Week 7 PLN: Lesson Plans

I'm sure this is nothing new to most of you, but I've come to this page MANY times for lesson plan ideas. All lessons are free, and are grouped by subject and grade level. It's worth looking through if you have the time, or are out of ideas! (Let's face it, we all need a little help now and then to get the creative ideas flowing!)

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/

Week 7 PLN: Crossword Maker

I don't know about you, but I love to offer my students different activities to help reinforce concepts we've learned in class. This free online puzzle maker is a fun and easy way to create original crossword puzzles. You can use unit vocabulary, music history information, etc. Try it!

http://www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/

Week 6 PLN: "Getting to Know" activities for middle school

I know we're at the other end of the year now, but this blogger has some ideas for start-of-the-year activities for middle school students. Many of us probably already do these things, but maybe something will spark your interest!

http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/6364.aspx

Week 6 PLN: Various Music Resources in One Place

Hello all! This website is a compilation of music lessons and websites related to other topics. There are songs on the days of the week, colors, etc. - good for elementary - and music lesson plans. Most of it is definitely geared to elementary.

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/lesson-plans/music/

Week 5 PLN: My Favorite Rubric Generator

We all make a lot of rubrics. We all have our favorite ways to do so. I know others have posted rubric generators, but I don't remember seeing this one in anyone's postings. This website has helped me make COUNTLESS rubrics for projects, writing assignments, in-class activities and even class participation. It's easy to use and the rubrics come out looking neat and professional. Best of all... it's free!
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/

Week 5 PLN: The Story of Motown

I came across this video this week, while I was perusing for something to show my class. They've been researching Motown, and needed to see and hear it. This is an excerpt from the "Motown 25" anniversary special that aired in 1985. This particular section has a funny explanation of the story of Motown told by Richard Prior in fairytale fashion. The kids got a kick out of it, and it included all the information they had been looking up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMBQZGTbQdk

Google Forms quiz

This is the quiz I created using Google Forms/Docs. My students always work through a jazz unit, and though they're done for the year, I used that as my theme.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/kent.edu/viewform?formkey=dHpvZmlJbGRQYlZIVGd4TlVHbVViSnc6MQ

Week 4 PLN: R and R Hall of Fame

These lesson plans are really geared toward upper-middle/high school students. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a database of interesting topical lesson plans, as well as some that focus solely on a performer or band. Some really neat stuff in here - worth looking through if you do anything with pop or rock music!

http://rockhall.com/education/resources/lesson-plans/

Week 4 PLN: Sequencing

http://www.looplabs.com/

This is a free sequencing program I came across today. I haven't quite figured out how to use it yet, but it looks like when I do, it should be useful and easily accessible from the school's computer lab. Some of you more tech-savvy folks will probably be able to do a lot with it. When you do, please fill me in!

Week 3: Bicycle Built for Two

Here is the link to my version of "Bicycle Built for Two" on Noteflight:

http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/a2ba7dc190fe99aed4cfef4506d40020885f5e1f

I had a lot of fun with this program, and am very excited to have to access to a FREE notation program that I don't have to download, and can actually use with my students at school! I am already formulating ideas for notation projects with my middle school general music students. One of the projects they do currently is a lyric-writing activity to the Beatles' "Yesterday". Using a program like this would ensure that they actually understood how the lyrics fit with the notes in the melody, and would give them extra notation practice in a more user-friendly manner. This program is great!

PLN Week 3: Playing for Change

I apologize if anyone has already posted this (I don't remember that happening), but Playing for Change is an organization that connects with musicians around the world to promote peace and understanding. What started as the discovery of a few street musicians has turned into a worldwide movement. I have used some of the videos on site to illustrate the idea of music truly bringing people together. There are many excellent videos on the site, but the one I tend to gravitate toward is "Stand By Me", which was I believe the first video the organization put together. This is so powerful - if you have a few minutes, I highly recommend checking it out!

http://www.playingforchange.com/

PLN Week 3: Making Music Fun!

Hello all! A friend of mine sent this link to me and it looks pretty interesting. The ideas seem geared more toward elementary students, but there is sheet music for various songs, online music lessons for teaching basic skills as well as piano, and some cool information on composers, instrument families, and the like. There are several free printable worksheets on various topics, too. I hope something jumps out at you as useful.

http://makingmusicfun.net/

In honor of St. Patrick's Day...

This is just a beautiful recording of "Danny Boy" sung by Celtic Women. I've used it to critique in my Voice classes in the past and they always appreciate it. =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW9sPAT7Hog

Calling all choral teachers!

This is one seriously cool choral website!! It contains EVERYTHING a choral teacher could ask for to make our jobs a little simpler: worksheets, rubrics, teacher and self-assessments, classroom management tools/forms... There are lesson plan and concert program templates, information on concert etiquette, sight singing and ear training activities. There are even question sheets for several popular movies - musicals, music-related movies, and even "Finding Nemo"! I've already spent too much time looking around on here... I hope you find it useful, too! 

http://www.fva.net/ctr/#Worksheets

Motown, anyone?

One of the topics we cover in my seventh grade general music classes is Motown. I was working on my unit today and came across this wiki. It includes basic information on all rock music! I found it searching for history of the Motown (their Motown page pays special attention to Michael Jackson, which my students are particularly interested in right now.)All the information is phrased using simplified, kid-friendly language. It also includes information, some interesting webquests, and project ideas, all on music from the 1960s-today. A great resource for anyone who covers popular music!
http://rockwritelisten.wikispaces.com/

Classroom Jeopardy

Hey all! I have used this free Flash Jeopardy creator in the past. It's quick and easy, and best of all, FREE! Definitely worth checking out - the kids are always excited about a game. =)


http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/

Blog about Music Ed. blogging

In cruising around today, I came across a blog called "Music is Not For Insects". The title made me click, and what I found was a blog about music education. It covers aspects of why music education is important, has posts discussing the importance of social networking in regards to music ed., provides insights from music students and their parents... It's actually a blog comprised of many music education blogs, all compiled in one place. Definitely worth browsing.

http://mystro2b.edublogs.org/

Sight-singing help

For those of you who are vocal teachers, this is a website that includes several different tools to help with general music theory as well as sight-singing. There are examples students can sing, and each example is accompanied by a midi file that allows students to hear the example. There are basic examples that students can hear as "tune only", "rhythm only" or "whole thing", as well as lines from actual songs they can work on. Treble AND bass clef, too! I hope you find something helpful here.

http://neilhawes.com/sstheory/sitesing.htm

Need to explain the name...

Just to clarify the reason behind the name of my blog... I cannot tell you how often people who don't know me will call me "Kimberly" as though it's my first name. I end up having to tell them "No, the last name IS Kimberly!" It gets a little frustrating, as anyone with "two first names" can tell you. So, just to recap... That's MRS. Kimberly! 

New blogger

Hello all! As with many of you, this is my first blogging adventure. I'm excited to see what this class will bring for all of us, and look forward to sharing this experience with you!