This past week all of my students who are able to each Chocolate Kisses received a chocolate kiss form me. Montessori students received “Conversation Kisses” and used the words or phrase on the base of the kiss to created rhythms with body percussion. The 3rd grade class took this a step further by writing their various phrases inside each heart. Then the students chose either B, A, or G to write beneath each heart on the worksheeT. After the worksheet was filled out the team or students practice their melody and performed it for the class.

Videos will be posted very soon.

Who is your twin for the day? Mine is our wonderful art teacher, Mrs. Hmayed.

Did you do anything fun on your Snow Day??

Do you want to build a snowman?

We have a lot going on in the music room this month. Our Sped students have been experiencing Orff Barred instruments. Our goal is to demonstrate a steady beat to the music we are listening to. We use an assortment of instruments to demonstrate this with: a variety of shakers, woodblocks, drums, and xylophones of all sizes. Some of our instruments are adaptive and have enabled students to play an instrument without the aid of hand-over-hand. This has been very exciting to see.

Montessori students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are focusing on reading music notation and translating that into beautiful music through the use of a soprano recorder. All of the students are in a Recorder Karate Competition and can earn their belts by playing the required songs for me. The songs are posted in their Music Schoology Course and they can also play for me through schoology video to pass on songs. Students can also play for me before or after school. The students are also going to create 4 beat compositions and then perform their compositions for the class. The 3rd grade students had the opportunity to do that today and I have posted photos.

Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade have begun work on learning their Spring concert songs. We are also experiencing steady beat, rhythm, and tempo through the process of movement and listening to music.

Thank you to all of the students in the Vocational Program at Howe school for this lovely Pencil Name Plate. I especially love the music trim near the eraser end.

To all my wonderful students and your families, may you all find peace and joy during our vacation. Take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and get ready for our return in January.

Students in grades 3, 4 & 5 can post a video of themselves practicing recorder and submit it to me through Quaver. I am happy to send comments and suggestions and will periodically check Quaver for the videos. These are optional. I just wanted to give students an opportunity to reach out to me during break if desired.

Enjoy the break and this time with your family!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Reed

We hope you are able to join us for the sing along via Zoom. All of our Howe students will be participating and having fun. Here is a sneak peak at our preparations.

This month we are focusing on using beautiful singing voice. The lower elementary students echo my voice as we sing hello to each student. our goal is to sing matching high and low sounds. As we prepare for the Holiday Sing Along we are learning that songs often times tell a story. This can also help us to remember the words to the song. Students will tend toward using a loud, rude voice when singing a song that is well known so a reminder to use a beautiful singing voice is necessary. We are also learning to get along with each other. Students do not need to be best friends with everyone in the room – however, I do expect everyone to get along well. And the same thing goes for the songs we sing. We do not have to ‘like’ all of the songs but we do need to do our very best when singing the songs.

Here are two examples of learning to get along while using singing voice. Please enjoy these videos. For an additional treat, log in to the Quaver Music Ed program with your child at home and watch the 3rd grade class demonstrate our Choreography to one of the Sing along selections.

One last thing – I am so happy to inform you that my Donors Choose project was fully funded. We now have some additional instrument choices for our special education students to use when interacting with music during music class. Let’s remain hopeful that my Dearborn Foundation Grant is approved so we will have even more adaptive instruments to choose from.

I want to make sure my students have the materials and experiences they need to succeed, so I just created a request on DonorsChoose: Moving and Grooving to Our Own Beat.

Right now, your gift will go even further. All donations to my project will be matched 2X by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter, while funds last. If you chip in to help my students, you’ll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

Thanks so much,
Celeste

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help, please pass this along!

Moving and Grooving link