Mrs. Skog's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 7

• Songs Galore, Fun for Sure!

  Funded Mar 9, 2016

  Thank you for donating to our music classroom! Reading and music go together perfectly! Students are able to not only read the words, but talk about parts of speech, summarizing, inferences and more. I love reading to my students and having them read to each other.

  The resources you have provided will allow students to have some new, fun songs to sing for events, programs and classroom topics. At the same time, students are able to read to each other and work on memorization, steady beat and rhythm reading. In the end, students are facilitating the learning as they prepare to perform the music.

  You have also provided two children's books. These are wonderful for me to read to the students, as I feel that many of them don't have a proper role model for reading. From here, we can dig deeper into the meaning of the story and how music impacts the text. Some wonderful connections come from this - thank you!

  In the end, you are allowing students to see the power connection between reading and music. Thank you again for your wonderful donation!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

• Music K-8 is Great!

  Funded Nov 14, 2015

  Thank you so much for these resources! With Music K-8 Magazine, the students are learning new songs to sing and play. The music is also teaching concepts like rhythm, steady beat, high/low, etc. Also, the music is so fun for programs. It is a perfect fit for all grade levels!

  The kids always like finding out the theme of their program each year. It's especially fun to introduce this great music to them and seeing their face light up! They love dancing and singing along as we learn new pieces. It's also a special experience to see the parents enjoying the music in their seats. When the students are having fun performing, the parents are creating those memories, too.

  Thank you again for giving to our music classroom. Music K-8 Magazine has timeless resources that can be used with students for years to come. Thanks again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

• Reading, Writing & Music

  Funded Feb 12, 2015

  Thank you so much for providing this learning experience for me! As I was pulling up to the Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines, the place was beautiful on a summer morning. Our class was able to tour the grounds and learn the history behind the many items in the house. From paintings to furniture to building materials, the Salisbury House truly is a place of its own. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and were able to point out unique features, such as a one-of-a-kind paintings and delicate manuscripts from around the world.

  After touring, several presenters provided us with more information and takeaways for our particular content area. We also did mini activities and found ways to connect these in an interdisciplinary manner. It was a joy to learn how to connect science, math, art and other content areas with music!

  The second day, we created groups and started working on a project together. With my group, we were able to give students a "tour" of the house during an entire school day, whether they were in math, recess or a special. In doing so, the students would be immersed in the grandness of the Salisbury House before eventually touring it as a class or grade. This would be a great end of the year tour for my students, but also allow them to make connections with other areas of study through music.

  In addition to the workshop, I acquired many new materials for encouraging science, technology, writing and other disciplines in my music classroom. These will be used with many different grade levels this year and beyond. By receiving the Donors Choose award, I am able to not only bring more musical experiences to my students, but also show them the learning that can occur between subject areas. I also plan to assist classroom teachers and create better readers, writers and all around students!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.

• Read Me a Story, Sing Me a Song

  Funded Jan 1, 2015

  Thank you for bringing the gift of reading into our classroom! The students are so excited to be able to see their songs come to life through text, pictures and other musical ideas. Each story is unique, captivating, and memorable for the students. We already cracked one open and sang along!

  Many of the stories include song versions and additional musical resources for the students to enjoy. The variety of stories you brought to our class is also wonderful! There are stories and tunes for younger ages to listen to, while the older students can read and sing along by themselves or in small groups. We can also touch on key concepts we've been studying, such as opera, high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft, echoing, jazz, instruments of the orchestra and many more. Several of these stories are also nonfiction, allowing students to start learning about history, science, and other common core subjects in music class, while also improving their reading and English skills. Many include movement and musical instruments, helping to students to become better all around musicians.

  Again, these resources are an amazing gift! They will be used by current students, as well as many others for years to come. Thank you for encouraging reading in these student's lives, especially in the music classroom. Music teaches us so much on its own, while also solidifying other key ideas and concepts. It is a great way to collaborate with other teachers and subjects, as well as with the students. Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

• Find Your Singing Voice: Puppets in Music Class

  Funded Oct 4, 2014

  Thank you for these wonderful singing helpers! The students were very excited to have a variety of characters to express their singing voices. Each student came into the music classroom and had their mouths dropped when they saw all of the new friends they were going to meet!

  We began using these puppets for echo singing. The students will get to choose a new friend to use each time we echo sing after the teacher. This also prepares us for our program in the spring, as we have an echo song in it. We also use them with song stories to show different voices throughout. Finally, these characters are able to give every student a voice during solo singing. They give confidence because students can express their voice through a character, instead of them being the center of attention.

  These puppets are accessible for different learning types and variety of abilities. The puppets on a stick are really helpful because they move in two different ways to show the voice. They also provide a sense of comfort for scared or shy singers. I am so excited to see each student's voice and confidence increase throughout the rest of this school year and beyond. You have given our musical classroom a wonderful tool to improve our singing for all ages and experience levels. Thank you again for your special gift to our classroom and singing community!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

  This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and one other donor.

• Drum Fun For Everyone

  Funded Aug 22, 2014

  There is no greater joy than seeing student's eyes light up when they enter the music room. As I placed our brand new drums on the floor, I knew that the afternoon was going to be a fun, music-making experience. As each student entered the room, their eyes lit up, their mouths dropped and they could not wait to get started! It was a wonderful way to make music together, review concepts and end a week at school.

  We started using these resources with a play-along song. The students reviewed rhythms and played them together on their instruments. After each time, the students rotated to a new instrument station and had the chance to play a different drum. It was wonderful to see them help each other learn and improve - a very student centered method of teaching. In the future, we will continue to dive into new rhythms, songs and activities with these drums. It's so wonderful to have the students working together, with hands-on activities and brand new instruments!

  The students are actively learning with these items. Instead of seeing videos or pictures, they are able to touch, play, and discover the instrument in a fun way. Also, these instruments are safe, without peeling, cracking or chipped paint. There are no injuries or worries as we spend music class together.

  Thank you so much for your contribution to my project! We have only used these instruments for an afternoon, but already, the students are excited to learn and start playing and creating music of their own. I can't wait to see the excitement grow throughout our school year in music class. With your help and support, these students are becoming great musical examples for their friends and families, as well as sharing the joy of music.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog

  This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 5 other donors.

• Musically Moving And Krazy Kazooing!

  Funded Apr 9, 2014

  Thank you so much for your thoughtful donation to my student's learning! Your gifts allowed students of all ages and abilities to actively make different kinds of music. The egg shakers and kazoos were wonderful and just the right size of instruments for smaller hands and mouths. Also, the primary kids are getting a start on rhythm, steady beat, and sound comparisons through the stories and music of Christopher Kazoo and Bongo Boo. The older students will be getting a great review of steady beat, as well as teamwork through the brightly colored jump bands. The glitter wands grab the student's attention immediately and allow them to show the differences in pitch, style, and tempo through movement.

  We were able to receive these wonderful learning tools at the end of the last school year. The students have fallen in love with them already and beg to use our new items! Many have already asked about continuing to use them soon, as school is starting up again. The movement items will be especially helpful in the coming year, as our district is working hard to be a certified Blue Zone community. This focus on wellness and healthy lifestyles is brought to life in music by almost all of the resources. It is also something that the students, their families and the community can share with one another through music outside of school.

  All of these items are accessible to every student in our elementary school. They are the perfect size for students and work well in groups, partners or one-on-one sessions. Because of this, students are becoming excited about learning in music class. They are using the movement materials together and branching out to create dances and moves with their fellow classmates. When using the instruments, each student is working on becoming a better musician, but also talk with one another and create musical groups and sounds.

  With your help, my students have become more active and involved in their learning. They are beginning to see the many wonderful aspects of music and how it relates to each of them. At the same time, they are collaborating with one another, as well as questioning and problem solving throughout various lessons. This is just a small sample of the joyful learning that you have brought to my classroom. Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Skog