My students need a CD player, boom box, and adapter so that we can sing songs as a class. We also use music to transition from one activity to the next and give 5 year olds a chance to move!
Every morning after our calendar activities, we recite the poem of the month and stand to sing a song or do a morning stretch to one of many movement songs that I own. Our current CD player spins and spins and can take up to 5 minutes before the music begins. It's hard for my kids to wait that long.
I love my school.
I teach in the same elementary school that I went to back in the 70's. This is my 17th year here. I grew up helping in my mom's kindergarten classroom where she played the piano and taught her class many songs. Music has always been a part of my classroom. I had a record player until they became obsolete. My current CD player has been used every day. I am requesting the iPod boom box because eventually I may not be able to purchase more CDs. My class loves all kinds of music. We sing our way through the alphabet. We sing about how to write our numbers. Often we get up and move to the music to get the wiggles out before a lesson. My school has grown in the last few years. We have close to 700 students. We have 6 kindergarten classes. One of those is a brand new class so the school had to purchase all new furniture and materials for that class. There aren't a lot of funds left for extra items for other classes.
My Project
We will use this CD player every day. At the end of the year, our class puts on a recital for the families. The children recite the poems and sing the songs we learned throughout the year. Most of the songs are on CD, but 2 are on my iPod so it would be wonderful to have one device to operate during the recital. I would put the individual CD player in my library corner so that my students could listen to songs or stories during centers time. My children will learn several things by using these CD players. First, they will learn the names and sounds of the letters, the names of the coins, how to write numbers and sight words, to name just a few of our favorites. Second, they will use their imagination as they listen to stories read aloud. Third, they will learn to appreciate music because it makes learning fun!
This project will improve my classroom because using our current CD player has become increasingly frustrating.
Timing is very important when keeping 5 year olds focused. My children will have an opportunity to use music to support their learning. Playing a song and allowing the children to move can re-energize them and provide short breaks throughout the day. The children are then better focused during instruction.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Walter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.