Creating the Sub Tub

At our teacher inservice this past Monday, we were all given an assignment:  to create an emergency sub binder/tub.  I'd seen several music teachers who had created them on pinterest and blogged about what their sub information and tubs contained.  Always sounded like a great idea, but one I hadn't done until now!  And I'm incredibly excited about what's been created!!!

Being a music teacher means that not every sub is musically-inclined or comfortable singing or playing instruments with classes.  I never leave lessons where subs use the instruments or teach a new musical concept.  In the past, I have left worksheets, games or videos.  The lessons in my sub tub will allow my subs to have everything they need without my having to scramble if my kids get sick in the middle of the night or start running a fever at 6am.  Everything is there and ready.  No stress!

WHAT GOES INSIDE?

First I came up with a plan of what I wanted to include in my Binder.  I purchased a bright yellow binder as well as page inserts.  I found a cute Chevron sub binder print that I could tweak to work for my binder and give it more character.  You can use it here:

Chevron Sub Binder Freebie


There were the basics to include in the binder:

1.  Lesson Plans for each grade level
2.  Directions for all activities, worksheets, books, songs and computer stations.
3.  General information about classroom management, procedures, telephone numbers for the office and classrooms
4.  Nurse Passes, Bathroom Pass information
5.  Fire and Intruder Drills



SUB TUB

Second I had to choose what I wanted to put not only the Sub Binder, but all of the materials.  There was the clear bin idea which I really didn't want to do because the papers would get all bent.  There was the single binder idea, but that would become extremely heavy.  I went with my third thought which is a Staples hanging file plastic bin.  Sturdy, organized and only $7.99.

http://www.staples.com/Staples-File-Storage-Crates-Black/product_253856?externalize=certona



HOW TO ORGANIZE BY GRADE

I chose to use colored hanging files and then use matching colored file folders in each one by grade.  Grade level colors are:

Kinder - Yellow
First - Red
Second - Green
Third - Blue
Fourth - Orange
Fifth - Yellow

Since they only come in five colors, I used yellow for both Kinder and Fifth.  It's clean and easy to use.

Hanging File Folders:
http://www.staples.com/Staples-Bright-Colored-Hanging-File-Folders-Letter-5-Tab-Assorted-25-Box/product_875411

File Folders:
http://www.staples.com/Staples-Colored-File-Folders-Letter-3-Tab-Assortment-A-100-Box/product_875429


INDIVIDUAL GRADE LEVEL ORGANIZATION

Each grade is now color-coded.  The next part was writing several lesson plans for each grade and then deciding how to organize the files for each section.  In the older grades, I leave centers:
1.  Computer    2.  Game    3.  Worksheet

Students rotate through the centers every 15-20 minutes.  Some classes will complete all three stations; others will get to two stations.

On the file folders, I labeled a folder game directions and another folder labeled game boards and pieces.  For worksheets, I have labeled a folder for the sub with an answer key, directions and worksheet.  Another folder has more than enough copies of each worksheet for that lesson.

I'm still in the process of putting the final details on all of it.  And yes, it did take many hours to get it the way that I want it.  But completely worth all the time up front!

Oodles of Noodles

Oodles of Noodles

Materials:

Pool Noodles cut to appropriate lengths to show how long each note is held 

Small Narrow Purple Pool Noodles cut to create bar lines

Jump Ropes - used to thread the noodles on **I don't use these until at least second or third grade**

Goal:

Students create their own rhythms, write them down and then perform them!

*This makes a great center activity!!*

First Grade Students:  Students put together noodles to write patterns using ta, titi and rest.  Based on where students are, they create two or four measures.

A student arranges her noodles into rows with four beats in each row.

She then dictates it onto this rhythm heartbeat sheet when she has
the notes in the order that she wants them!

Second Grade:  We have been working on bar lines.  Students added purple noodles to create measures!

Third Grade:  Students worked in groups to create measures and then creating a poem to match the rhythm!

Going over their poem.

Notes are organized for easier use!

Composer Birthdays

January 26, 1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
February 4, 1677 - Johann Ludwig Bach

*Students will be writing information about these composers soon to share!

January Flashbacks

What did students learn in the month of January?  A lot!!

Kindergarten-
Focus on beat and pitch
Lots of singing and lots of movement

Kindergarten students learned about sound - beats
can have sound or no sound, but it is still a beat!

First -
Writing, reading, singing and speaking quarter notes, eighth note pairs and quarter rests

Mrs. Park's class had their Golden Music Note Day and chose to have a musical lunch with me in the music room!

Watching a special music clip

Second -
What are measures?
Lots of music theory - grouping notes, ties, creating half notes by tying quarter notes together, repeat signs and reviewing familiar notes

Third Grade -
Follow The Drinking Gourd - read the book, learned the song and talked a lot about history!
Music theory
Focus on our notes
Beginner part singing

Third Grade students add music note values during a center activity.

Fourth Grade -
Xylophones
Music theory

A student keeps the steady beat while students take turns
performing improvisational solos on their xylophones.

Fifth Grade -
Xylophones, music theory, beginning 6/8 time

December Flashbacks

I'm very late on this as it is February, but I want to give a glimpse of what students achieved in December!

Tchai-kov-sky (Kinder and First Graders learn his name by waving hi (Tchai), Cough (mov) and making motions to show they are going to 'ski' (sky).  We put it all together and voila!  it's much easier to pronounce

Students in First Grade learned about the Ballet the Nutcracker and performed routines to two of the famous songs from the ballet:  Nutcracker March and Russian Dance

Nutcracker March:  We use an idea by Artie Almeida using plates!  I purchased red and green plates from Walmart.  Very inexpensive and they hold up well.  The students love to hear the strong beats when the plates tap together.  They discover Rondo form as we do the same motions in sections A repeatedly!  We wave on section B and do other motions for section C.  Sometimes we even get a little silly and end the song with Mickey Mouse Ears.  They love that!

Russian Dance (Trepak):  Strong Beat!!  Students love this one.  Fast and only about a minute in length, it uses great energy and they never forget it.  We use smaller parachutes to move to the song.

A Musical Valentine

First and Second grade students began their valentine song last week.  The classes each learn a 16-measure poem.  What we do with the poem varies from first to second.

First grade students are given an eight measure rhythm to perform on either drums, woods or metals.  We talk about the sounds of each one of the instruments.  Students break into smaller groups and we create an AB form (poem then instruments).

Second grade students are taught the poem and then given an eight measure worksheet with hearts for the beats.  On each beat, students write a rhythm using the notes that they have learned (quarter, eighth note pairs, half note, quarter rest).  We all sit in a circle and I play a steady beat on the large doumbek drum.  Students are given a chance to speak their poems to the beat before we begin.  In front of them are instruments to choose from.  We talk about the sounds of each instrument before they play.

One student at a time is chosen to perform their rhythm on the B section.  They have a choice of which instrument they want to play for their solo.  I choose the first student and from there, they choose each other.

Mrs. Ward's class performed this last Thursday and they were so encouraging of each other and excited to play their solos for each other.  It also gives me a chance to see them write rhythms, perform rhythms, speak rhythms and work as a group.  Love it!