Submitted by Susan Lovalvo, Michigan

Idea posted October 2, 2002

Question: What I thought was a 6th grade choir class is actually just a 6th grade class. What do I do with a classroom full of kids that don't want to be there?

Answer: I can relate... 6th graders were my toughest classes last year, and I taught four of them!!!!! At that age, they are too cool for music, or so they think. Here are some ideas that I used that went over big with them. Hope this helps you.

1. Recorders - They actually asked me if they could play them, so I figured why not. I did a six week unit, and most of them loved it. There were a few jokers, but then there always will be.

2. Poetry - I piggybacked onto a poetry unit they were doing in class. I had them bring their poems to class, got out all the Orff instruments, and they worked in groups coming up with music to fit the mood of their poems. This took three weeks; one to explain and get them started, one for them to work out what they were going to do, and one to perform.

3. Boomwhackers® (only don't call them Boomwhackers®, they will make big time jokes about the whacker part) - They loved using these. Get the Fun With Boomwhackers®!book.

4. Composer Studies - They loved Beethoven Lives Upstairs™; and Bach's Fight For Freedom. Tie it in with Social Studies in the classroom.

5. Do you have access to a computer lab or laptops? I did a two week unit researching careers in music to tie in with their 6th grade standards on career awareness. Berkley College of Music has a great web site on careers in music.

6. I had success with music bingo games, rhythm stick games, and ball-passing games. What I did not have success with is getting them to sit and sing. I always made singing optional. If you were not singing, you were playing an instrument or keeping the tempo somehow. When I made singing optional, more kids would sing.

First years are tough (mine was last year) - remember that the fifth graders you have today will be your sixth graders tomorrow. You are grooming them now, so they will know you and be more into your expectations next year!