This month's Music Monthly is all about making musical transitions in the classroom.
Making transitions from one activity to another in school is often when children lose focus, become distracted and perhaps even get into mischief. Valuable learning time is lost each day during transition times as the educator finds himself or herself in the position of redirecting student’s attention between tasks.
Music is an excellent way to make transitions run smoothly and efficiently. I challenge you to sing, sing, sing (no matter how you think you sound). Sing everything from "Good morning, good morning, good morning to you" to "Line up, line up, everyone line up" to "Pack up, pack up, everyone pack up" to “Math time, math time, everyone it’s math time.” You can even sing “get out your math books and turn to page 10” or any number of instructions. Any melody will do. Try singing high and low, fast and slow and soft and loud depending upon the mood you wish to create or the speed with which you wish the transition to take place.
I have found that if I use the same melody for all of my transitions, the students will, upon hearing the melody, automatically make the transition as self-directed learners. You will be amazed how well children listen to singing and how quickly they will join in the song. You will transform your class during transition times.
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