Trimester 3 Report 2018

Trimester 3 Update, 2018

Trimester 3 has flown by!  We have had such a great time learning and growing together this year!  Our spring trimester was packed with making music, dancing, singing, laughter and smiles.  Feel free to scroll down to see some highlights of our time together!  Parents, I'm sure you have probably heard about our new green screen we used for the musical production as well as during class.  It turned into such an engaging element in our room.  We continued to find creative uses far beyond just the "blooper reels" for the musical.  It became the perfect setting for authentic performance assessments.  We used it with all grade levels.  Students could pick their background picture, stand in front of the screen, and sing/play the songs for the given lesson.  The recordings were then collected as data of their growth and progress with the musical concepts taught.  The children were so excited to be musical movie stars!  (I learned so much from this fun process as well.)

Kindergarten

I've had a blast, this trimester, with these darling children.  They learned about steady beat, high/low, fast/slow, quarter notes/8th notes, and have become beginning music readers. I can't wait to see them again in 1st grade! One of our favorite activities was picking out secret instruments from the magical black box!  They also LOVED singing/playing lullabies to their puppet friends!  They were beyond adorable!

1st and 2nd Grade

This trimester was definitely centered around "hand-on" learning.  Our 1st and 2nd graders studied what qualities make pitches high or low.  They made discoveries about music and shared them with their classmates.  My 1st and 2nd graders spent a great deal of time playing ukuleles and reading/singing the pitches So, Mi and La.  My second graders became scientists as they worked their way through our new STEAM/PITCH lessons developed by Mrs. Woodard (our instructional coach) and I.  They used the Design Process in collaborative groups to learn and report about the fundamentals of pitch.  They worked together to design their own instruments as well.  The unit ended with presentations for the class. 

The Design Process

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
An abundance of time was spent singing, dancing and practicing for our musical "And the Olivia Goes to..."  Learning how to work together, become a cohesive ensemble, combine movement to music, memorize lyrics, speaking parts and choreography really gave their brains a wonderful workout!  Their performance was incredible.  Pictures of our talented start are below!  It feels like it has been an award winning year!

Musical Photo Credit: Mr. Sam Hewamanage

As I say goodbye to this year's 5th grade, I can't help but feel grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to call them my students.  Looking back on all the wonderful years with these special children makes me feel so incredibly happy.  I will hold them in a special place in my heart and will truly miss seeing their smiling faces across the hall.  Best wishes to them as they journey on into their bright and shining futures. 

Love,
Mrs. Jensen

Trimester 2 Update 2017-18

Trimester 2 Update 2017-18

This trimester has been an amazing journey filled with singing, playing, dancing and composing. While the students have been learning, I’ve been doing the same! I am taking two online classes at VanderCook College of Music: Social Emotional Learning in the Music Classroom and Engagement/Retention in the Music Classroom. The children are the inspiration for my work in these classes. Everything I learn is getting embedded into their lessons...and everything the children teach me is then shared with my classmates! A big thank you to our AGS students for their part in this educational adventure!

Kindergarten
As usual, my time with the kindergarten classes went by too quickly! We sang, danced, played, and became beginning music readers! They learned about steady beat, high/low, fast/slow, steady beat, quarter notes/8th notes, and more. I can't wait to see them again in 1st grade! My next crew begins this week. Our favorite Kindergarten memory this trimester was making a rain storm (and dancing) to the “Thunder” song!

1st and 2nd grade
Obviously, a highlight of this trimester was our “Happiness Concert” in January! This was the most joyful event ever! Our talented 1st/2nd and Chorus members of AGS poured their hearts out on the stage. They proved that they have a superpower...to make others HAPPY! Their voices and smiles brightened the stage, and lifted the spirits of everyone in the room.




Social-Emotional Learning has been alive in our music classes this trimester. The 1st and 2nd grade classes are split into small cooperative groups. They decide on a team name, participate in musical team building activities. In these teams they rotate to different musical stations, cooperate together, come to mutual decisions, help each other understand musical targets, solve problems, work through social situations, deepen their musical learning by asking questions and making discoveries.

Major musical targets for this trimester:
   Gather information about the functionality and workings of pitch/melody in music
   Make the connection between note placement and sound
       “high” on the staff = “high” tone
       “low” on the staff = “low” tone
   1st: Reading So and Mi on the staff, gain understanding of notes “on a line” and “on a space”
   2nd: Reading So Mi and La on the staff, learn alphabet letters for staff lines and spaces

In cooperative groups, these are some activities the children have experienced ...
    “Squish a pitch”
    “Leapfrog”
    “Throw a pitch”
    “Coloring pitches”
    “Compose and play”
    Composing on www.SFSkids.org

3rd - 5th grade
We’ve been busy working on our 3rd-5th Spring Musical! “And the Olivia goes to…”
Save the date - April 26th at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre 7:00 pm

*Big news: We bought a green screen so we can make a movie mashup for the show!
We also have many other creative ideas for using the green screen in future lessons too!

Other HUGE areas of focus for 3-5th grade this trimester:
Reading pitch staff/note names
Dynamics
Tempo
Instrumentation

I strongly believe that a major part of musical learning is embedded in CREATING music. For this reason, I feel strongly that students acquire so much knowledge and skill from the act of COMPOSING!

This trimester...
3rd-4th graders have been composing on www.sfskids.org
5th grade have begun composing on Flat.io

We were able to buy a 1 year subscription for all 5th grade to “Flat.io”, a 1 year subscription to a wonderful, educational composing site that connects to Google Classroom. The fifth graders have shown such a great interest and passion for composing, I decided that it was finally time. “Flat.io”! The possibilities are endless. They can compose music for any instrument, collaborate with others, comment and receive comments/suggestions from me as their teacher, save their compositions as an .mp3 file and MORE! I’m beyond excited about this amazing opportunity!



As you can see, we’ve been extremely busy this trimester! It has been a pleasure, as always, working with the wonderful students of A.G.S.! Now let's begin Trimester 3!

My Philosophy and "Why do my students enjoy studying music?"

MY PHILOSOPHY FOR MUSIC EDUCATION

Inside this safe, respectful and joyful music classroom, I foster creative and resilient thinkers, lifelong music learners and future advocates of the aesthetic value and cultural significance of the art of music.

PIECE BY PIECE… WHY DID I CHOOSE THESE WORDS ABOVE?

“Safe, respectful” - The culture in my classroom is positive and students feel like their voices matter.

“Joyful” - Making joyful music helps to foster a love for the art, a passion for the power of music.  Giving them a positive experience helps them grow as musicians and get “hooked” for the future.

“Creative” - When students create music, they are engaged in problem solving, utilizing high-level thinking skills, revising, improving and using multiple areas of their brains.

“Resilient” - I want my students to always get back up again.  Keep trying.  Never give up.

“Lifelong music learners”, “Advocates of the aesthetic value and cultural significance” - As they step into the future, I want my students to hold on to the value that music brings to their lives and to the world around them.

*My project results from my 1st VanderCook class

Why do my students enjoy studying music?   I asked over one hundred of my third, fourth and fifth graders the above question on a Google Form.  Their answers were surprising, funny and enlightening.

Here are a few of my favorite answers:

“because I think I have a great singing voice and I feel like expressing myself with music it makes me feel very very very very very happy.

“because you can let out the voice that know one hears and sing with the songs you like wich makes me cupfterble” (I love “comfortable” is spelled!)

“I like it because I really like how you let us do so many things with the instruments.”

“My favorite part of music is the dancing because you get to move your body around. I also love the musicals!”

“I like studying music because you can construct and create whatever music you want and sometimes the music you make can be really powerful.”

“Music is all around you, it's a big part of everyone's life, it's full of emotions. And that is why I like music.”

“because then i can write songs that is fun this is a very useful because you can make money off of those songs you could also learn how to play instruments that is good because it is collaborative team building activities and will help you learn how to work together it is also good because some songs are soft and soothing”

“I like studying music because I like having Mrs Jensen as a music teacher.”

After reading their answers, I decided to keep track of the specific words I kept seeing over and over again.  I came up with these categories below and put a tally mark in my spreadsheet every time that particular word was mentioned.  The results were a bit surprising to me! After counting the tallies in each one, I could easily see that their favorite parts of studying music were “singing” (35) and “playing instruments” (35). They clearly love to be making music as much as possible! Many replied that they enjoy music for because it is “fun” (21)!  I was also impressed that quite a few mentioned emotions and feelings evoked from the art of music (13).  I’m thrilled to see that they feel such joy in my classroom! Knowing this information is going to be so helpful to make future engaging lessons!  

This assignment was extremely valuable for me.  I feel like my students’ responses greatly reflected my philosophy.   As they create music together, they enjoy having fun, and experience joy in their lives!

In the future, I plan to continue this dialogue with my students so I can keep a closer watch on their journey through this musical learning process.  This information will help me create engaging and exciting lessons that are unique to their needs and interests!

Trimester 1, 2017-18 Summary

Trimester 1, 2017-18 Summary

What have we been up to this trimester in Mrs. Jensen's music classes?  

Our focus for all grade levels this trimester has primarily been on RHYTHM!  Students have been working hard on being able to identify, read, sing, play, perform, and compose these rhythms in the charts below.  (If you look closely, you will see how the concepts are divided by grade level.) 

What did we do in class to become successful with this learning?  

In order to climb this musical mountain...

We played games, 

Constructed notes and composed music with pipe cleaners

Played songs containing the rhythms on instruments 

Composed songs and assessed music literacy with the help of our Chromebooks

Stretched and pushed ourselves to become better musicians! 

EXAMPLE: In this assignment, the students needed to compose the music in the measures, but some were able to challenge themselves even more and take it to the next level!  Here is are a couple of outstanding examples from 5th grade!  

As you can see, we have been very busy learning about rhythm this trimester! But that's not all we've been up to! 

Each grade level voted on their favorite songs from the books and then we incorporated them into the lessons.  We played stick passing games as a way to deepen our understanding of beat and rhythm AND work on those life skills of cooperation, team work, and perseverance.  We created a realistic rhythmic rain storm using instruments (gathering drum, hand drums, rain stick), body percussion (snapping, clapping, etc) and some "special effects" (light switches = lightening).  It was so powerful and exciting!  Make sure to ask them about it! Several classes even danced, splashed and jumped "in the rain."

The time with my first two kindergarten classes went by waaaaay to quickly!  They were absolutely adorable, sweet and energetic learners.  We sang, danced, played, and became beginning music readers!! I can't wait to see them again in 1st grade!  I will miss them!  My next batch will begin this week.  I hope they are ready for some fun!

My 1st and 2nd graders have begun to work on their music for their HAPPINESS CONCERT on January 18th as well!  They sound amazing.   We have been able to discuss the power they possess in their voices.  When they begin to sing, it is like the light is turned up brighter in the room.  The beauty, fun, and emotion they create with song is truly amazing.  I can't wait for them to showcase all of their hard work and talent! 

It's been a wonderful Trimester 1...I am excited for some more fun, learning and growing in Trimester 2.

Tip for managing stress: Finding your "Happy"

Find your "Happy"

Where is your "Happy"?  For everyone, it can be different.  It might be found in nature, drawing a picture, building with your hands, dancing.  Of course our happiness also is deeply tied to those in our lives that we love.  But I want to know WHAT (not who) is your "Happy" !!!

My "Happy" is Music.  Not just any music...Fast, Fun, Loud, Groovy, Funky music.  That slow stuff is great when I want to calm down, but if I need a quick pick-me-up I'm turnin' on the tunes with BIG bass and BIG beat.  If I have to do the dishes or clean the toilets, my neighbors are gonna hear some funky tunes coming out of my windows!  Play it loud.  Play it proud.  I'm talking about Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince...you know what I mean?! 

Give it a try.

First, make a "happy" playlist.  Only YOUR favorite songs will do.  Start with a list of 10 or so... Give it a listen.  How do you feel?

Still not working?

Keep looking... the next time you find your mood change from a sour lemon to a beautiful sunny smile, figure it out.  Did you just find YOUR Happy?

Trimester 3, 2017 Summary

Trimester 3, 2017  Summary

K-2nd Grade Focus on Music Literacy

This trimester, we have spent a LOT of time on reading melodies, and composition.  We began by discussing this big question "Why do we write the notes down on the staff?"  Even the composers of the past did this so that today we can still play their music.  When you don't write it down, it can be forgotten!  Just like those good old grocery lists, right?!

Over the past few months, the students spent time identifying the notes on the staff, listening and critically thinking about melodies, searching and finding musical patterns and working together to build their music literacy skills.

Ask your children about some games we played to reinforce our learning.

• Echo me game (with ukuleles)
• Point and play
• Roll and play
• Composition station
• Heads up 8 up (with pitches on staff)

Of course, we also had fun in class moving, singing and playing instruments!  There is never a dull moment here!

In these past few weeks, we spent some time learning about musical ostinato (or plural: Ostinati).  This is a repetitive musical pattern, which can be rhythmic, melodic, etc.  A wonderful (and super fun) site to reinforce this learning is called http://www.bitesizebeats.com/
This must be done with an adult, as there is an age requirement.  It is an adorable example of the great power of repetitive musical patterns (ostinati) ... all in the package of some funny M&Ms!

We enjoyed making our own ostinati live too...some using voices and some using instruments!

Just a warning...Your ostinato will get stuck in your heads!  Haaha :)


3rd-5th Grade Focus on Performance 

Congrats on a totally RAD 80s musical!  Our 3rd-5th graders poured their hearts into this year's performance.  I asked my students about some things they will remember or take away from this experience.  In the kids' words, here are some valuable things they learned this trimester because of our musical production.

"I learned that you need to speak slowly for the audience to hear you." 

"I learned that we needed to use more of our voice so the audience can hear us clearly." 

"I learned sign language.  I can communicate now in a different way.  When I'm older I can help others because of this."  

"I learned that it is okay to laugh at ourselves. Not to be so serious all the time." 

"We learned to listen to the cues for all of our transitions." 

"I learned to be more open with music.  Before choir, I didn't sing and dance a lot.  Now I like to dance and sing and listen to music." 

"When there are a lot of people I used to have stage fright.  Because of this show, I conquered my fears and I even tried to stand out!!!!"

Targets of this experience...

1. Analyze musical concepts through performance
2. Practice, improve, and perform artistic ideas
3. Develop personal interpretations that consider creators' intent and appropriate to the audience and content
4. Explain how music is related to history, culture and our daily life
5. Evaluate and refine personal and ensemble performances, individually or in collaboration with others

*For information about the national standards hit during this trimester, check out the "Performance" section of this document: http://www.nafme.org/wp-content/files/2014/11/2014-Music-Standards-PK-8-Strand.pdf

Trimester 2, 2017 Summary

Summary of Trimester 2, 2017

Focus on Pitch/Melody

For all grade levels, our learning targets for this trimester have been centered on reading, composing and performing MELODIES on the staff.  Much time has been spent diving into this complex topic.  Our favorite learning tool for this unit has been our beautiful ukuleles (or as we call them sometimes, our "uke-a-babies!").  These delightful instruments have been incorporated into lessons for every grade level K-5.  K-2nd grade use them to read the "open" pitches (which require no pushing) G, C, E, A on the staff.  To remember these string names we sing "Great Cats Eat Ants."

Grades 3-5 stretch further by beginning to learn how to play closed pitches (pushing): On C string -D [2nd fret), and on the E string- F [1st fret] and G [3rd fret].

Movement games, dance and singing have been integrated into the lessons to prep the students for their instrumental experience.  Alongside of labeling pitches with alphabet letters, we also incorporate the "solfege system" (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do) which uses hand signs for each pitch.  Our intense study of pitch/melody has been built upon our previous unit of study, rhythm.  

All students have done an amazing job learning these pitches and all of the concepts that accompany this unit: playing melodies alone and with a group, the concept of "on a line" and on a space", reading structure left to right, note values and rhythm structure.  At this point, our melody assessments have primarily been performance based.  Assessments to reinforce the study of rhythm have occurred in a array of forms: An online site called Rhythm Trainer, Google slide compositions, and performance-based assessments (alone and group).  Needless to say, we've been busy!  

Musical Performances!

Our music performances at A.G.S. continue to be exciting authentic learning experiences!  My 1st-2nd grade and 4/5th Chorus absolutely shined at their winter concert "Once Upon A Tune!"  

All 3rd-5th graders continue to dig into their songs for our *80s musical that will occur in May.  The songs used in these productions naturally become the center for rich classroom discussions about song form, dynamics, genre, textural features and meaning.  

*More information about the spring musical will be coming your way soon.

  

Looking ahead...

As we enter Trimester 3, we will begin using more manipulatives (staff paper, chips, staff mats, etc) to dig deeper into this study of melody and pitch.  Our older students (grades 2-5) will use their Chromebooks to compose digitally on the musical staff.  Another fun application of pitch reading will be with the fun site SFSKids.  On this site, student's Chromebooks are transformed into instruments by using the numbers on their keyboards! In addition, we will begin using our wonderful "keyed" instruments- glockenspiels, xylophones, and metallophones- to reinforce our learning of pitches and melodic construction.  Along with this, students will learn proper mallet technique and compare the structure of these pitched percussion instruments to that of pianos and keyboards.

One more exciting note...

3-5th graders have the opportunity to check out a ukulele and bring it home!  With our reinstated "Ukulele Check-Out System" they may take home a ukulele and method book for 3 days!  Already 45 students have taken advantage of this special privilege. Permission forms are located outside my classroom door.