Our scholars come from an urban low socioeconomic area. We are the ELL program school for our town. We get new students throughout the year who are new to the country and many times have not been exposed to English.
These kids have grit and heart.
They look out for one another. Despite their various challenges, they come to school every day and give their best. They deserve the best rather than hand-me-downs. My students flourish in movement and collaborative activities. Music class is the perfect place to achieve this!
My Project
When classifying sounds as music, you listen for seven different elements. One of those elements is harmony. Harmony is created Massachusetts State Standards dictate that elementary students should be able to hear and understand how harmonic progressions occur within songs. As they get into the older grades, they are expected to understand this concept so well that they can apply it independently.
Ukuleles makes teaching this difficult concept accessible because it provides an easy, hands-on way to create these chords.
It also allows the students to experience the concept in three different learning styles: visual, aural, and kinesthetic.
This project would grant them a chance to not only hear how these harmonic progressions occur, but also be able to apply them. Learning how to play the ukulele provides a chance to learn and feel harmony. It also allows for a great stepping stone into learning guitar, if they so desire.
My musicians are begging me to get some ukuleles. They have real desire and passion to play. I hope to be able to meet all my learners needs through this project. My ADHD kids need this hands-on music making opportunity. My ELLs need the song writing opportunities that ukuleles provide.
We are hoping to get ukuleles to learn music that is culturally responsive. We will be able to play music from the various cultures of my diverse student population. The ukuleles will also be used for students to become song writers to celebrate and showcase their own unique personalities and backgrounds.
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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 Ms. Csizmesia and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
