Fun compostion lesson for all ages and abilities

Composition Lesson idea for you all. I used this today  in my adaptive music class for a self contained HS group at the alternative school  where I have a wide range of abilities and skills ( several non verbal and some with challenges in mobility)

I had 3 index cards ( different colors ) and it had a body percussion action on it.

Students were tasked to create a 5 card  ( I increased it to 8 ) pattern that we all had to perform.  Some of the rhythms and patterns were challenging for even the 4 adults in the room lol

Every single student did this. Then I had a young man who arranged the cards so that there was a gap between actions ( ended up adding another card for rests after they all figured out oh we won't play on the gap)

By the end of class, the entire class, aides, and myself picked two cards and arranged it to the point where I think we had 5 lines of music and performed it.

Super fun and engaging Great for all ages and abilities.

The pic is our class compostion

This is why I teach

So, in my general music class, I do my best to try and not squander the love of music in my students.  I try my best to make sure the class is giving them exposure and the tools they need to move on to another music class if they decide to move further,   I started working at Eagle in February and it has been so challenging and fun at the same time. 

I have a student who in the beginning of my time there started off strong doing all of the assignments and all that was asked. Then started to slack off and not participate or care about anything that had to do with music.  So as the term went on the students grades dropped to the point of failure.   I want to give my students  every opportunity to succeed  and I gave them all the option of making up work.  This student showed no interest.  So I called parents , no answer.    Finally something said " Talk with her Lakedria see whats up"  So I pull her aside and just ask "Whats up?"  she says " Nothing"  and smiles I told her you aren't in trouble but I am concerned because you haven't done ANYTHING for me recently.  She shrugged and said " I just dont like music at all, never have not really interested in it.   I will admit this is only the 3rd student EVER that has said this to me. So I was a little shocked but the more we talked the more I found out that she enjoys music but never had an interest in studying it and never cared.  So I told her to throw me a bone and at least attempt some of the work so that I can figure out how to best help her since I want her to succeed.  We were doing a "Careers in arts" research and she said I'm gonna take this home and do it.   She came back today with it done!  I was so thrilled.  SO I sought out to help her with this abundance of make up work that I knew if I just gave her she wouldn't do.   I needed to find an alternate way to assess her but didn't want to make her super uncomfortable.

I called her to me, and gave her an idea for her final project ( Since she is an awesome drawer I told her to make an album cover for a CD ) its music related but something SHE likes to do. fits all of my requirements.   I called her up to chat and told her thank you for sharing her thoughts with me earlier this week.  I started talking to her about what she liked to listen to, and her eyes LIT up and she had this wonderful conversation ( Using terminology, and everything!) about why she likes what she likes and vise versa. SHE PAID ATTENTION even though she hates music.


We had the best time, and I told her right then that she proved to me that she could do what I ask of her just in a different way and is no longer failing my class.  She then said " Wow, thank you so much, most teachers really don't care in fact my last music teacher didn't care. To her I was just the person that sat in the back and screwed around but she never took the time to actually talk to me."


I said well I wouldn't be me if I didn't. Then she says " I never cared about music but this class has me wondering WHY and HOW artists do different things.  I told her that by her telling me this makes me know that I did my job. ( She responded yes you really did Mrs. L Thank you!)



As a teacher, my life was made omg I cried.   THIS is WHY I TEACH!

Before you call your kids "bad" Please read

It is so common for parents, caregivers, teachers, ect to tell a kid to "Be good" or  " Stop being bad" You hear the terms good and bad a lot.  What do you really mean?  You really want the kiddos to either continue the positive behaviors that they have been or stop the negative behaviors.

So before you say "Stop being bad or You're being so good"  try a different approach.

I'll use my daughter as an example.

She is learning how to use her inside voice as opposed to screaming a lot.

So here we go.

E; * Screams*
Me * Assesses the situation makes sure she isn't hurt *
Me  Inside voice please
E: * Screams again*
Me: Inside voice please
 E:   Shhhhhh * Smiles*
Me: ( Instead of saying GOOD Girl ( She isn't like a dog LOL)  
Me: Nice Inside voice, thank you!



Lets take another situation hitting and rough play.
  I'll say we dont hit our kids for punishment or otherwise but hitting at a young age is a form of communication  and as caregivers we have to not get angry and lash out. This is where you will hear the "Be good!" or "Don't be bad" or Stop being bad

You can solve that with one word.
:Gentle!

E * HIts me because she can't have something she wants*
Me: * Moves her hands and holds them * You wanted a cookie and you couldn't have one., you're mad, I'd be mad too .
Me: Gentle touches please
E: Touches my hands gently " Gentle"
Me: Yes! Gentle touches thank you!

You guys might think I'm crazy but I don't have a lot of issues with this because I don't get angry, I don't hit her, I don't yell at her and I don't call her "Bad"   You have to remember kids are tiny humans and although they don't have the thought processes adults do, they know what they want and  need our help to guide their feelings.



Also make sure you know what is appropriate for your kids at their age. Yes, kids understand more than we think they do at a young age but at the same time, they often don't know why.

Also rethink what you say to your kiddos because words make a huge difference.

Dear Second Graders

Dear Second Graders,

   Hello, my name is Mrs. Lozano or you can call me Mrs. L.  This is my first time teaching second grade, and I am very excited to get to know you all!  Here are some things about me.

My favorite color is PURPLE

My favorite animals are CATS.

My favorite food is TACOS. 

My favorite subjects in school are READING and MUSIC.

I live with my husband, baby girl, and four cats.

We are going to have a wonderful year together.  If you need anything from me, please ask me.  We are all in this together! Let’s have a great time!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lozano  :) :) :)