I think this video was very helpful and encouraging. I am so glad some one is finally addressing this issue. I thought it was just me that was having a hard time finding content that was engaging. As a possible follow up, or solution to some of the reasons why these older students are so challenging, it would be good to have a discussion on specific resources or theme ideas that are tried and true that have worked.
As a music teacher I have the same exact problem. I love teaching k-2nd but my 4th and 5th grade is so difficult. We use Quaver at our school and the lessons provided are not engaging to the older kids at all. A lot of times they tell me this is baby-ish to them. They are bored out of their mind anytime I talk about classical music or play the Quaver videos. They are not engaged at all. I literally had to stop using Quaver altogether with the older students because it just wasn't working. I don't know what to do with these kids. I do different music centers with them which they seem to enjoy but I wish there was a better curriculum (that was geared toward this age group) that used modern (school appropriate) music to engage the kids. There is nothing I can find out there like that. It's very frustrating.
I really appreciate you making this video. The emotional turmoil even as a teacher is a very real thing especially with upper elementary. One of the things that work for me is shifting activities more towards instruments and body percussions helps them be more participating and for singing choosing from the same repertoire as middle/ high school students. But yes despite all of this classroom management with them can still be a huge trouble. Thank you for all the wonderful video! Much love and support !
One of the ways I make my upper elementary classes feel different is by starting every class with vocal warm ups. At the beginning of the year I spend a lot of time talking about how athletes warm up and stretch, and so do musicians. I introduce a new one every month or so, lots of them are funny tongue-twisters and students get competitive about how fast they can go. Another thing that upper elementary students really get into is writing music on Noteflight and Soundtrap - I get students sending me compositions over the weekends!
AGREED. It is so tough! But they are also so fun to work with. This week, I experimented with letting them do armpit farts as one of their body percussion options : D ... I also do TONS of small group work throughout class. I usually let them pick their small group the first time (with the understanding that if a group struggles to pay attention, I will change the group) and the second time in class I choose the group. It gives them a chance to choose who they socialize with and challenges them to work with people who they may not think to work with.
I have the exact same problem. We use Quaver at our school and though it works okay with the younger kids, the older kids are BORED OUT THEIR MINDS. They HATE QUAVER and tell me it bores them to death. I honestly don't know what to do with these older kids. I also think social media has a lot to do with this too. Kids don't want to hear classical music they want modern pop music with a cool beat. If it doesn't sound like a tik tok short then they are not interested in it. I wish there was a better curriculum for the older kids that was more modern and engaging for them, where they could still learn some basic music concepts and have fun at the same time. I am having such a hard time with this.
Most of the music my previous 4th and 5th grade students have been interested in hasn't been school appropriate, so I'm stuck with what I have, and that's music they don't usually care for. Also unfortunately in the past I've had to go all year teaching to the end of the year standardized test, so that limits things even more.
All that you say, is very helpful to hear, and makes me feel like I’m not alone. However, I feel that we need to come up with solutions for those who are in the midst of the challenging experiences. What are we going to do about it as an entire school community - not just music teachers, but music method creators, administrators, other classroom teachers, and the entire school community as a whole?
I also think what the district expects these kids to learn at such a young age is way too advanced for them. A lot of these concepts and music history they want the 4th and 5th graders to know I didn't learn until I was in college and took a Music History class. Why does a 5th grader need to know about chord progressions and the different melodic layers of the impressionist song Bolero? I mean seriously? I learned that in college! Who writes these curriculums and do they honestly think today's younger generation is going to be engaged with this? This is a huge part of the problem I face at my school.
I think this video was very helpful and encouraging. I am so glad some one is finally addressing this issue. I thought it was just me that was having a hard time finding content that was engaging. As a possible follow up, or solution to some of the reasons why these older students are so challenging, it would be good to have a discussion on specific resources or theme ideas that are tried and true that have worked.
As a music teacher I have the same exact problem. I love teaching k-2nd but my 4th and 5th grade is so difficult. We use Quaver at our school and the lessons provided are not engaging to the older kids at all. A lot of times they tell me this is baby-ish to them. They are bored out of their mind anytime I talk about classical music or play the Quaver videos. They are not engaged at all. I literally had to stop using Quaver altogether with the older students because it just wasn't working. I don't know what to do with these kids. I do different music centers with them which they seem to enjoy but I wish there was a better curriculum (that was geared toward this age group) that used modern (school appropriate) music to engage the kids. There is nothing I can find out there like that. It's very frustrating.
I really appreciate you making this video. The emotional turmoil even as a teacher is a very real thing especially with upper elementary. One of the things that work for me is shifting activities more towards instruments and body percussions helps them be more participating and for singing choosing from the same repertoire as middle/ high school students. But yes despite all of this classroom management with them can still be a huge trouble. Thank you for all the wonderful video! Much love and support !
One of the ways I make my upper elementary classes feel different is by starting every class with vocal warm ups. At the beginning of the year I spend a lot of time talking about how athletes warm up and stretch, and so do musicians. I introduce a new one every month or so, lots of them are funny tongue-twisters and students get competitive about how fast they can go. Another thing that upper elementary students really get into is writing music on Noteflight and Soundtrap - I get students sending me compositions over the weekends!
Thank you for that tip!
AGREED. It is so tough! But they are also so fun to work with. This week, I experimented with letting them do armpit farts as one of their body percussion options : D ... I also do TONS of small group work throughout class. I usually let them pick their small group the first time (with the understanding that if a group struggles to pay attention, I will change the group) and the second time in class I choose the group. It gives them a chance to choose who they socialize with and challenges them to work with people who they may not think to work with.
I have the exact same problem. We use Quaver at our school and though it works okay with the younger kids, the older kids are BORED OUT THEIR MINDS. They HATE QUAVER and tell me it bores them to death. I honestly don't know what to do with these older kids. I also think social media has a lot to do with this too. Kids don't want to hear classical music they want modern pop music with a cool beat. If it doesn't sound like a tik tok short then they are not interested in it. I wish there was a better curriculum for the older kids that was more modern and engaging for them, where they could still learn some basic music concepts and have fun at the same time. I am having such a hard time with this.
This video was super refreshing to watch- thank you for posting it! :)
Of course! I think it is a topic so worth discussing!!
Most of the music my previous 4th and 5th grade students have been interested in hasn't been school appropriate, so I'm stuck with what I have, and that's music they don't usually care for. Also unfortunately in the past I've had to go all year teaching to the end of the year standardized test, so that limits things even more.
All that you say, is very helpful to hear, and makes me feel like I’m not alone. However, I feel that we need to come up with solutions for those who are in the midst of the challenging experiences. What are we going to do about it as an entire school community - not just music teachers, but music method creators, administrators, other classroom teachers, and the entire school community as a whole?
I also think what the district expects these kids to learn at such a young age is way too advanced for them. A lot of these concepts and music history they want the 4th and 5th graders to know I didn't learn until I was in college and took a Music History class. Why does a 5th grader need to know about chord progressions and the different melodic layers of the impressionist song Bolero? I mean seriously? I learned that in college! Who writes these curriculums and do they honestly think today's younger generation is going to be engaged with this? This is a huge part of the problem I face at my school.