Testing Week

This week I have my students only a little tiny bit for class, because they have to take their state tests.  The tests take all morning and so they miss out on many of their regular classes.  It is beyond me why we have to have students take these tests, they take so long, and they just make me nervous thinking about them, and I know they cause the students a lot of anxiety, or at least some of the students.  I wish there was another way to figure out how we are all doing academically compared to other people in the state, and country, but there hasn't been a way to do it better than what they have figured out up to this point.  At least, now, students have as much time as they need to do the best that they can.

 I was an anxious student and I didn't do well on any tests at all.  I was lucky to go to a school that didn't put a great deal of stock in these tests, so they didn't use them (as they often did) to put me in a lower track.  I managed to show my ability and intelligence in so many different ways, and I am hoping that the tests are being written now to help students who have diverse learning styles show what they can do in many ways, not just one way.

I resent that we miss our time with our students for these tests, but I also see what is essential to the larger picture.  I am hoping this makes them all more resilient, more focused, and able to do any type of test in the end.

Notes of the staff

I have been very impressed with my students knowledge of music theory.  We have just begun to work on rhythms in 4/4 time and now this week I taught them the grand staff.  Next time I see them we will put all that knowledge together and learn some songs on the piano, using their new understandings of treble and bass clef.

I was astonished when my son came home as an adult and told me he was never taught that the middle C on the grand staff connects the bass clef to the treble clef.  He always thought they were two separate entities.  He never knew that it is actually a continuum.  Well, after he learned that, at such a late age, after he had been in jazz band and band all those years, and after he had taught himself piano and bass..I swore that I would teach it to kids right away, so they would always know WHY the notes on the staff are read differently from bass to treble.

At the risk of telling you something you already know, the reason that you read the spaces in treble clef f-a-c-e, but in bass you read them a-c-e-g- it is because you read up from middle c in one way, but when you read down to the bass clef the other direction, you end up with different notes on different spaces and lines.  Thus, your bass clef is read very differently than your treble clef.

Now, it does appear that it makes a difference if I teach them that at the beginning, it makes it easier to understand what all those lines and spaces and balls and sticks on the staff mean- but there will always be students who still don't understand it after you have explained it all, but I am finding that either students are more motivated than they ever were, or they just get these ideas better than they used to, or more of them have had experience with the concepts of music theory than ever before.

So- I used the gradual release of responsibility one more time, and it worked as always, and I am pleased at how far we got this week, even with the snow day on Monday and the delay on Friday, but they will be ready to hit the pianos when they come back after testing in two weeks!  Hurray!  Have a great EASTER!!

Good Morning Blues, continued...

Here are some Blues songs from the other team!

School we get so much work from it

School we so much work from it

We have to come five days a week and we don't stop getting work!

School we have to wake up so early

School we have to wake up so early

School, when will it end! 

Homework, we get too much of it

Homework we get too much of it

It should only take twenty minutes 

Homework it takes too much of my time

Homework it takes too much of my time

I don't get to do anything fun.

My alarm clock woke me up I got out of bed

My alarm clock woke me up I got out of bed

I ran into my bed and stubbed my toe my brother laughed so and so

When I ate my cereal it was soggy

When I ate my cereal it was soggy

After that my throat was froggy! 

When you are in the shower and you get soap in your eyes

When you are in the shower and you get soap in your eyes

Oh it stings and a towel doesn't help.

When you stub your toe after you get out of the shower

When you stub your toe after you get out of the shower

And of course, I now am going to play a soccer game! 

When I tie my shoes, it unties itself

When I tie my shoes it unties itself

I'm tripping everywhere, shoes tie yourself

I pulled you tight, now what do you want?

I pulled you tight, now what do you want?

Now you break apart and I don't know what to do! 

Good Morning Blues

We wrote twelve bar blues this week and last week during music class.  The students learned about the form of a twelve bar blues.  So- in case you don't know, the form is that the first line and the second line of each verse are the same, and the third line is different.  The students also copied the music from the book onto music composition paper, also known as staff paper.  They learned about using the treble clef for the melody and the bass clef for the chords, and then they put the first verse in between the two staffs, and the second verse underneath.  Here are some examples of Blues from the fifth grade.


I've got the homework blues
I've got the homework blues
I just wanna go home and do what I wanna do.

Who is that calling in the middle of the night
Who's that calling in the middle of the night
Why do I got to wake up in the morning then I had to call you.

It was so annoying I wanted to scream
It was so annoying I wanted to scream
Back in the morning you had to to call me last night.

We always fight morning and night
We always fight, morning and night
You get mad at me more than once a day.

Why is that and I have more to say.
Why is that and I have more to say.
Like you make me late for everything for school every day.

Hope you enjoy these!  More next week!

More versions of Down By the Riverside

This week I have the other team, the Panthers, they are called, and they are writing some wonderful verses as well..here are a few for your listening, reading and dancing pleasure!!

Gonna run towards the sunrise

Down by the rip tide (x3)

Gonna run towards the sunrise

Down by the rip tide

I ain’t gonna work for you_ no more(x6)

Gonna sleep where the sun sets

Down by the willow vines(x3)

Gonna sleep where the sun sets

Down by the willow vines

I ain’t gonna listen to your demands(x6)

 

Gonna live happy with freedom

Down by the tree pines(x3)

Gonna live happy with freedom

Down by the tree pines

I ain’t gonna follow in your steps(x6)

1.Gonna run from our masters of fear

Down by the riverbank

Down by the riverbank

Down by the riverbank

Gonna run from our masters of fear

Down by the riverbank

and work against my will no more

I ain’t gonna work against my will no more

I ain’t gonna work against my will no more

I ain’t gonna work against my will no more

I ain’t gonna work against my will no more

I ain’t gonna work against my will no more

2. Gonna free ourselves from our owners

Down by the oceanside

Down by the oceanside

Down by the oceanside

Gonna free ourselves from our owners

Down by the oceanside

and I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

I ain’t gonna be a slave no more no more

3. Gonna make everyone happy again

Down by the city's edge

Down by the city's edge

Down by the city's edge

Gonna make everyone happy again

Down by the city’s edge

and will help all the people in need

I will help all the people in need

I will help all the people in need

I will help all the people in need

I will help all the people in need

I will help all the people in need

1. Gonna run from all my fears

down by the cityline x3

and get pushed around no more

I ain't gonna get pushed around no more x6

     

      2.  Gonna stand up for all my rights

Down by the oceanside x3

And run away to freedom

I’m gonna run away to freedom x6

    

      3.  Gonna make friends with all different kinds

Down by the skyline x3

And make peace on all of earth

I’m gonna make peace on all of earth x6

1. Gonna spread smiles around the world

down by the sunny side

down by the sunny side

down by the sunny side

Gonna spread smiles around the world

down by the sunny side

and fighting--- harsh no more

I ain't gonna fight-- harsh no more

I ain't gonna fight-- harsh no more

fighting harsh no more

2.  Gonna make friends now and then

down by the snowy side

down by the snowy side

down by the snowy side

Gonna make friends now and then

down by the snowy side

and frown-- now no more

I ain’t gonna frown-- no more

I ain’t gonna frown-- no more

frowning-- now no more

3.  Gonna stay bright every day

down by the waterfall

down by the waterfall

down by the waterfall

Gonna stay bright every day

down by the waterfall

and waiting-- now no more

I ain’t gonna wait now no more

I ain’t gonna wait now no more

waiting now no more

Down by the Oceanside

By Madison and Lexi

Gonna fight for what is right

Down by the oceanside 3x

Gonna fight for what is right

Down by the oceanside

Ain’t gonna cry no more 6x

Gonna be free all my life

Down by the oceanside 3x

Gonna be free all my life

Ain’t gonna cry no more 6x

Gonna be peaceful to the world

Down by the oceanside 3x

Gonna be peaceful to the world

Ain't gonna cry no more 6x

Gonna bring freedom to everyone

Down by the oceanside 3x

Gonna bring freedom to everyone

Down by the oceanside

Ain’t gonna cry no more 6x

Ethan Bailey

1     

Gonna bring love to the world

down by the window side 3X

Gonna bring love to the world

down by the window side

Ain't gonna do a straight face no more 6X

2

Gonna bring hope to the galaxy

down by the pond side 3X

Gonna bring hope to the galaxy

down by the pond side

ain't gonna be scared no more 6X

3

gonna bring freedom to the planets

down by the sunny side 3X

gonna bring freedom to the planets

down by the sunny side

ain't gonna fight no more 6X

Gonna light up the world tonight
down by the oceanside 3x

Gonna light up the world tonight

down by the oceanside

aint gonna let the light go by 6x

gonna let the love the the love flow through

down by the oceanside

gonna let the love flow through 3x

Ain’t gonna let the light go 6x

The light in me salutes the light in you

down by the hillside 3x

the light in me salutes the light you  

in our love today 6x

Down By the Riverside

This week my students in the fifth grade music classes are learning about African American music.  The first project they are working on is writing new verses to a well-known spiritual, "Down By the Riverside".  Here are some of the wonderful verses that my classes have created.  I have been very impressed with their focus, their determination, and how dedicated they are to their lyrics.  You will see how wonderful they are..
Before I begin..a quick note about "gradual release of Responsibility" - We sang the original song, "Down By the Riverside" and then as a class we discussed the meaning of the song- peace, rejoicing, freedom, no more fighting, and no more study of war and making the best of the situation you are in.  Then we wrote a verse together:  "Gonna sing loud and spread the joy, down by the schoolhouse, I'm not going to be mad no more.." and then I left them to their own devices..here is where we are.  I think, as usual the gradual release of responsibility worked well and helped me to help the students to work alone more efficiently.  See here the results of using this method..

                                                       Down By The Riverside

By Elise Creagan

Gonna stop war and live life on,

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Gonna stop war, and live life on,

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

Gonna make world peace

for everyone

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Gonna make world peace

for everyone

Down in our heart and soul,

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

Gonna shout “I love ya!”

“I love ya!”

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Down in our heart and soul,

Gonna shout “I love ya!”

“I love ya!”

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

And build happiness every day.

Fairly

By: Kayleigh and Katie

Gonna make things fair

With our voices x3

Gonna make things fair x2

with our voices

And make a difference x6

Gonna treat others with kindness

And help them fit in x3

Gonna treat others with kindness x3

And help them fit in

Gonna help change the world x6

Gonna help others

In our own town x3

Gonna help others

in our own town

And give others a good life x6

In my own town

By: Otto Reid

Gonna make a difference in the world today

in my own home town

in my own home town

in my own home town

gonna make a difference in the world today

In my own hometown

and live a life of love

6x

Gonna make people live happily

in life that is my dream

in life that is my dream

in life that is my dream

gonna make people live happily

In life that is my dream

and help the human race

6x

Gonna make life better for you

with work i’ll get it done

with work i’ll get it done

with work i’ll get it done    

gonna make life better for you

In life I’ll get it done

and help you along the line
6x

Cheyenne and Angela’s rewritten verses of down by the river side
Gonna sit down and play my flute when people are fighting when people are fighting when people are fighting Gonna sit down and play my flute have world peace forevermore 6x Gonna sit and join the crowd when people are fighting when people are fighting when people are fighting Gonna sit down and join the crowd and play our troubles away 6x Gonna sing a song with peace and love when people are fighting when people are fighting when people are fighting Gonna sing a song with peace and love when people are fighting and sign our troubles away 6x

Down By The Riverside

New Verses

By: Lucy

1.      Gonna hope for more freedom

      In the hot grassy fields x3

      Gonna hope for more freedom

      In the hot grassy fields

      Gonna hope for a better job x6

2.    Gonna fight for more world peace

     In towns everywhere x3

     Gonna fight for more world peace

     In towns everywhere

    Gonna fight and be free again x6

3.  Gonna wait ‘till I’m finally free

    Down where my work’s no pay x3

    Gonna wait ‘till I’m finally free

    Down where my work’s no pay

    Gonna escape to be free x6
More Examples to come..have a great week!