Submitted by Gwen Stewart, Clarkston, Michigan
Idea posted September 21, 2012
Children are more visual than ever! They often have trouble focusing when I ask them to listen to music. So this year, I decorated my room with glow-in-the-dark stars. When I'm introducing classical music, I say, "Listen quietly and the stars will come out." If the class is listening well, the lights go out. If not, I say, "We'll try for those stars again next week."
At the beginning of the school year, I introduced the stars to each class by turning the lights out for ten seconds or so. This allowed them to "oooh" and "ahhh" without interfering with listening. It also whet their appetite to see the stars again - but they know that only happens when they're listening intently. It's a great motivator, especially for my youngest students!