Saturday, December 09, 2006

Music To Our Ears!


Although we often use songs to enhance learning tasks, we don't always think of music as a valuable tool for changing the alertness levels of our students. Read what this educator has to say on the subject.

Raleigh Philp, M.Ed. MAT, is a trainer and educational consultant specializing in brain-compatible approaches to learning. He is a former elementary and secondary teacher, a Pepperdine University professor, and a consultant for the California State Department of Education.
When I do my workshops, one thing I try to get across is that kids can listen only for a short time -- probably fifteen minutes max, maybe twenty. And you've got to find innovative ways to change the psychological state of your learners about every twenty minutes: Get them up on their feet, change the environment using music, have them interact with each other.

I encourage teachers with a variety of strategies. For instance, how can you use music effectively in the class in order to make it an emotionally welcome place? A lot of teachers use music, but the nuances of how to use it are really important. I see more teachers saying, "I can learn to control the physiological state of my learners much more by using music at the right time."

So, for instance, maybe you should play something calming when they come into the classroom, like maybe classical music?

That's the perception most people have, that you should have music playing when kids come in. But you would also want to have playlists for other kinds of music, too. When kids come in to the class, you probably want to use music with an upbeat to it, eighty beats per minute or something. Other times, you'd want to use music in transition, between activities, or when you're writing in journals, maybe fifty to sixty BPM.

I'm a fan of public radio, and I'm amazed at how well they can integrate little pieces of music. So I try to encourage teachers to use emotional songs when they're doing readings. You remember the Ken Burns series The Civil War? There's a musical theme running through it, a resounding, beautiful melodic piece. It would be a great piece of music to play in the background along with a reading of Civil War letters.

And a lot of teachers don't realize how easy this is today. With laptops, iTunes, and inexpensive speakers, it's easier than ever to use music in the classroom.


Are your students having trouble attending? How can you intergrate music into the school day to engage, motivate and focus?

Friday, December 08, 2006

Just For Fun

SNOW! Who isn't excited when the first flakes fall? Let's harness that excitement into a learning activity. Visit SnowCrystals.com for images, information and activities.

We might not have seen snow all month, but you can make your own. All snowflakes have six sides. To make a snowflake cut from paper, start by folding the paper like this. To make a digital snowflake, check out Make-a-Flake and have fun "cutting" with your mouse.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Hold It!



As an OT, I cannot keep my eyes off of how the world grasps writing utensils. Anyone is suspect to my observations...the local cashier, the UPS man, teachers at our staff meetings. The variety of pencil grasps seems endless. Do you find yourself wondering how to encourage your students to hold a pencil correctly? What is the right type of grasp? Are there other acceptable ways to hold a pencil? Check out this site for clear photo examples.

One good indicator of an appropriate grasp is the "web space". It is the circle formed by your index finger and thumb. When this is closed, you are also shutting down the very powerful thumb, rich in receptors traveling back to the brain. Keep communication open...maintain your web space!

Friday, December 01, 2006

electronic FLASHCARDS


Index cards are useful, but limited. Create your own flashcards on your computer with this free program. The possibilities are endless...practice spelling words, math facts and vocabulary words. These flashcards are truly multisensory! You can import images, video, change background colors and record sounds. Studycard Studio Lite is free from http://www.digitalmeadow.com/
Check it out!