Submitted by Kelley Kremin, Kentucky
Idea posted December 5, 2001
With all this discussion on feeling so different from the classroom teachers, I thought I'd share something that works really well. I'm always on the lookout to see how I can adapt "regular classroom" learning for the music class. While teaching rhythm, I had the best idea. (This is probably not new, but it works so well, I wanted to make sure everyone knew.)
I made many cards with time signatures and note and rest values. (One note per card.) Then I got a handy dandy pocket chart. Finally, I took craft sticks (you know, Popsicle sticks) to use as measures. The kids make their own measures in the pocket chart using the cards. Sometimes I pick the time signature, sometimes they do. We discuss each note/rest and its value, making sure we have bar lines for a complete measure. This is also a great way to make sure kids really understand all of these concepts, and MUCH easier than having them draw notes on the board, etc.
Anyway, I just finished working with my 5th graders on this for an observation (I'm an intern). My observer loved it, and the kids loved it, too!!