Submitted by Patricia Oeste, NBCT, Conway, Arkansas

Idea posted November 1, 2002

You are feeling what we all have felt. But, we worked through it and have accepted the fact that there will be good and BAD moments. Don't be so hard on yourself - if you were expecting one thing and got something else, it will just take some adjusting.

My very first class was first grade. I will never forget it! I went in there and had my poster with the words all nicely written on it. And not one kid sang! I thought I would cry. Then I realized that they could not read, so it was just a matter of miscommunication.

Yes, I did cry - for two weeks - every single day. It is a really, really hard job, but believe me, you will find your way through and you will have so many successful moments that the bad times will be quickly forgotten. Go in with a new plan... How about some hands-on type of activities? Do you have instruments? Orff activities are so great for these kids. How about some ice breaker activities? My fifth grade kids just love Musical Concentration - I do this at the beginning as an ice breaker and a way to ease back into the regimen of school. Here's how it goes:

Chairs are set around the room in single file order, kind of like a train. Each chair has a number taped to the BACK of it. The numbers start with 1 and go sequentially until each chair and student has a number. I take the last number (I do not sit in the last chair, however - I sit in a conspicuous spot so I can "control" things).

OKAY, so the chair at the front of the line is number 1. I teach the ostinato: patsch, patsch, clap, clap, snap, snap. When they have that down (at an EXTREMELY STEADY TEMPO), I now add numbers on the snaps. For instance, if there are 25 kids, then I am number 26 - ALWAYS. AND, I ALWAYS START. So, I say: patsch, patsch, clap, clap, 26 - 3 (for instance). The numbers come on the snaps. My number first, then the number I pick to respond. I can pick any number from 1 to 25. If I call their number (in this case, number 3) they must respond on the beat, EXACTLY! Patsch, patsch, clap, clap, 3 - 5 (they select a number to call - again, any number 1-26, but not their own number). Play continues until someone is OUT. That is, they say the wrong number, or they are off the beat, or they don't respond. The person who is out goes to the end of the train/line and all students behind him/her move up one spot. Now, they all have new numbers (those that have moved, that is), and play begins again.

The object is to get to the number one spot and stay there! It is tough, because everyone will figure out that they have to call down to the low numbers to try to get them "out" so that everyone can move up. I also have the numbers BEHIND them, so that they have to exercise their brains and MEMORIZE their number. I remind them of how hard it is to be a musician, that they must stay on the beat, keep a steady tempo, and memorize their number. I also add the rule that they may NOT call the same sequence of numbers within a "turn." A "turn" goes until someone is out. What I mean is, if I call 26 - 1 and 1 responds 1 - 2, then 2 calls 2 - 1, number 1 CANNOT say 1 - 2 again until the next round. I also give them quite a bit of practice before we start for real. And, I am a STRICT judge - anything even slightly off-beat is OUT, therefore, the game moves really, really quickly and NO ONE gets bored!

Maybe you could use this? Or maybe use it as a reward - you do this and this really well, with good manners, etc., then we can play musical concentration.

You will learn the "ropes" - even if you get rope burn along the way. We have ALL been there (several times!). DON'T GIVE UP. THOSE KIDS NEED YOU.