Music for the Long and Winding Road

I have been on a mini-tour of the West the last few weeks.  What was supposed to be a quick trip in and out of Denver has now extended into a month long road trip.  After Colorado, I headed to Salt Lake to spend a few weeks with my parents.  We immediately packed our bags and headed to Yellowstone--- my favorite place on Earth.  Yellowstone National Park is the natural Disneyland and the very thumbprint of God.  One of my very wisdomous British friends informed me that Yellowstone is on an active volcano and there currently is an advert running in the UK about it.

Here the weather changes on a dime--- as I am writing this it is currently snowing in Salt Lake, yesterday it was 90 degrees.  I am always surprised at the kid that emerges in me when I am in the park- things shooting out of the ground, bubbling, animals roaming.... it's just the best.  The best of Yellowstone is seen off the boardwalks though only about 5% of visitors hit these back country trails.  My Dad and I climbed one of the mountains... and though we usually pride ourselves in being overly prepared... we learned that "pride cometh before the snowfall" and the entire hike was on top of snow... that we often fell to our waist in.   Please note my Hi-So fashion:)   

feel safe?!

The day after we got back from Yellowstone I got in the car with my brother and headed to Southern Utah. We met up with my cousin and hiked Zion NP--which has an amazing hike through the Narrows and the fattest squirrels you've ever seen.  The hike goes in and out of water and at some parts you practically have to swim while holding your gear over your head.

After Zion we hit Bryce Canyon, Grand-Staircase Escalante, and Capitol Reef.  

Bryce

Capitol Reef

Petroglyphs in Capitol Reef

I gathered various types/colors of soil that I will be using in an art and writing project for our soil/rocks/mineral study (stay tuned :))

Now, this entire time I'm with my brother--- my classical musician, opposite personality, oil and water--- or vinegar and baking soda sibling.  As in all good relationships... compromise, compromise... compromise.  The big thing for us is music--- as a music teacher and classical musician his preference is ALWAYS classical and bust your ears opera while I appreciate it and enjoy it from time to time.. on most any day of the week I prefer most ANYTHING else.

Here is a prime example from our recent road trip

We took turns with playlists--one hour each and all was at peace.... and where I tie it in to education :)  

I love music--- it's playing for the majority of my day.  In the classroom---it is utterly invaluable.  I use a bluetooth speaker and am able to play music through my phone wherever I am in the room which pretty much rocks my world.  I keep my music organized in various playlists for different times of the day--- morning, lunch, line up, pack up, etc. etc.  In each playlist I have 1-2 songs that cue the kids and then afterwards I always include various albums that don't have words.  

As a fast fact-- as learned from my brother-  when students are working using the right/logical side of the brain listening to music helps to stimulate the left/creative side.  Listening to music that doesn't have words supports focus and the firing between the two halves.  As a consequence music with words distracts and can cause confusion--- because who doesn't want to sing along and forget how to use that new strategy?!

Here are the playlists I use every day so that I don't have to say a single word to my students and they have the time they need to get to wherever they need to go.  At the bottom I will include the other albums I attach on to the transition songs  playlists ( nobody likes an awkward silence or the same songs repeated over and over if the always on it teacher somehow forgets where the phone she just had is and doesn't stop the music).  

Morning:

Good Morning- from Singin' in the Rain I clipped the song at 1:31-- students clean up from morning work/centers

Wake up Little Susie-- students at the carpet, greeting each other and asking 1-2 questions to each friend  

next year we will start singing Star Spangled Banner after greeting

Clean Up:

The Price is Right

Mission Impossible

Lunch:

Food in the Belly- Xavier Rudd

Writing:

Paperback Writer- Beatles-- get writers notebook and meet me at the carpet

Handwriting:

Handwriting Without Tears--I don't care who you are those songs are catchy!

Wednesday Wipeout- Clean out desk and sanitize using wipes:

Wipeout- Sufaris

Respect- Aretha Franklin

Line Up:

Jump in the Line- Harry Belafonte

Pack Up:  

On the Road Again- Willie Nelson

Happy Trails to You- Roy Rogers

A Little Less Conversation- Elvis Presley

Hello, Goodbye- The Beatles

Chill Fabulous Wordless Albums:

The Ballad Artistry of Miles Davis or Kind of Blue

My Favorite Things- John Coltrane

Valtari- Sigur Ros  (also beautiful Icelandic scenic videos online that connect with the music)

Dvorak: Serenades for Strings and Winds

The Ballets- Tchaikovsky

The 50 most Essiential Pieces of Classical Music- London Symphony

25 Bach Favorites-- anything by Bach is the best--- I play him during math because much of his music is mathematical, rhythmic, and repetitive.  

Chopin Nocturnes  (nocturne in Eb-- my all time fave)

Without Words- Bethel Music

Finding Neverland Soundtrack

Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack

Saving Mr. Banks Soundtrack

Punch- Punch Brothers....Chris Thile rocks my world and I love anything and everything he puts out on that Mandolin--- he also has a great album with Yo-Yo Ma called the Goat Rodeo Sessions and a solo album of Bach 

Beethoven:  The Complete Symphony Collection

Mozart for the Mind

Vitamin String Quartet-- for more pop songs set to strings

Silence-- is golden and sometimes necessary.

I keep all of these on one giant "Chill" playlist as well as one or 2 of these albums included after the transitions songs listed above.  I often just let the kids vote on what to listen to with these albums.  I love it when they request the musicians by name:  "Can we listen to Miles Davis or 'Chai-cough-ski'"  

I am also a HUGE FAN of gonoodle.com--- this is a sight of brain breaks for kids.  The site gathers videos from other places and organizes and complies various videos and activities together so the teacher isn't left searching for something and having something not necessarily school friendly pop up.  It keeps track of time through characters that grow.... the kids LOVE IT!!!

Many song clips.. and a whole lot of transitions songs can be found at rickmorris.com

I'm going to sign you off with a clip of my favorite musician Chris Thile and his utter genius

and I totally have his autograph :)   

 If I am am missing or need other songs on my playlist let me know!!!

Cheers to a solid summer!

June Currently!

I can't believe it's JUNE!  Party fingers.  I have been in Colorado for the last 9 days.  My cousin got married and I felt it was a solid opportunity to make a holiday out of it.  The original plan was one week in Colorado then hit it back to Nashville.  Well---one thing led to another and now I will be out West for a month.  I leave for Salt Lake today and will be hitting Yellowstone and then down to Southern Utah to hit up a few more National Parks with my brother.  Pray for us!  :) We are like oil and vinegar.

Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs, CO

Devils Head Lookout

The End of Days and into a Good Time!

I apologize... but don't really mean it for the length and lovely information you are getting in this stellar post. :) 

All year we have been gathering pieces for their writing portfolios.  I didn't have students put in every piece of writing they did, rather they chose what pieces they liked and showed their growth. I had students reflect upon their growth using this form and then put it near the beginning of their portfolio.  It is so powerful for them to reflect and put academic vocabulary to their growth.

We created 3 anchor charts
1.  At the beginning of the year...... I did/did not...
2.  Now at the end of the year I....
3. In the future I would like to....

Writing Portfolio Reflection- FREEBIE

For the cover of their portfolios I cut out 4x6 watercolor paper.  I like using watercolor paper because it does not pill or get misshapen like other thicker papers do.  It also allows the water to not run as much.

I taped around the edges on the desk using my favorite froggie green painters tape to make a frame.  I then gave students masking tape attached to a piece of wax paper with the bottom of the tape hanging off of it.  They chose 1 simple shape that reflected them---sun, heart, star, initials, sport, etc. drew it and cut it off.  Having the tape on the wax paper allowed me to do it whole group and also made it so that they didn't ruin their design because the tape was sticking to their scissors, desks, hair, faces, somebody else, etc. etc. etc. :) 

On my back table I let them use "fancy watercolors" from the tube.  Whole group I showed them different strategies to use--- wet, dry, salt, saran wrap, etc.  It is amazing the textures you can get really easily. 

salt



rubbing alcohol




 plastic wrap




With me we taped their paper down, cut out their shape, and I let them begin to paint.  I thought this was going to be an absolute disaster and chaos... and it couldn't have worked better.  One of the 1st grade teachers is a professional artist and when I told her what I was going to let 7-8 year olds do she thought I was mental (which is partially true).  When I told them that "Mrs. Moore thinks I am crazy for letting 2nd graders use fancy water color and no lines" it fueled them to be that more intentional.  I didn't have a single student need to redo one--- which is nothing short of a diving miracle. After their first coat dried, we peeled back their cut out and painted inside of that. 

I was blown away at what these little artists produced. Start to finish it took about 2 hours to finish everybody with 3 working one the table at a time.

They signed their names in the corners like an artist and then we mounted them on black construction paper.  These became the covers of their portfolios.  I bought clear plastic covers from office depot.  Originally we were going to do binders, but there is something about having it bound together that just finishes it off (though binding them about finished me:)).

On the last day of school they collected them with their parents along with a little goody bag that had a summer review pack, sunglasses, and a sweet treat in them.  I also included all of the book trailers they had made throughout the year into the portfolio as well as a copy of our year end video.

 

Also, during the last week, I had the students write letters to the upcoming 2nd graders.  These letters will be placed on their desks on the first day of school.  As a class, we made a huge graphic organizer of all they had learned throughout the year- academic, social, technology, fun activities, etc.

From there we brainstormed some sentence starters and I wrote an example in front of them.  They wrote rough drafts, editing with a peer, and then me.  They then taped a pencil to the top of the paper and wrote a little note.

2nd Grade Rocks! Freebie

We even created one last book trailer as a class from our read aloud...The Invention of Hugo Cabret

It is amazing how fast a school year can fly.  I am so fortunate to work with the group of kids, parents, and teachers.  My parents even made me moose cupcakes and painted my new reader's theater a mustard yellow :)

 I miss my kids dearly... but I am glad to be on vacation!!! I am taking the next month to be out West--- hike, bike, chill, and eat.

Here is a video I captured the other day at Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  It is crazy how clear the water is

 Top of the Colorado Rockies--- we got thirsty and would fill up our water bottles straight from water coming out of the mountains.