school and all the kids got to give it a try (with disinfectant spray between of course).  The kids LOVED it!!

Cute Kindergarteners

As my student teacher greeted Kindergarteners at the door on says, "Hello Mr. Bumblebee!"  Cute, I thought because he is teaching them a Bumblebee chant to work on loud and quiet.  As they leave that day the student comes up to me and says, "You know why I call him Mr. Bumblebee?"  I of course replied because of the Bumblebee chant.  She says, "No?  Because I don't know his name!!"

Pinterest

My Elementary Music Pinterest Board

How did I ever teach before Pinterest???  I love seeing other peoples ideas and blogs!!

Thursday, January 17

     I have a very well prepared student teacher.  He has jumped in and is taking over with confidence and skill.  Everyone should have a students teacher at some point.  I have started remembering all of the  little things I used to do to make life easier.
  Today it is transferring sleep position, ready position, playing position from first grade rhythm sticks to fourth grade precorder.
           - sleep position (instruments on the floor, no sound)
           - ready position
                    (with sticks it was on the knees, no sound; with pecorders it is at the chin no sound.)
           - playing position (time to play)

Worksheet for First Grade on music symbols.  First Quarter we do them together and the students take them home.  Third quarter they do them on their own as an assessment.

January 

  I love reading other music teachers blogs so I will attempt my own.  We all have so much to share, it is a matter of finding a venue.  So here I will share music education thoughts, music thoughts in general, as well as some crafty things I like.  I hope anyone who looks likes what they see!