Imagine young students crowding around a big book to have a look at the song they have been singing. Sadly, in music, our big books are truly gigantic! They are so large that the only way to safely display the books is on the floor thus obscuring the view for all but the very first row of students.
My students truly enjoy all kinds of music and are very expressive.
They are eager to learn and are contagiously optimistic. Approximately ninety-six percent of my students are from low socio-economic background. Our nearest apartment complex is section VIII. Around seventy percent of my students qualify as Limited English Proficient with our student population consisting of eighty percent Hispanic and seventeen percent African American. Language acquisition and development are of utmost importance to all aspects of our students achievement.
My Project
The development of the brain and all of its skills are first fully represented in the body. Song experience games allow students to acquire language kinesthetically by providing an opportunity for children to physically enact what they are saying and seeing (i.e. when I see and sing the word jump, I jump). I have requested a heavy-duty easel that I will incorporate into the music lessons daily as we practice doing what we are saying and seeing. The easel will provide a safe means to display our rather large and ungainly big books. With the easel, not only will all the students be able to see at once, but I will be able to guide the children through more interaction with the text and music symbols. With our big books properly displayed, the students can touch the books without fear of the books falling over or being damaged.
In my profile picture, you can see me holding one of the big books that need an easel.
When I tried propping the book on my knee with students, it left me trapped behind the book which is ineffective. The constant shifting from floor to wobbly chair, to my knee and back has caused the books to sustain more wear and tear than they should have at this time. In order to use the big books, my students need a strong safe and sturdy easel so that they can interact with the text effectively.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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