Literacy in the Music Classroom. Music Vs. Common Core

"Literacy in the classroom..." the buzz phrase of the 21st century school. When I'm teaching I don't always make a conscious effort to insert a "literacy portion" because it so often naturally integrates itself. And yet I find that I constantly have to defend the music cause- it's music class not guided reading. I fully understand the necessity for cross-curricular teaching and learning, but at what cost? I have been struggling with this battle since I started teaching two and a half years ago, there has to be a way to teach music- truly teach music and completely satisfy the state requirements for public education. I am a avid believer in the public school system. I think public school is a beautiful, wonderful, and amazing thing. I admire the work teachers do, the time, the energy, and it truly is an under-appreciated job. It's tiring, it's trying, it's frustrating, but it's also incredibly satisfying to see tangible growth and it keeps my heart warm to be around learning children all day. So here in lies the problem, I want to support the classroom teachers, but more importantly I want my students to leave music class feeling more accomplished in music (the subject in which I teach.)

I've been wrestling with this common core curriculum not because I don't think it's a phenomenal idea to have all schools on the same page, but because it's pushing me out. You see, the struggle is simple: Does public education want the arts to be taught anymore or not? If the answer is yes, then please, allow us to do so.. If the answer is no, then prepare yourselves for another Dark Ages. Music, art, dance, expression, movement, it's in our human make-up. We are created to express something. I promise you, Common Core People, that you're curriculum will be more successful if you allow us to teach.

After one rants, one should always follow up with, here is what I'm going to do about it. I have been pouring through the curriculum in the hopes of putting together performances that revolve around cultural and literacy connections. This blog is going to take a bit of a turn. My posts will consist of lesson ideas and ways maintain the integrity of the music classroom while also following the state expectations; Knowing when to fight and when to accept, what works and what doesn't. I would love your ideas, especially teachers who are going through the same struggle, I would love to hear some things your doing that are in line with the common core :) I have the privilege of working in a school that is very supportive of the arts and students that have an aching and a yearning for music and dance. I consider it a gift and do not say that lightly.

The other new focus for this blog is teaching harmony. My kids (K-5) have never sung in anything more than unison. I am determined to get my fifth graders at a 3 part level by the end of the year and K-4 singing two part harmony. I am going to track my progression on the blog as a resource for any of you teachers out there that might be on the same path. Again, tips that have worked for you, I'd love to hear!

Ugg-a-Wugg

Watching the Ugg-a-Wugg sequence from the Cathy Rigby version of Peter Pan in Kindergarten. Why? Because we performed the Mary Martin version in their fall concert (K-2) last night. The scene comes up today in class and they all gasp, "huh!! we KNOW this song!!" they shout. Then one little girl, Allison, yells out- "They sing it different then us..." To which I replied, "I know it's because they do a whole dance in the middle." She watches for a second then turns back around, "Yeah, plus they are Indians...If we were Indians we would dance like that." I said, "yeah, maybe!"

The students all started tapping rhythms on the ground along with the movie. It was pretty magical. In unison twenty Kinders creating these really intricate rhythms, I was impressed. I love times when improvisation occurs organically. I'm always looking for these moments...

First Week Teaching In Greensboro

      The first week of school I literally can't stand the sound of my own voice anymore. Granted, my vocal stamina is DOWN so I lose it much faster the first week. Spouting out orders and drilling procedures is enough to drive a girl crazy. The first couple classes I think, this isn't so bad! I've got a great yet simple disciplinary action plan and timed-out procedures that make Captain Von Trapp look like an amateur (that's a home school reference)- all we do is DRILL. "Standing position- Go" scrambling, checking the blue lines on the floor, straightening up their desks. "Listening position- Go!" more scrambling, some stifled laughs, some "shhhh she'll hear you!" and then we do it all again! Classroom teachers focus on this too, true, but I have to do the SAME first day lesson EVERY single period all week. By the end of the 35th class on Friday, I'm ready to jump off a cliff. 

      Here's the thing, I didn't realize how much of a "city teacher" I was till teachers started commenting on how regimented my classroom was, "wow-straight lines..that's different." Is it? I thought that was normal. "I find I need to be strict with him, and it looks like you do too so I'm glad we're on the same page," I got from one teacher. I smiled, but inside I was thinkin "uh- strict? That was me being normal." Might need to tame the sargent in me a little...hey gotta do what you gotta do to survive in philly what!

      I am rediscovering this incredible passion I've been suppressing for the past several months. I am passionate about giving kids a place to use their imaginations. Sounds so simple, but the imagination needs to be used and practiced or else it disappears.
      When I was younger I would pretend everything, everywhere, with everyone. HA, I would pretend a rock was a diamond, a feather was a lock of Rapunzel's hair, a clump of mud was a chocolate pie from the bakery that I existed next to our woodpile. Don't get me started on the "CCIA" Detective Club to which I was a member (another home school reference-disregard.) In the sixth grade I asked for Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman  (a french opera) for Christmas because I wanted to make up a story. I would come up with these intricate ballets that told elaborate stories of pirates, princesses, talking flowers, fairies; pretty much any fantastical tale I could create. When do adults lose that? The ability to actually see something fantastic in our minds and create it for ourselves. The ability to see something that isn't there; the ability to create your own reality
      I do this exercise with my kids where they can only move from their waste up and they have to tell a story with their movements using the music. At first they look so scared, are we allowed to actually move? Are people looking? Will I look stupid? But there is this unbelievably beautiful moment when their human inhibitions fly out the window and they release themselves into the music. I will tell them, "I guarantee that I will look more ridiculous than any person in this room, so be as big as you want." They always laugh but swiftly realize that I'm serious in saying I'm more outrageous than any one of them. This fact, it gives them a little comfort. On Friday, I played Ugg a Wugg from the musical Peter Pan and they ate it up. "Miss VP this is the most fun class we have ever had. EVER." That song is a keeper.
      

      

      I also decided that I regret introducing the human keyboard to them because I'm soooooo tired by the end of the day after I do that with them. You see, I jump on "do" and they have to sing it back to me every time I land. "Do...do...do,do,do,do....re, do-re, do-re-do-re-do..." I stop when I'm panting for air. leaping and jumping back and forth from Me to Do gets tiring. I dread the day I introduce Sol la or ti.

      Anyway, this was a very disjointed post- the future posts will be less about me, more stories about the kids.

Peace.

Where you live?

 

“Miss I got some news, try not to cry or get all emotional,” Jada spoke in her mother-knows-best voice.

“What’s up girl?” I asked.

“Well, you know I love this school right?” I nodded. “But my mama she say it’s time for me to move on, you know, make new friends, see new things, and I agree wit’er.” She shot me a half smile. “It’s gonna be hard, but I think fourth grade will be good at a charter school. It’ll be good for me.”

I looked into her little face and thought, how did you grow up so fast this year? I mean, you’re only nine.

“So anyway, you know I'm gonna be movin' on to a new place, but Ima miss you real bad, Miss" she patted my shoulder
"Jada, that's so sad, you know I'll miss you too! But it sounds like that's a sweet place you're going. I'm sure you'll love your new school." I looked her in the eyes and thought, I really am going to miss this kid, she will go far in the arts.
"Yeah miss, don't worry though! Imma come visit choo, I'll be around." Her missing tooth left a gaping hole in her precious and extremely large smile.
"I would love that Jada," I replied.
"Yeah, Imma come on Saturdays," she half winked at me as if to say, I got-chu miss.
"Saturday, girl we don't have school on Saturdays," I said.
"I know, dat's why I can come!"
"Baby girl, I don't live at school...you know that right?"
"Uh....yeah...I mean...I...knew that. Yeah....of course...." Long pause followed. "So...uh, where do you live miss?"

You Got A Baby?

     Ten third and fourth graders fall to the ground in complete exhaustion, "MISS we neeeeeeeed a break." I laugh, but willingly agree a break is in order. Dance rehearsals in a 106 degree room are never fun for the sweat glands. "Miss I can't EVEN stand up no more. This jam is hard and I'm hott as all," exhaled Leanna. Twenty minutes into the hard knock life routine and there was no denying this was going to be a smelly rehearsal.
     "Ladies, we can take five, but then it is back to work, I'm serious!" I spoke is my best drill Sargent voice. However it's impact was cancelled out by the smile that immediately followed.
     "Water, I need water!" La-a (proun. La-DASH-ah) whaled, "Miss you got them bottles like you had yesterday? I be needin one of dem." She spoke as she pulled her limp body across the carpeted floor toward the box fan. "Ahhhhhh-ehhyyyy-eeee-ohhhh-ooooou," she sang into the fan blades, creating a choppy sound with her voice. "Miss you hear that? Kiana come," she beckoned her friend to join in the exciting new activity. It's truly the simple things that bring the most pleasure.
     "Can't....move....show me....later," was Kiana's honest reply. I laughed, but was in concurrence with the sentiment. The girls all laid there for a good solid three minutes, Kiana groaning, La-a singing her vowels into the fan blades and me tapping out the new choreography I knew the girls were going to hate (it involved some gymnastics and that meant more sweat.)
     All of a sudden Jada perked up; her head jolted into an upright position and she turned to face me. Her braid clips clacked into each other as she turned. "Miss!?!" She yelled, wide eyed (and when I say wide eyed I mean her eyes are quite possibly the largest I've ever seen.)
     "Yes Jada?" I answered.
     "You got a baby?
     "What?" I thought maybe I misheard the random question.
     "You got a baby?" She asked again, this time with emphasis.
     "Haha, " I laughed, "No girl, I'm not married. I don't even have a boyfriend."
     "WHAT? What you mean you don't gotta boyfriend?" All the girls popped their heads up in unison and stared at me.
     "I don't have a boyfriend." I repeated. This, of course, was enough to set the girls off.
     "You don't got a boyfriend?!?" Jada yelled. even more shocked than before, all the girls chimed in..."Miss why you don't got a boyfriend?...Miss Why?...You don't like men?..."the comments came all at once. As the questions poured in, so did the girls. Not only were they all talking at once, but they were all crawling toward me.
     "Ladies, seriously, it's not that crazy. Lots of people don't have boyfriends." I threw my hands over my head.
     Jada stopped moving and threw her hands up, halting the girls from continuing their descent, "Wait." She looked at me with pity in her eyes, as if to say, you poor thing. "Miss you know what? It don't even matter." The girls all chimed in agreement, just copying her reaction to everything. "Yeah, don't matter Miss, don't matter...."
     Jada shushed them with another hand signal then looked straight into my eyes. At that point she was right up in my face, both her hands holding my knees, "Miss, you don't need a man. Uh-uh, you don't need nobody. You can do it on your own," she said with her best third grade Dr. Phil voice. "They be out there cheat'n, leaving you at home, homegirl don't need that!" The others are all 'no miss, you don't need that, uh uh, no way' in the background. "Them boys Miss? They can go back-to-Jupiter," she diagonally snapped in my face, "get more stupider!" she crossed her arms triumphantly.
     I told her to hold onto that philosophy till after college. School first :)