Monday, March 4, 2013

Music in the Classroom!

I love playing music for my kids!  How about you?  When students are writing during writer's workshop, cursive practice, or any other quiet work time.  My favorite CDs that I use during that time is Baby Einstein.  It's fabulous, and my students seem to enjoy and look forward to it!

I've also tried to incorporate music into some lessons as well.  If we are playing a SCOOT game (class fav!) or a scavenger hunt, I'll often play some fun "party" music.  HAHA!  This is nothing new- but Kidz Bop is just fabulous.  It is a CD of popular radio songs, but none of the bad words!  It's not the original singers, but it sounds pretty darn similar!  I explained to my kids that the music we are going to listen to was Kidz Bop and most of them had already heard of it!  We talked about how it had all appropriate words, and they all agreed to not sing any of the bad words if they knew them!  It's amazing how much this has energized my class.  They ask for it all the time!  If you haven't- check it out! :)

I just read on a blog recently- (please help me if it's you or you know what blog it is!  It's one I follow because I know I found it through my feed)  about playing a song as a signal for something.  For example "Some Nights" would signal one minute to finish up morning work and get up to calendar.  She said it was awesome- and I just thought it was brilliant!  If that's you please let me know so I can give you some credit!

I also use songs to teach concepts and skills ALL.THE.TIME.  That is a whole other post! ;)

Don't forget- I'm hosting a 100 followers giveaway!  Click here to go to yesterday's post and read about the great prizes!


I hope you had a great Monday!  We're supposed to get hit with a ton of snow overnight.  We'll see if it actually happens! :)


5 comments:

  1. Great ideas! I have taken to just choosing channels from Pandora radio. However, one day it started playing an ad for the movie "Knocked Up" which freaked me out...I'm not sure why because all the other ads are always appropriate. Anyway, makes me nervous to use it!!
    Jessica
    Literacy Spark

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  2. I do the same thing as Jessica does, Pandora's free stations. My kids love the movie scores, nature music & even sometimes the New Age! I did have an ad come up the other day too, for the first time, but it wasn't for anything bad thankfully! Btw, I am your newest follower Katie! I love your blog's style! :)

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  3. I have a collection of classical CDs I bought my first year teaching. A few years back I got a sample of music from Putumayo Kids. The songs have words, but few are in English. I love it! I find I can leave it on in the background and they do not get distracted by the words.

    My in-laws sent me a CD of Irish Celtic rock a couple years back. That one is always popular!I tried using a free station to find something similar through my classroom Apple TV, but it ended up on a song with a curse word in it. None of the kids saw it, but never again!

    I love your blog!

    Enjoy your weekend!
    Jenny
    Suntans and Lesson Plans


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  4. I play kidz bop in the classroom as well and the kiddos love it! I must admit on some Fridays at the end of the day & I can tell the kiddos feel like their brain is on overload we do DJ Ms. Darbonne (when I used my maiden name) & 2 kids would come to the carpet at a time to just dance it off. After they dance for a few seconds I would say next & the dancers would go tap another student to take their place to dance it off while the class sat in their seats wiggling & clapping to cheer on the dancers. They absolutley loved it!!! Luckily the principals never walked in while this went on but it only lasted maybe 5 minutes max. It's a good brain break. I didn't know Baby Lovely Literacy & MoreEinstein had CDs out. I have some classical CDs I play as well but I will have to check those out. And I hope you figure out who posted about playing a certain song to signal a transition in class. I L-O-V-E that idea!!!

    Brittany

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  5. Love the idea of including music in transitions. Such an easy and fun way to integrate some music into the day! Thanks for sharing, Katie. :)

    Catherine
    The Brown-Bag Teacher

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