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February 26, 2017

A Holiday Moosical – Bulletin Board

This bulletin board is absolutely inspired by an amazing “kid ‘Moose-ical” for the holiday season created by the masters:  John Jacobson and John Higgins.  I did this show a couple years ago and had sooooo much fun with it.  The “Moose”ical is about Marty the Moose and his aspiration to […]
Is it really safe to share that photo or video of your students? Read on to learn more.
January 28, 2017

Why You Should STOP Posting Pictures of Students online!

In today’s world it is so easy to snap a picture or video and upload it to the internet.  Every phone has a camera and it feels like every public and private space in the country is bathed with Wi-fi, just asking us to upload, download, and reload.​In the last […]
Naughty Kitty Cat - Great Song for K & 1
January 14, 2017

Naughty Kitty Cat – Circle Song

One of my favorite things about the Orff Schulwerk philosophy of teaching is the ability to go from something relatively simple to an experience that is complex and exciting.  You start with a song, add in movement, add in new layers, add in an ostinato, include a game, move students […]
Breakin Up Christmas - Great folk song to use before or after the holiday!
December 17, 2016

Breakin’ Up Christmas – Connecting Carols and Folk Songs

December can often be a challenging and confusing month for music teachers.  First of all, so many of our all-school or grade-level concerts fall around the holidays which adds a ton of stress and anxiety to the holiday season.  There are also the problems that go along with teaching and […]
Five easy ideas to help you regroup and plan after a concert!
December 11, 2016

What to Do AFTER the Concert: A Follow-Up Guide

I think that we can all relate to the “sigh of relief” that comes with finishing up a big concert with students.  You no longer have to worry if those 20 kids are going to show up to say all of their lines, if the parent volunteers will finish the […]
December 8, 2016

Auld Lang Syne – Teaching A New Year Folk Song

There are several really awesome “New Year” folk songs that somehow get lost in the shuffle of winter break.  I always plan to teach them, but then either we have a holiday program that takes precedence or a last-minute, all-school assembly or classroom holiday parties… or something else to mess […]
Check out this blog post for 12 different ideas to use when teaching the 12 Days of Christmas!
December 3, 2016

12 Ways to teach The 12 Days of Christmas

I have always loved teaching the 12 Days of Christmas!  There are so many fun and funny ways to make this song relevant to your kiddos and lots of great activities to go along with it.  I’ve taught the 12 Days in a lot of different ways and thought I […]
November 27, 2016

Carol of the Bells – Favorite Winter Folk Song

You would think that teaching “Carol of the Bells” should be a slam dunk.  Kids most likely know the song from the radio or tv or a movie soundtrack.  But this is another one of those classic favorites that I would call a “song on the fringe.”  We know it, […]
November 20, 2016

Over the River and Through the Woods – Thanksgiving Song

“Over the River and Through the Woods” is an American classic that I think a lot of folks recognize and love.  It’s one of those ubiquitous songs that pops up now and again and immediately feels familiar.  However, it feels like “Over the River” is one of those songs that […]
I Spied an Awful Turkey
November 12, 2016

As I Came Over Yonder Hill – Song for November

I love finding old and unique folk songs to share with my kiddos.  Folk songs are so fun and quirky and not your typical elementary school fare.  I mean, if you search “elementary school thanksgiving songs” you’ll find lots of songs that are used by teachers in general education classrooms […]
Shoo Turkey Folk Song and Dance
October 30, 2016

Shoo Turkey – A Song for November

This post is also featured on the TpT blog! I stumbled across this awesome little gem of a song when I was looking through Bessie Jones’s book “Step It Down” a year or so ago.  The kiddos love the song but also go crazy for the accompanying dance.  I really […]
October 2, 2016

Holiday Musical Roundup – Reviews and Ideas!

It is that time of year when many of us buckle down and start preparations on a Christmas/Holiday/Winter program.  Some people pull out favorite carols, some only talk about winter, some pull out their Santa stuits, and some of us do multicultural programs that feature traditions from around the world. […]
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