Whole Brain Teaching in the Elementary Music Classroom

I have finally experienced the WBT National Conference. I first learned about Whole Brain Teaching last summer as I joined in the weekly webcast on wholebrainteaching.com. I tried it out in my classroom starting with “Class-Yes!” and the 5 Rules. Those lasted all year. I also tried “Teach-Okay!” and the Scoreboard. I found that my problem was being inconsistent and lack of diligent planning the Whole Brain way.

There was a wondrous day when we had an all-school assembly and the students were really chatty. I went to the microphone and calmly said, “Class, Class?” and they all responded with “Yes-Yes!” My principal later emailed me and asked me what I said that got them all quiet.

Seeing Coach B and the others in action at the conference in Pineville, LA has spurred me on to try the whole thing. I do have to tweak it a bit to fit my classroom but I've got some time this summer to give it a try with planning. At the conference, I was actually able to get 2 lessons from my Music TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) and I am looking forward to teaching them the first week or so. One is on the 5 voices for kindergarten and the other is dynamics in music for 1st graders. With both K and 1st classes last year, we started oral writing, but in my class they have to sing in complete sentences. Can’t wait to add the spicy sentences. I will be adding more oral writing to 2nd and 3rd grade this year.

I have also spent the past few days working on my own version of the 5 Rules. You can find them in my store on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT.)

Be looking for more in the coming weeks as I go through the Music Standards. If anyone can help me figure out some hand gestures for the music standards, I would really appreciate it. Leave suggestions in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

Debbie

Things learned from other blogs while at home with the flu

I love to look at other blogs, especially about technology for teachers. Today, as I sat here in bed with the flu (second round for me this year), I read a blog in my list about how to make an outline of any text. The blog is

click here to go to her blog

The instructions were very helpful but I have Microsoft Office 2010 instead of 2007. Not hard to find out how to do it though. After I went through the steps on her blog and did not find the check box for "outline," I noticed a button at the bottom-- "text effects"-- so I clicked on it and there were my options. Here are the steps (borrowed from "A Turn to Learn" and added to for Microsoft Office 2010):

1. Type your message and decide on fonts to use.

 2. Highlight the words (Ctrl+a will select all) and right click. Select "font". (Yes, you can do them all at once.)

3. Click on "Text Effects" at the bottom of the window.

4. Select "no fill" for text.

5. Select Text Outline and "solid fill" and choose color.

Voila!

Don't forget to go by "A Turn to Learn" and check out her "Technology Tuesday" for great tips!

Black Friday, not in my world

I am spending "Black Friday" looking through blogs and posts. I came across this pencil sharpener that I would love to have for my personal use as well as for my classroom. I love "Old School" and, although this is new, it's like improved old school. They are inexpensive and they are giving some away! Here's the link where you can enter to win too.
http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/pages/free-sharpeners#
and here's a picture of the fabulous classroom friendly sharpener:

I'm thinking of ordering for some fellow teachers. What a great teacher gift!
I'm also watching "Band of Brothers" with the hubby and waiting for the rain to start. Hoping cooler weather comes back soon.
Happy shopping!