Songs for Teaching Blog - Page 2 of 49 - Using Music to Promote Learning

Back to School: Engage, Inspire and Energize with Music!

We recommend one tool that is proven to bring engagement and energy to you classroom — MUSIC!

New year, new hope.

We have seen such change over the past few years, especially in dealing with the uncertainties of a pandemic that just won’t quit, striving to secure the safety of our schools, and trying to navigate rising costs of living. It feels like the whole world has an overarching fatigue in moving forward. As teachers, among the hardest hit in all these areas, we strive everyday to approach our classrooms with hope and energy for a new year. It is this resolve that we recommend one tool that is proven to bring engagement and energy to you classroom — MUSIC! Let’s review our key strategies for using music in your classroom.

8 Key Strategies for Using Music in Your Classroom!

1. Morning and End of Day Routine Songs

Morning routine songs and end of the day songs can help define these chaotic times. Playing an up-beat hello song as the children come in the door can set a tone for a positive, productive day. Once the children understand their tasks, challenge the children to finish their jobs and be in their seats by the end of the song. Same for the end of the day routine. Kids will sing along and happily get ready to go in a timely fashion.

2. Transition Songs

As you plan out your daily schedule think about ways to transition your students from one activity to another. We have countless transition songs tailored just for this purpose — everything from going to art class, lining up, starting a math unit, or going to the bathroom.Putting movement to these transition songs (marching, fist pumps, crossing the midline, etc) has the added benefit of providing a Brain Break for the learners and helps reduce learning fatigue.

3. Set up a Listening Station

A listening station can be used as a part of a rotation of centers or it can be a place where kids can go to when their seat work is done. This can be powerful when using content driven music. Align the playlist for different units or themes in the classroom to reinforce topics covered in class. One tip is to plan for songs that match the current literature study, or your current social studies, science or math unit. As the year goes on, you can tailor this station to the differentiated needs of your students.

4. Substitute Teacher Playlist

Creating a playlist just for subs can serve as a great tool for the substitute. The kids will be engaged and it might help reduce some of the classic shenanigans that go on when the teacher is away! Again, using content based songs, you can reinforce topics you are learning in class. In your sub instructions, simply tell the teacher when to play each song. You might even want to designate a student to teach the substitute teacher the movements!

5. Mindfulness, Growth Mindset & Social Justice Songs

Mindfulness allows for children to be in tune with their body and their feelings and how one can, in turn, become empathetic and mindful of others. Planning for a few minutes of centering each day with songs that sooth, encourage or teach self awareness can create an environment for social-emotional learning.

Growth Mindset is based on the belief that children can always grow and learn – that learning is not limited or fixed. When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger and therefore they are motivated to take on challenges. Songs that encourage positivity and character can help teachers create an environment of persistence so that kids see effort as the path toward mastery.

Social justice issues have been in the forefront of society these past few years. Carefully crafted children’s songs addressing social justice issues such as diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism can help children understand these concepts based on their developmental level.

6. Plan for Upcoming Holidays

Once the year starts, it is amazing how quickly it goes. Before you know it, it will be Halloween, then Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, then the winter holidays! Sometimes these holidays can catch up on you by surprise. You can switch up your routine or transition music with holiday songs or create a playlist for a party. (We have some great streaming apps that do just the trick!). Looking for a good song for a school performance? We have several for holidays or by topic that come with instrumental tracks or sheet music for performing.

7. Perform a Musical

We have musicals for just about every content area. They are easy to use, easily adaptable, and don’t require any theatrical experience. Plus, it is a whole lot of fun! You kids will love it and your parents will too!

8. Don’t Forget Music for Your Specials!

Surf around SongsForTeaching.com and find all kinds of music for just about anything you want to teach in your classroom!

Adventure Day: Surviving the Summer Doldrums in Phoenix

Adventure Day was a big hit with the kids and became a sacred tradition that my now adult children still talk about.

Reposting this article from 2015 with a few minor edits. Today’s temperature in Phoenix is 106, so this article still stands.

Summer begins today, and while we all love the extra time with the kids, we dread those summer doldrums. Looking for guidance, I would peruse the magazine rack at the grocery store for creative ideas and find countless articles titled, “Explore the Outdoors” “Celebrate Nature this Summer” or “Send the Kids Outside to Play”. . . These are all great themes for this time of year, except . . . we live in Phoenix, Arizona where the average temperature in the summer exceeds 105 and often rises above 110.

Adventure Day at the museum The problem for most Arizona parents is that the kids are off school when the weather is at its worst. When my kids were young, I would look forward to the relaxed time with them, but dreaded being locked inside. (I suppose those of you with severe winters can relate). It was a time for creativity, so I declared one day a week devoted to library day (always a bonus that libraries have great air conditioning) and one day a week for Adventure Day.

Adventure Day was a big hit with the kids and became a sacred tradition that my now adult children still talk about. We would all brainstorm local places and activities we wanted to go or do during the summer break and write them down on individual slips of paper. Each of us (myself and my three kids) got to select two of their choices. Mom had the right to veto those items that were out of the budget, unsafe or just plain unrealistic (I had to cut flying to the California beach for the day, skydiving, and running with the bulls).

There was no grumbling allowed if you didn’t like the week’s pick because you knew yours would come soon.

Adventure Day Legos After we shared our selections we folded up the pieces of paper and put them in an Adventure Day jar. Every Sunday night before bed, we would take turns picking one paper out of the jar for that week’s Adventure Day. Adventure Day was a bit later in the week so we could plan our time. When the day came, we would hop in the car belt out our Adventure Day theme song (a parody of Hurray for Hollywood) in true Ethel Merman style.

There was no grumbling allowed if you didn’t like the week’s pick because you knew yours would come soon. I had to endure arcades and laser tag, but my kids had to cheerfully go to the art or science museum. Some weeks I would allow the kids to bring a friend, but we had the most fun when it was just us (The kids sometimes got embarrassed when mom belted out the Adventure Day theme song in the car, but that was part of the deal if you brought a friend). If the budget allowed, I would close the Adventure Day season at the end of summer break with a big-ticket item like a visit to a local water park.

morning hike Some of my favorite Adventure Days:
• Breakfast at the Zoo (the Phoenix Zoo opens early in the summer and we would pack a picnic breakfast and eat with the chimpanzees).
• Our local children’s museums or science museum – they sometimes offered summer discounts.
• Going to the airport to watch the planes take off and land (when the kids were little this was a kick, but didn’t make the list as they got older).
• We don’t have a beach, but the local “wave” pool was always on the list.
• Early morning hikes in the nearby mountains.
• Ok , I admit it . . . I did love laser tag, but the arcades drove me crazy.

Now grown, my kids will sometimes spontaneously bust out with our Adventure Day theme song when we gather! It just warms my heart (but not too warm, it is after all, Phoenix!)

Alice is the owner of Songs for Teaching. She has three adult children who still love to go on adventures together.

Create a playlist of songs for your Adventure Days this summer! See our suggestions for Songs for Summer Break See also our list of Folk Songs, Campfire Songs and our list for Library Summer Reading Program Theme Songs.

Blessings on the Middle School Music Teacher

I tip my hat to all you middle-school/junior high orchestra, band, choir directors who are planting the seeds of music and artistry for the next generation.

Yesterday, we piled into an auditorium for the end-of-the-year middle school orchestra performance. When we arrived the kids were abuzz with nervous chatter and giggles. Parents readied themselves with their cameras and bundles of flowers, while younger siblings waved frantically at the performers. The teacher hurriedly gave instructions to the control booth, rearranged chairs on the stage, tested microphones and hushed noisy kids.

While a video played welcoming the audience (both in-person and live streamed), the teacher gave a nod, and the students filed on stage. Once in their seats, the tuning began (it is middle school so it took a bit). Some students asked for help and the teacher patiently tuned up those hard worn rentals.

The teacher tapped her baton and all eyes were on her. She gave some whispered instructions, raised her baton and the students snapped into action with focused attention. Before the music began, I marveled at what a momentous fete this was.

Countless hours of dedication, coordination and hard work goes to into planning these performances. Teachers work tirelessly to give their students the opportunity to perform and bring something special to their community. It is nothing short of miraculous.

As I watched the students play their pieces two things stood out to me. The first is belonging to an orchestra, band or choir allows students, at such a pivotal time in their development, to be a part of something far bigger than themselves. There is something powerful in contributing your part no matter how small (I see you triangle players!) into a coordinated beautiful whole. The wonder, awe and joy on the students faces as they played and as they received their applause said it all.

The second thing I realized was that this is where it starts. . . the forming of future musicians, future artists. That spark of joy, awe and mastery ignites something in these students that should be nurtured and encouraged as they move on to high school and beyond. I realized these are our future symphony conductors, future rock stars, future songwriters.

So, I tip my hat to all you middle-school/junior high orchestra, band, choir directors who are planting the seeds of music and artistry for the next generation. Thank you for your contribution of beauty to our world.

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Take Time to Bond with the Earth

We must develop a bond with nature by spending time, taking care and claiming the earth as our own.

Earth Day and Every Day!

Earth Day is coming up this Friday and the internet is a buzz of activities and information. It is an important day to focus on the planet and how we as individuals can make a change to protect the earth. That said we should be focusing on the Earth EVERY DAY! This can feel daunting but we can look at the work the same way we look at raising children, putting in the daily work until they grow to be beautiful adults.

Parents Love Fiercely

As parents, we have such a deep love for our children such that we will go to any length to protect them. This fierce love is a natural expression of our deep parental bond. Consequently, it is this bond that motivates us do anything for our loved ones. So, how do we nurture that kind of fierce love for our planet? We must develop a bond with nature by spending time, taking care and claiming the earth as our own.

Ways to Nurture A Bond with the Earth

There are many facets to bonding, but building a connection starts with spending quality time! So this Earth Day, make a commitment to get outside and explore nature. If you’re a classroom teacher, take your students out to the playground and arm them with magnifying glasses to see up close and personal the tiny particles the make up our world. Or simply sit on the grass and use your five senses to nurture that relationship. See all the shades of green; smell the fresh cut of the grass; listen to the birds flying overhead; touch the blade of grass or feel the wind blowing; eat a piece of fruit and taste the sweetness knowing it too came from the same ground.

Caregiving is another important aspect of bonding. Classroom gardens or plants can give children the opportunity for caregiving. Picking up trash at the park or playground can be akin to kissing a boo boo. For older children learning about the Earth’s wounds and brainstorming ways to care for and heal those wounds can also be powerful bonding actions.

Lastly, taking ownership is a way of bonding. In parenting, this is called claiming. It is the ways parents say you are MY child and part of OUR community which gives the child a sense of belonging. For Earth Day we hope to nurture that sense that the Earth belongs to ALL of us, and we ALL need to take responsibility and action to protect our planet. Furthermore, the Earth belongs to future generations and we need to make sure the planet is healthy for our grandchildren’s grandchildren!

Take Care of Mother Earth

Now I know that we call the Earth our Mother and that I have flipped the script a bit about us taking a parental role for bonding with the Earth. But in reality, the Earth has given us so much life and it is the reciprocity of this bond that is so important. As our Artist of the Month, Birdsong, puts it in her Poem for Mother Earth, “I will take care of you, Mother Earth, as you take care of me.”