The Nutcracker

The week before Winter Break brings excitement and the thought of the Nutcracker. At this site you can read an interactive story with your students. I project it on the board and have them follow along while I read. This meets the "listening to reading" idea in reading.

http://www.abt.org/nutcracker/index.html

Check it out and enjoy! I've found YouTube videos to add to the experience of the different dances. When talking to boys about music after elementary I find that they think it's too girly or not macho enough. I point out the strength training they have to do and how much control they have to possess in ballet.

Nelson Mandela

This past week we lost a humanitarian by the name of Nelson Mandela. The National Association for Music Education posted on Twitter this link from NPR Music which shares his life through music. Could be a very powerful culture piece. n.pr/18qgdAw 

Mendeley - Students of all ages!!

Okay guys! This post has my nerdiness at an all time high. Mendeley is a free download that allows you to save articles and other papers (ones that you have written). The next part is really cool. Are you ready? It's going to be legend wait for it... ary! Here you can save your articles - it will cite them for you and you can also upload your papers. It will cite those and create a bibliography or works cited page for you! I just downloaded it today, so there will be more to come, but check it out. This has the capability to collaborate with others in your discipline!

Click here to check it out!