Really good stuff, Tami. Thanks.

Martha Stanley, NBCT
www.marthabeesmusic.com
The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas first!


On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 8:52 AM, James Estes wrote:

> OK, I'm impressed. This is great stuff. Keep it coming.
>
>
> James W Estes
> 8952 SE Retreat Drive
> Hobe Sound, FL 33455
> 772-419-8704
> jameswestes@comcast.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list@recorderclassroom.com [mailto:list@recorderclassroom.com] On
> Behalf Of Tami Mangusso
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:00 PM
> To: list@recorderclassroom.com; mk8list@musick8.com
> Subject: [RECL]Centers and Recorders (long)
>
>
> This year I have explored using centers in my classroom. I have discovered
> that centers have a lot of benefits to them. One of the biggest benefit is
> it allows me to work with small groups giving me more opportunity for one
> on
> one instructions. I started using centers in just my regular music class
> lessons. I have about 12 or more centers that I use. Since it worked so
> well for the regular music class, I decided to try it on a recorder day. I
> do Recorder Karate with 4th graders only and the class sizes are 30 -32
> students. I was have troubles making sure everyone takes a test. Several
> of my students were avoiding testing and I had no score for them for some
> time. By doing centers, I could manage the testing with the large groups.
> I have put the students into groups of 3-4 students and I usually have 8
> centers going. Here is how I set them up:
>
> 1. I use hula hoops, one for each center. I place the hula hoops in a
> circle. I sit at a table for my center because I can't sit that long on
> the
> floor without having back aches or without my legs falling asleep.
>
> 2. My students are assigned groups by me. I usually have 1-2 students who
> are stronger players and do well with music reading in each group. I also
> make sure I spread out the trouble makers or the ones who get off task
> easily. I change my groups at the end of each quarter.
>
> 3. All the materials for the centers are place in the middle of the hula
> hoops and at each center I either have cards, sticks, or dice to help
> determine who will be first, second, third, or who gets what job, etc.
>
> Here are the centers I use for Recorders:
>
> a. Recorder Memory game: Students will be able to read a fingering chart
> and
> to learn how to finger the notes on the recorder. To determine the order
> of
> who goes students will roll a dice. The highest roll goes first, if
> students tie they roll the dice again. To find a complete set a person
> must
> find the card with the letter, the card with the note on the music staff,
> and the card with the correct recorder fingering (3 cards total). I have a
> card set for B,A,GE,D,c',d',F.
>
> b. Music Bee: Students will be able to identify notes on the staff by their
> letter name. Students draw cards to find out who goes first and who will
> be
> the judge. Each student gets one music staff card (I made them in
> PowerPoint
> using the table tool)except for the judge. There is a deck of cards that
> have letter names or words on them. The deck of cards are placed in the
> center of the playing area, face down. The first player flips over the
> card
> and all players must place their magic notes (bingo chips) on the music
> staff. They get a point for every note they get right. The judge checks
> their cards.
>
> c. Don't Break the Ice: Students will learn to identify different notes and
> rest. I bought the game "Don't Break the Ice", I got mine from Target, but
> you can buy it at any store that has board games. I made 1" X 1" squares
> that have the note syllables on them and I taped them to the white ice cube
> pieces. Then I made a deck of cards with the note on them. I am using
> "Blue Jello" syllables (from music mind games by Michiko Yurko). I have
> changed a few of the syllables that Michiko uses to make more sense for my
> students (e.g my students didn't know what a huckleberry is so we use
> watermelon for 4 sixteenth notes) On the ice cube piece are the pictures
> of
> the Blue Jello syllables(e.g for 4 sixteenth notes the picture would be a
> watermelon). When the student flips over a card it will have the real
> music
> note with the real name of it on it, but they must look for the ice cube
> with the Blue Jello syllable picture. Then they only tap that ice cube
> out.
>
> d. Jenga Rhythm: Students will be able to read rhythms. I bought several
> Jenga games and I drew various rhythms on them. Students set the game up
> like a normal Jenga game. They use the dice to determine the order of who
> goes. The first player pulls one Jenga block out using only one hand.
> Then
> they read it to the group and the group echos it back. Then they place the
> Jenga block back on the top. You could have students keep score, but mine
> are content with just playing without keeping score.
>
> e. Lucky Ducks: Students will be able to identify the note by its Blue
> Jello syllable. I bought the real game "Lucky Ducks" from Target and on
> the
> bottom of each duck I put the Blue Jello picture. The ducks are placed on
> the pond and each player gets one playing card. I made the player cards in
> Printshop. The player card has the 3 squares on them and each square has a
> real music note inside it. Students must match the duck to the real note.
> Players must find all three ducks. Sometimes we play this center using 2
> sets of Lucky Ducks. I made a different set of player cards for when we
> use
> 2 sets. To adapt the game for those who do not use Blue Jello syllable you
> can have the real note on the duck and the player card could have the real
> name of the note or the Ta or TiTi syllable on them.
>
> f. Practice center: Students will practice their song for Recorder Karate
> belts. I usually have 2 practice centers going. I spread them out in the
> arrangement and I usually have one of them right next to my center so they
> are ready to test when they come to me.
>
> g. Testing Center: Students will test individually with the teacher. Each
> students plays by themselves. The others in the group just sit quietly. I
> thought this would be a problem, but so far it hasn't. They actually enjoy
> playing for each other and sometimes the others have some good advice and
> comments that they give.
>
> I can usually get through everyone in one 45min class period, but sometimes
> we do have to continue centers during the next class period. We usually do
> Recorder centers the last 2 weeks of each month. My 4th graders do
> recorders for every music class. We spend the last 10mins or so working on
> them and if I have time I will also open it up for belt testing.
>
> Enjoy!
> Tami Mangusso
> Aurora, Colorado
>
>
>
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