My students need guitar strings and picks, and 12 guitars for our new classroom music extension in which I am teaching 40 fifth grade students how to play these instruments to help promote learning!
"The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils," said William Shakespeare. It is with this belief that I have started my music endeavor with my fifth graders. The mission is simple: teach forty-five fifth graders how to play guitar.
I am one of the luckiest teachers in the world.
Of course, I say that every year, but this year is even more precious. I taught this group in fourth grade, and was offered the opportunity to teach them again in fifth. I didn't hesitate.
This is a high needs group of students that are hungry to learn anything that they can wrap their minds around. We set our goal this year to do MORE than any other group of students in fifth grade. My class asked me to extend the class day (it's true), so I now come into the classroom at 7:30 instead of 8:45, and 75% of my kids join me for problem solving and grammar.
My students asked me to teach them how to play guitar, so I purchased as many as I could (five), and we spend our lunches and recesses learning how to play music. Of course, forty kids signed up to learn, and I just don't have the means to accommodate them all.
I have requested guitar strings and picks, and twelve guitars. In a world without much focus, my students are starving for some light to help them. Please help me provide my students with that light!
My Project
Children don't seem to be paying attention as well as they used to. As a teacher, it feels like I'm always fighting an uphill battle against the Internet, PS3, Xbox 360, TV, and a million other things that seem much more important than learning. Because of that, all of my children play music.
When a child plays music, they are learning about something that has nothing to do with music. They're learning about focus, listening to others, making mistakes, and correcting those mistakes.
I hope that all of my musicians do better in math, science and all areas of school once they start playing music. It's a proven fact that music helps align the brain to these skills, and I aim to do everything I can to ensure that happens.
Music to these kids is Guitar Hero, and while I like playing a game here and there as well, there's so much more to it! I always urge parents, "With a library card and a musical instrument your child is set for an extraordinary life!" Help me achieve this goal!
We are in a world in which we are trying to leave no child behind while racing to the top.
While we are busy testing and teaching how to test, we are forgetting the basics.
Students need to learn how to think, focus and organize. Students need to learn how to recover from failure to be successful. Learning music teaches all of these skills. My academic rigor is in place. Now, I want to push my students even further with music added to my program. Help me give these kids everything they deserve!
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