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Test 4 Mrs. Miracle's Music Room

June 19, 2016

Singing games in the music room

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Today, I'm blogging about singing games in the music room. I know, it's summer, and you probably aren't thinking much about singing games OR your music room, but here are some ideas to consider about using singing games, keeping track of turns, and more, as you plan your next school year! First of all, why should you use singing games in your music room? I am  Kodály-tra ined, so singing games were a big part of my pedagogy training. Here are my main reasons for planning singing games in my lessons: Singing games are FUN and students enjoy them.  They provide a relaxation aspect to the…

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June 01, 2016

Ten favorite music iPad apps

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Three years ago, I bought my first iPad, and two years ago, I was lucky enough to receive a grant for 8 iPad minis in my music classroom. Since using iPads in my classroom, I have come across TONS of different music apps, both free and paid. Today, I'm blogging about my 10 favorite iPad music apps! I've listed a price next to each app, and have linked all of the apps to the app store. I've also tried to list a variety of apps--some that only you would use on your own iPad, some that you could use on one iPad at a center, and some that could be used in groups with several iPads. He…

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May 26, 2016

Creating an end-of-the-year slideshow

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Recently, I had to create an end-of-the-year slideshow for my school. It's the second year I've had to do this (because I am the Instructional Technology Chair at my school), and both years, I've had to teach and re-teach myself how to do certain things to create the slideshow. Today, I thought I'd share tips for creating your own slideshow, whether it be for the whole school, for your choir, for a grade-level classroom, or whatever you need! First, a little background about me...I have enjoyed creating slideshows with music for about 12 years---since my oldest was born. I star…

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May 14, 2016

End-of-the-Year Music Lessons

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As I'm writing this, I have one week of school left. This seems a bit crazy to me, as it is only May 13 (and I first taught in Michigan, where we taught until the middle of June!) I recently wrote about surviving the end of the year as a teacher , but today I'm writing specifically about end-of-the-year music lessons. Here are my thoughts and ideas for your music lessons this time of year! Review Games At the end of the year, I like to do review games with my students so I can gauge how well they learned what I taught them during the year. Seventeen years ago, when I first began teaching,…

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May 02, 2016

Using Pop Songs in your Music Classroom

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Today, I'm writing about something somewhat controversial--a topic that five or so years ago, I would have shied away from completely: using pop music in your music classroom. There are a few reasons I have shied away from using pop music in the past. Even before I began my  Kodály  training, my thought was that kids hear pop music ALL THE TIME. Why do they have to hear it in my class too? When I began my  Kodály  training, I heard the same sentiment: we should be teaching them music of the masters, and folk music that is accessible and part of their heritage. I still believe that it's very…

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April 24, 2016

Surviving the End of the School Year

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I know it seems a bit crazy that I'm writing about the end of the school year on April 24, but my last day with students is May 20! (Disclaimer: I started school the second week of August, so don't be too mad at me!) Because of this, I am having to think about the end of the school year now. Here are my suggestions for surviving the end of the school year so you can have a relaxing summer, and so that you can come back at the start of school year refreshed and organized! #1: Plan out the rest of the year Since I only have four weeks left, I recently sat down and figured out exactly what…

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April 17, 2016

Five Favorite Pins of April

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Hi everyone! It is time for my five favorite pins of April! If you are a teacher blogger, feel free to join the party! Directions are at the end of the post. Here are my five favorite pins this month. To see the pin, click each picture. #1: Kids' Books That Teach Important Life Lessons This looks like a great list of picture books. Next year, my school's theme is "Bee Yourself," so I'm thinking I could take some of these books and create programs around them! (For more ideas about programs based off of children's literature, see these blog posts .) #2: Tissue box rhythms I…

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April 11, 2016

Music Teacher First Year Flashback

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Today, I'm linking up with Shelley at Pitch Publications to write about my first year of teaching. Click the picture below to read Shelley's post, as well as posts of other music bloggers! This is my seventeenth year teaching (how did that happen??) so it was fun to think back on that first year. Here goes! What subject/age and where were you teaching? I was hired to teach in the district I graduated from, and taught K-6 general music. I saw the students for 40 minutes, once a week. What was your first classroom like? I had two classrooms, at two buildings. Both were on the stage, with a…

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