My students love music in the gym for PE classes. It motivates them and helps them to have fun moving. A recent sub said the biggest complaint the students had was that she didn't play music. My system is 20 years old and temperamental. Would love to upgrade with a speaker.
I teach 340 students each twice a week at an elementary school in a small town, with grades preschool to sixth.
Our school has over 70% poverty but the students don't know that. They try so hard every day and in every way. I love them for the way they attempt so many things and always push themselves. The teachers at my school are awesome and our students outscore most of the schools (big, small, rich, poor) in our area on state wide tests. I have been here 4 years and incorporate music into most of the activities with a very old thrift store system. The students love warming up, running, exercising and having appropriate music for their activities. When they leave class their hearts are pumping hard and they have a smile on their faces. They love PE and I probably gets more hugs in school and around town than is legally possible. I wouldn't trade my job for anything.
My Project
I recently got an iPod. I will use my iPod with the speaker and be able to play songs for elementary PE warm ups, cardio workouts, dance activities, races, cooperative games, contests, field day, most PE activities and occasional after school events. The speaker has wheels and a handle so it will easily roll from my office into the gym, then can be safely put away when evening activities occur in the gym. I can create playlists ahead of time that incorporate appropriate songs for the activities involved. For example, Halloween is coming up and I have chosen many songs to go with the relay races with Halloween objects (bloody hands, skeletons, rats), cardio activities around witch hats on cones, and a game similar to "hungry hippos" with life-size scooters and plastic eyeballs.
My students love music and this new speaker will bring me into current technology and allow a wider choice of music.
My current antiquated system only allows me to use CD's and cassette tapes and makes changing quickly from one song to another almost impossible. Any time you go to a gym you see most of the people working out to music on their headphones. This project will bring more music to my gym and motivate and help students move more.
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