Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Teaching with Music

I have a personal goal to add music to my classroom. As a writing teacher last year, a few times I played Classical Music during independent writing time. I found it soothing. As a homeroom teacher, my class last year loved playing Musical Chairs using my Showtunes CDs. I attended a PD session with Ron Nash in August who suggested ways to have a more active classroom and he reminded me of the benefits of music with children. That day I set my goal that day.

Today is the first day of school for me. It is extra special because I'm on the staff opening a new school in Arlington county, VA called Discovery ES. We were in the Washington Post yesterday and Channel 4 News is coming today. As our website and the news article point out, our school is built with sustainability in mind. It is arranged by theme, starting with the environment closest to us in Kindergarten - your backyard neighborhood. Then it moves out to Forest and Ocean in 1st and 2nd. To get to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, you move upstairs to the Atmosphere, Solar System and Galaxy.

I'm a 3rd grade Atmosphere Aviator Teacher!! My classroom sign is RAIN and my teammates include snow, sleet, hail and freeing rain (and after a closer look at the definitions, these terms are all different!)

Last night I reminded my daughter how I wanted to bring more music into the classroom and would she help me.

"How about "Singing in the RAIN?!" she exclaimed.

"Perfect!!"

"You can have raindrops and umbrellas on the birthday graph! And you can add SINGING Happy Birthday in the Rain to the birthday display," she further suggested and we laughed!

After another hour, she set me up with a spotify account and a RAIN playlist.
(Thanks, Anne!! You help me so much to look good as a teacher!)

Who knew there are so many great songs about RAIN?

This year, Room 212-Rain at Discovery ES will be rocking and rolling.


If you find yourself in my neighborhood, please stop by to dance along with us!
And if not, take time to add a little music to your day!!

10 comments:

  1. Happy first day, Sally!
    Love your goal and this post. It makes me want to be part of your school and team!
    Hope you'll write a companion piece later this year about how you used more music in your classroom.

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    1. I look forward to telling you more in person on the 16th!!

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  2. Happy first day, Sally!
    Love your goal and this post. It makes me want to be part of your school and team!
    Hope you'll write a companion piece later this year about how you used more music in your classroom.

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  3. Sally, How I wish you had one of my teachers as a child. Music and movement help bring learning to a new level. Can't wait to hear more.

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  4. Wow! Love the themes in your new building. Your song list is sure to be a hit - two songs by CCR AND Julie Andrews . . . something for everyone!

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  5. Oh my gosh Sally! What a year this will be for you and your kiddos! I can't wait to read more about this wonderful learning community. Happy First Day!

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  6. Oh my, this is fun! Your classroom pics on Twitter yesterday were amazing, and the names and themes... too much fun. Enya has some rain themed songs too, really relaxing stuff.
    And, I too have wanted to use more music this year. I printed out the lyrics to "Naughty" and "When I Grow Up" from Matilda. Those songs are really perfect for close reading and symbolism. And I think "Naughty" is the perfect anti-fixed mindset song! Have a great first week Sally!

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  7. Oh my, this is fun! Your classroom pics on Twitter yesterday were amazing, and the names and themes... too much fun. Enya has some rain themed songs too, really relaxing stuff.
    And, I too have wanted to use more music this year. I printed out the lyrics to "Naughty" and "When I Grow Up" from Matilda. Those songs are really perfect for close reading and symbolism. And I think "Naughty" is the perfect anti-fixed mindset song! Have a great first week Sally!

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    1. Thanks for the song suggestions!!
      I loved having the background music playing today!!
      And this school is a bit over the top designed!!
      It has an indoor twisty slide from the 2nd floor down to the 1st!
      We all danced to the video Tara shared - Brave and even I felt brave enough yo go down it!!

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  8. Love the sense of fresh ideas and energy in this new school year, Sally. Your playlist sounds like such fun!

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