Make It / Take It for Music Teachers

Last Winter I organized a Make It / Take It for the Kodaly Music Educators of Kansas.

I thought I would share with you what we did at this make it/ take it in case other districts, chapters, or groups of music teacher friends are interested in putting together their own "Make It / Take It".

We decided that we would make the following manipulatives/games at our workshop:

1) Solfege texting sticks

For this manipulative, each teacher got a set of Popsicle sticks and a pentatonic page of the texting tone ladders to cut out. We stuck them to the Popsicle sticks with rubber cement. It was a little sticky. Hot glue might work better, but glue along the top edges of the paper will help keep students from picking the paper off the sticks. Download a FREE template here.

(Photo credit: Jennifer Patterson)

A few ideas for using them:

-        Sing a known song on solfege and have students use finger to “text” the solfege as they sing

-        Sing a known song on words and have the students “text” the solfege

-        Sing do pentatonic melodic patterns and have students echo as they “text” the pattern

-        Sing melodic patterns on neutral syllable and have students respond with the solfege as they text. 

2) Foam rhythm cubes

Teachers got a set of 16 cubes. You can order them in bulk here. They could chose what rhythms to put on the sides. I really wanted a set for just ta, titi, ta rest, and takadimi (tika-tika, etc.), so I left two sides blank. Leaving those sides blank opens up the opportunity for student composing or improv if they can fill in their own rhythm on those empty beats. 

Ideas for use:

-        Students use the cubes in centers or small groups to find the rhythms of known songs (8 or 16 beats)

-        Compose new rhythm

-        Dictate 4 beat rhythm patterns

-     Compose or improvise new patterns on the blank cubes.

3) Sorted bags of colored transparent bingo chips to use on student high low charts or staves

There wasn't anything to make at this station, but a lot of teachers wanted these bingo chips to use on their high/low charts and staves. I have a high low chart, a staff without the clef, and a staff with the clef that is laminated for each student in my class. These chips are cool because although they are colored, they are transparent, so students can see the line going through the middle of them if it is supposed to be on a line and they fit between the lines perfectly for space notes. Each teacher got 250 chips and they could put however many they wanted in bags depending on their class sizes. You can order these chips in bulk here.

Ideas for use:

-        Use the chips to notate, dictate, or compose melodic patterns on student staff paper

4) Four Beat Heartbeat Charts

Teachers got 120 heart die cuts and 30 strips of paper that were cut/punched out ahead of time. They glued down the hearts four to a strip to create 4 beat heartbeat charts. 

Ideas for use:

-        Students may tap the beat to known folk songs or recorded music

-        Students use Popsicle sticks to dictate patterns on top of the heartbeats

-        Students use erasers, beads, etc. to show how many sounds they hear on each beat

5) I Have, Who Has game cards

I had a class set of "I Have, Who Has - Tika-tika" cards printed for KMEK members. If you want a ready to print set of cards, you can find them in my TpT store here (lots of different concepts are available), or you could create a rhythm list and create your own cards by handwriting them. If using my set with a big group of teachers, email me at lindsayjervis@hotmail.com for special pricing on additional licenses. The teachers who attended the workshop just had to cut them out and laminate them! 

Prep Work Before the Workshop

To prep for the make it / take it workshop, I spent a lot of time looking for ideas on Pinterest. I put together a Pinterest board with some ideas and let KMEK members comment in our Facebook group to say which manipulatives they would like for us to make. You can see the idea board here.
Once we decided what we were going to make, I ordered all of the materials. Some KMEK members helped in advance cutting out all of the heart die cuts cutting strips for the heart beat charts. Once we had enough materials for all of the participants, we sorted everything into bags for each teacher and I printed up a contents sheet with instructions and ideas for use for everything in the bag. Download the instructions page we used here and feel free to edit it for your own personal use!

Participants had to pre-register for the workshop so that we could anticipate how many sets of materials we would need to order. There was a lot of prep work that went into this workshop to make it a success, but it was a lot of fun, and our students got to have lots of new hands on manipulatives and games to use in music class as a result! It is always so much more fun to make these things with a group of friends than on your own, and you can benefit from buying in bulk if you are splitting the costs between several teachers.

Here are a few more photos of our make it / take it workshop:

If you have any questions about our make it/take it workshop or organizing your own, please do not hesitate to email me at LindsayJervis@hotmail.com

Listen to Myself Challenge

I'm linking up with fellow Kansas blogger, David, from Make Moments Matter to take part in the Listen to Myself Challenge.

He shared this article, 5 Things to Say to Your Class Every Day and challenged us to think about the things we are saying to our students. So below are the things I try to say, want to avoid saying, and things I need to say more often.

#1 - Compliments

Compliments go a long way with kids. They want to know that you are more than just their music teacher. You are a person and when you compliment them or notice new things about them, you are acknowledging that they are important people to you. I always try to take the time as kids are coming into my room to assess their moods, say "good morning" or "good afternoon", but going even farther to say "I like your shirt," "Did you get new shoes?" or "I like your new haircut!" can really brighten their day. I challenge you to find three kids to compliment on their way into your room every day.

#2 Avoid Escalating Bad Behavior

I have a hand full of kids who can easily be set off and a situation can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds if not handled in just the right way. In some cases I have had to learn that it is not "my way or the highway," but I can keep things more calm in my room if I remove myself from the situation and give the student a moment to calm down, whether that is in my resting spot, out in the hall, or with another teacher.

I need to remember that sometimes there are just other things going on in these kids' lives that are contributing to these behaviors. I had a student who was really disruptive in class a few weeks ago. After class I pulled him aside and asked what was going on. He said he hadn't had breakfast that morning and he was late for school so he couldn't eat at school and he was just so hungry. I know this is a family that we always have to make sure the kids eat breakfast because they are not getting enough to eat at home. Instantly my attitude about the whole situation changed. I sent him to the nurse to get some crackers and he came to my room to apologize after school. Sometimes it is hard to remember it is not always a conflict with the student and myself, but that it could be something totally unrelated.

#3

I want to try this week to celebrate the musician in each of my students. So often when a student sings or plays I don't make a big deal of it because it is just normal and second nature to my kids. Last week, my first graders were playing "Doggie Doggie" and one said, "____________ has a beautiful singing voice." I said "Wow! Yes she does!" I feel like it is so important to recognize the musician in every student to give them the courage to want to sing and play both with the class and alone. 

I challenge you to listen to your teacher self. What do you like/don't like about the things you say to your students? What changes are you going to try to make?

A special treat for you- for Veteran's Day my entire store will be 15% off. My brother in law served in Iraq. I need to remember to take a moment today to thank him for volunteering for a job that I would be too scared to do. Make sure to thank a veteran today.

You can check out my newest games- Steal the Bacon. I learned about this game from Linda Wood, who posted it in the comments on my facebook page requesting that I make cards for the game. 

The cards look like this: 

Just print, cut down center, and laminate to last forever!

Game directions: 

Set up: Set up two rows of chairs facing each other (like longways sets). Students are seated in chairs facing the row across from them. Each side is one team. Students number off the teams from opposite ends of the rows, so that each child knows their number. Rhythm pattern cards are scattered in between the rows allowing plenty of room to run. Teacher claps/says/or plays a rhythm pattern and then says a number. The students on both teams with that number run in to get the correct rhythm pattern; however, there is only one card for each pattern. They must get the correct rhythm pattern and get back to their seat before the other player can tag them. If tagged, the other player gets to “steal their bacon” and take the card back to their line. Continue until you clap/say all cards and then the cards for each team are counted. You can have some kind of reward if you choose to. Students whose numbers are not called cannot leave their seats. If a student leaves their seat to “help when their number is not called the other team automatically wins the “bacon”.

This game would be great for your upper elementary and even middle school kids- I've even made a few sets for older beginners! :)

I have sets for the following concepts and I'm working on more!

Ta and Titi

Ta Rest

Half note

Tiri-Tiri

Ti-Tiri

Tiri-Ti

Syncopa

Tim-ri

Or if you are interested in several concepts, you should check out the money-saving bundle: 

Steal the Bacon: Bundled Set

I love how the internet connects us in this way to people all over the world! I'd love to see where you are reading this blog from. Comment below with where you teach!

Happy Veteran's Day,

Lindsay

Thoughts on Kodaly Certification

So far this summer has flown by! I can't believe June is almost over! I finished up my Level 3 Kodaly Certification at Wichita State University a week ago and learned so much under the direction of Susan Tevis. I loved seeing my previous Levels instructors, Jo Kirk, and Lisa Simmelink and having them meet my daughter, Ellie. 

Here is a little reflection on my experience taking my levels training over the past three year for anyone who is pursuing Kodaly Certification.

I was exposed to very little of the Kodaly Method in my undergraduate and really did not have any idea or appreciation for how it worked. I saw some of the sol-mi folk songs and thought "how boring" and had no intention of every being an elementary music teacher or going through my Kodaly Certification. 

During my student teaching my elementary cooperating teacher was not a Kodaly teacher, but she did use a similar system for counting rhythms. I saw how well her kids could read rhythms and I was really impressed, but they didn't do much singing or melodic reading. While student teaching, the school district brought in Leigh Ann Garner for an elementary professional develop day and this was really my first real look at what Kodaly is. I couldn't believe how much fun we were having while singing, playing instruments, and even more importantly reading both rhythmic and melodic elements. I was in love with her style of teaching, the songs choices and the games she played and I knew that if I were able to teach music in that way, that I would love teaching elementary music and I could make a difference in my students love of music and their ability to really read music.

I couldn't afford to take my level 1 training the summer after I graduated, so I was a camp counselor for the Children's Kodaly Choir Camp at WSU and I had the privilege of observing Elaine Quilichini work with the students who attended the camp. Their vocal transformation in one week was astounding.

The next summer I was able to take my Kodaly Level 1 under the direction of Jo Kirk. It was everything I wanted and needed at the time. She was full of love and support as showed us how joyful teaching music should be. Jo is so precise on every single step of her lessons, whether it is directions for a circle game or presenting a concept. It is amazing to watch her! We spent a lot of time in level 1 focusing on analyzing the song materials and learning about the Kodaly sequence. Suddenly the sol-mi songs made sense! :)  Everything is so developmentally appropriate for the children, which really leads them to music literacy.

In Kodaly Level 2 with Lisa Simmelink, we looked at each of the concepts and spent time learning songs and games to teach each one well. We also focused on planning individual lessons, concepts plans, and yearly plans. This was such a huge help to me! I feel like I am a lot more organized because of Lisa! 

Everything really came together for me in Level 3. We didn't spend as much time on each of the concepts, but we spent a lot of time on one, and it was nice to see one concept prepare, presented and practiced really well and we can use that experience to apply to the others. Susan spent a lot of time on musical transitions. I couldn't believe the thought she put into each lesson connecting songs to create one seamless lesson! This is definitely something I can aspire to and try to do in my own teaching! We also spent more time peer teaching. I have been so blest to have the most supportive group of teachers in my level all three years, but teaching other teachers is always a bit intimidating! It is a great opportunity to practice how you are going to give clear, concise direction and try out different activities before trying them with my own kids!

Without a doubt going through the Kodaly Certification program has changed my life and my teaching. I feel like I am more a more joyful, thoughtful, and purposeful teacher because of it and I would encourage any music teacher who is considering it to take the plunge! You will never look back and regret it!  It is definitely a lot of hard work, but that is nothing when you see what you have gained. 

If you have any questions about Kodaly Certification or taking it at WSU, please feel free to ask in the comments below or send me a personal message at LindsayJervis@hotmail.com

By the way, everything in my TpT store is 15% off 6/23/13-6/24/13! 

Click the picture below to check out the sale!

I have recently added some "I Have, Who Has" Rhythm Games:

This game is in the American Methodology and I some cute cards. They are available by concept and each concepts has a different color - to keep me organized! You also have the option to print in black and white if you don't have access to a color printer, but I would print them on different colored paper  if you go that route! Always print on cardstock and laminate if you can and then you will have it to use for many, many years. 

Check out my level 1 game by clicking on the picture below:

This set would be perfect for older beginners and so I have also included it in my Older Beginner Collection. If you have already purchased that, you're lucky- simply go to "my purchases" on TpT and re-download the file at no additional cost!

Or you can check out my ta-a and tiri-tiri set here:

Check back soon for more sets!

I hope you are having a great summer,

Rhythm Flashcard Mega Set

 This set contains rhythm patterns for Kodaly Level 1 and 2 concepts:

- ta and titi

- ta rest

- half note

- sixteenth notes (tika-tika, or whatever your rhythm language calls it)

- ti-tika

-tika-ti

This set contains well over  200 flashcards that you can print on card stock in white or color by concept, cut on the line and laminate to keep FOREVER!

I print 3-4 per set so that I can put rhythms for whole songs on the board if I want to, and often rhythm patterns repeat in a song, so it is helpful to print more than one set. 

 Flashcards come with both stick notation...

 ....as well as standard notation with note heads:

Also included is a list of ideas for using the rhythm cards so that you don't get stuck in a rut using them the same way every time.

This set is available at my Teachers Pay Teachers store here.

They can also be purchased individually. Right now I am having a STORE-WIDE SALE through 4/1/13.

Happy Easter Weekend,

Lindsay