Help me give my students the ability to stay on task, improve their self-esteem, and eagerly engage during instruction through the experience of playing Djembe drums.
We are a classroom of 5th and 6th grade students in a Title 1 school located in Stockton, CA. We love to come to school and participate in all the school activities. Many times we struggle in our learning due to our special educational and behavioral needs. Our instructor tells us to be persistent, give 100% effort, and we will succeed!
Our teacher creates cool academic lessons and projects.
She's always looking for ways to make learning fun. Recently our computer tech taught us how to use Google slides. We used this knowledge for a Red Ribbon Week door decoration contest...and we won! Now we create presentations for social studies and science to show our classmates. This way we become teachers, too!
Our school office has a large area, where classes post theme-related classwork. We've decorated and displayed work for Black History Month, the Winter Olympics, and Patriots Day. Now we are educating anyone that comes into the office!
For Veterans Day we invite veterans to our school. It's an honor to meet them and ask questions about their military experiences. We learn so much from them!
We use our books to learn, too, but hands-on is best!
My Project
Recently at the Ron Clark Academy, I saw how music and movement helps students maintain focus, engage during instruction, and energize the spirit. It also improves self-esteem.
My 5th and 6th students who have special academic and behavioral needs will definitely benefit from the use of Djembe drums in the classroom.
Students will learn to play the Djembe drums as well as learn the cultural history behind them. In the classroom, students will play the Djembe drums to celebrate when a student answers correctly, to add emphasis to a point during a discussion, or to encourage a student who is struggling. Students will feel a sense of validation.
The Djembe drums will also be a positive behavior incentive. Each day, students who show respect and display responsibility will have the honor of playing the drums.
I'm certain the students will be very excited to have the chance to show off their drumming skills...not even realizing all the other benefits they receive from playing or how much it helps their classmates improve their academic knowledge!
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