DID YOU KNOW THAT CREATING A "COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS" IS A DYNAMIC STRATEGY FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT? Make it musical, and you have a winning combination!
This post is my musical group management article "Day 5," the fifth in my "24 Strategies" series.
You can read the other posts at the links below:
Day 1: The VERY BEST Strategy: Using "Musical Messages!"
You can read "Day 1" at this link.
Day 2: Music for Lessons in Grace & Courtesy
You can read "Day 2" at this link.
Day 3: Music for Daily Routines
You can read "Day 3" at this link.
Day 4: Musical Techniques for Regaining Control of the Group
Day 5: Musical Ways to Create a "Community of Learners"
You can read "Day 4" at this link.
Day 5: Musical Ways to Create a "Community of Learners"
You are reading this one right here.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BUILDING COMMUNITY
Today's activities feature my musical ideas for creating an atmosphere that promotes the feeling of "community" among your young learners.
You can capitalize on these musical group times to facilitate activities that invite children to work (and play) together. When children feel more and more a part of the group, they begin to build a community.
Musical activities at Circle Time are one of the very best ways for children to interact in a group.
You can capitalize on these musical group times to facilitate activities that invite children to work (and play) together. When children feel more and more a part of the group, they begin to build a community.
When there is a feeling of community, children behave more respectfully towards each other and so there are less occurrences of troublesome behaviors.
This community-building strategy, through musical experiences, weaves a sturdy cloth of positive behaviors that become routine with the children.
This community-building strategy, through musical experiences, weaves a sturdy cloth of positive behaviors that become routine with the children.
Strategy #18
"COOPERATION MAKES IT HAPPEN"
Sesame Street Cooperation song
"Cooperation Makes It Happen"
Any task that requires two or more people, is an excellent time to incorporate a song about cooperation.
We have many opportunities to sing such songs in the Montessori classroom! There are times when children may carry and move a table together, or bring several parts of a shelf work to the circle, or tidy up a big mess...the list goes on and on.
Below are 2 videos with some sweet cooperation-themed songs that I have used in my classroom. We sing the choruses spontaneously whenever the occasion arises. (Even if it is not a group circle time)
Sesame Street Cooperation song
The chorus to the song in the following video, has been an all-time favorite in my Preschool groups:
"Cooperation Makes It Happen"
Strategy #19
RHYTHM PATTERNS W/ VOICE
My music classes with groups of young children always include rhythm echoes in our 2 or 3 minute warm-up for the day's lesson.
Whenever groups of children are keeping vocal rhythm patterns together, they are developing a sense of community in a subtle way.
In unison, they are "echoing" the teacher, and the underlying rhythm of the pattern draws each singer into the group. It's just about irresistible and effortless, considering that the leader (teacher) keeps that steady underlying and infectious beat!
Here is a sampling of echo rhythms that we warm-up with in my groups:
"Rhythm Echoes 1," from Magical Movement Company
Strategy #20
RHYTHM PATTERNS W/ INSTRUMENTS
Later in our music class, we once again practice rhythm patterns, only this time, instead of our voices, we use our rhythm instruments: rhythm sticks, maracas, triangles, tambourines, etc. That is how we warm up on our instruments, like professional musicians.
This musical activity is the beginning of what we call "ensemble playing." As children practice these each week repeatedly, and develop skill, they are soon playing these rhythms in unison.
It's like the children have become "band-mates!" Becoming like a band is certainly community-building and fun.
Here is a video of Frank Leto's technique of using rhythm echoes to build group musical cohesiveness. After the vocal echoes, he introduces "body percussion," so clapping, patting and tapping makes the body become a sort of percussion instrument.
Echoes & Rhythms with Frank Leto
Strategy #21
RAINBOW ELASTIC "STRETCHY BAND"
As you will see in the following short video, my groups continue to practice the rhythm patterns with which we warm up our voices and our rhythm instruments. Now this time, these rhythms are repeated as a group, holding onto a giant elastic rainbow colored "stretchy band."
Montessori Music Activity with Rainbow Stretchy Band
The stretchy band is a wonderful group unifier. After clearly presenting the ground rules for this activity, I am always delighted to see how much the children greatly enjoy the the thrill of being connected to everyone else while moving in unison to the familiar musical patterns. Lots of giggles!
You can read more about how we do it and a DIY substitute for the stretchy band, at my blog article, From the Montessori Music Room: Four Ways To Move With A "Stretchy Band!"
And, here is a video featuring one of my favorite Orff-Schulwerk teachers, Tamara O'Brien, demonstrating a lovely performance piece for children, using a giant stretchy band.
Orff Activity "Caravan" from "We're Orff 2"
Strategy #22
FREEZE DANCE WITH HOOPS
To bring a spirit of togetherness to the popular activity of freeze dancing, the teacher can simply add a few hula hoops to the game.
As the music plays, everyone dances around in the movement area of the room until the music stops and the children must "freeze."
However, in this version, each child quickly finds a hoop where s/he must "freeze." Invariably, the hoops fill up with children who are scrambling to find a spot in which to freeze. They always manage to fit one more child into their hoops, and voila---it's another community building activity!
You can see it in action in this video:
Hula Hoop Freeze Dance
Strategy #23
PARTNER DANCING
Another community-builder is movement coordinated with a partner. There are many children's songs that are actually partner dances and circle dances.
"Partner dancing" involves 2 children and/or a group arranged in a circle. The participants coordinate their actions and once again we, as the teachers, are setting up a community-developing activity that is fun and sometimes even a bit challenging.
Some of these are: "Skip to My Lou", "Buffalo Gals", "Noble Duke of York, "Alabama Gal", "Sur Le Pont, d'Avignon", "Bow To Your Partner", "Brother Come and Dance with Me", ***"Here's a Little Bluebird, Flying Through My Window" to name a few.
Amidon's "Noble Duke of York" demo
Amidon's New England Dancers: "Buffalo Gals"
Kindergarten "Sur LePont d'Avignon" demo
"Little Brother, Dance with Me" Virtual
***HERE'S A LITTLE BLUE BIRD Activity: A child is chosen to be the "bird" and flies around the circle, then s/he chooses a partner to "hop in the garden". At the end of the song the first child leaves the circle and the partner becomes the "bird". Continue until all children have left the circle to go to the next activity.
Strategy #24
PARTNER PLAYING
Another extension of partnership movement, is comprised of the activities featuring two children playing instruments while facing each other and playing in unison.
With my groups, we use 8" rhythm sticks. I introduce this kind of activity only when the group is really skilled in playing rhythm sticks. Likewise, the children are 4 years old and upward, because they are generally skilled enough to play these sticks as partners successfully. It is quite challenging and the older children love this challenge.
We play partner rhythm sticks with simple and familiar songs that the children know well. (ex: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
A simple way to do it:
~ Set up the partners so that they are sitting facing each other.
Follow this pattern:
~ Tap your sticks on the floor
~ Tap your sticks together
~ Tap the ends of your sticks to the ends of your partner's sticks
Following are some videos showing a partner playing activity from the Maori culture using sticks. This traditional activity is very challenging and not really appropriate for preschoolers. However, the song and actions are lovely and could be simplified and adapted for a group that is experienced and skilled in playing rhythm sticks.
"E Papa Wairi" Maori Stick Song Activity
Maori Stick Song
I am so happy to know that you have come to visit my Blog today, and I hope you enjoy trying some of these strategies with your group.
You might also enjoy exploring some of my Musically Montessori eCourses at this link.
Looking for more ideas?
My Musically Montessori eBook is part of my Freebie Collection available for my email subscribers. I invite you to subscribe at this link.
And...
I invite you to check out my Musically Montessori eCourses at Trillium Montessori Courses at this link. You'll see my techniques in action in the instructional videos in all my eCourses.
Photos are from Adobe Stock Photos and Carolyn's Photo Archives
