One of the reasons I love teaching elementary music is to help kids explore their creative potential. However, classroom management in elementary music can be a challenge. To encourage a classroom where safety, vulnerability, and joy are standard, effective classroom management techniques are crucial. In this blog post, we will dive into what I think are key strategies for helping students to grow a love for music in an elementary music classroom…without it being too chaotic
My Philosophy
Before we get into what makes good classroom management in elementary music, let me tell you a little about my personal classroom management philosophy. When I first started teaching, I wanted to be liked. I thought that being their friend was the best way to be liked and to get them to participate. There are so many things wrong with that philosophy, but I don’t think I’m the only one who has fallen into this trap.
Yes, I still want to be liked. However, I’m not really there to be my students’ friend. I hope they enjoy me as their teacher, but in the end, if I’m not their favorite teacher, it’s not going to hurt my feelings. What I’ve learned is that the following steps have helped me create relationships and boundaries and that is what helps most with classroom management.
Now, this is a little different than your classroom teachers’ rooms. My room is loud and sometimes seems a little chaotic, but we’re learning and making music over here! Active music-making isn’t just sitting and listening to music, but it’s singing, moving both creatively and purposefully, collaborating, improvising, and more!
Establish Clear Expectations
Setting clear expectations is huge to effective classroom management in elementary music. At the beginning of the school year, take the time to communicate and explain the rules, procedures, and behavioral expectations to your students. Create a classroom code of conduct that emphasizes respect, active listening, cooperation, and a love for music. Make sure that students understand the consequences of not adhering to these guidelines and consistently reinforce positive behavior.
I’ve tried rules and expectations a couple of different ways. Here’s what I have used:
MUSIC acronym- I started with this when I first started teaching and will probably go back to this during the coming school year. It stands for:
- Make good choices
- Use kind words
- Show respect
- Involve Yourself
- Care for our classroom and instruments
At a previous school, we transitioned to PBIS and had to come up with common expectations that could be used throughout the building. We came up with:
- Be safe
- Be respectful
- Be responsible
I actually really liked these expectations because it encompassed all the little things that would happen (raising your hand, taking care of instruments, not running, etc.) I used these expectations for several years, including when I switched schools.
Secret Star Student
Using those expectations, I have a Secret Star Student each class. Here’s what you do:
- Pick a Secret Star Student before kids come in. Don’t tell them who you pick!
- Watch for awesome behavior and participation from that kiddo (PS- participation relative to that student. I don’t expect a student who is extremely shy to sign a solo or even raise their hand to answer questions in order to earn the SSS, but they should be participating in a way that they feel comfortable.)
- At the end of class after students have lined up, I announce my SSS if they earned it! They get the certificate and a sticker (a regular sticker for my K-2 kids and a water bottle sticker or run pencil for my 3-5 kids).
- If they don’t earn it, I don’t point out who the student was. I just say they didn’t earn it for these reasons, and that’s usually enough for the students to think about their own behavior and whether they would have earned the certificate if they had been chosen.
- I mark off the student on my roster if they earn the certificate so that I can pick someone new next time!
I created Secret Star Student for K-2 several years ago because I wanted to reward the good behaviors I saw rather than harp on the negative behaviors. It worked so well that I created some for 3-5 that were more grade-appropriate! I just print the certificates on Astrobrights paper and buy a big pack of stickers at the beginning of the year and I’m set!
If you’re interested in using these in your classroom, you can click here.
Engage Students with Interactive Lessons
Children naturally want to move and explore! Incorporate interactive lessons that actively engage students in music-making activities. Encourage them to sing, clap, play instruments, and dance. This hands-on approach not only captures their attention but also channels their energy in a positive and productive way. By providing many opportunities for active participation, students will be more likely to remain focused and attentive. Aside from having clear, consistent expectations, this is by far my biggest tip. Get your kids active, engaged, and moving!
I’ve read that a good rule of thumb for the length of an activity is the number of years old those students are. That means segments in your kindergarten lessons should only be 5-6 minutes! I do find that I can stretch this a bit, so my activities in K-2 can stretch to about 10 and my 3-5 lessons can be closer to 15 minutes.
Utilize Visual Aids and Technology
Visual aids like agendas and technology can be valuable tools in capturing students’ attention and enhancing their learning experience. Incorporate colorful posters, charts, and musical symbols to visually represent concepts and reinforce musical knowledge. I also like to color code things. If we’re learning about tempos, I will write and highlight all of the tempos in blue. Visual timers for activities when appropriate are also very helpful! I find a YouTube video with the number of minutes I need a timer for. I find that it really helps my students as they work.
Use resources like videos, recordings, and interactive programs to introduce different musical genres, instruments, and famous composers. By integrating technology into your lessons, you can make learning more dynamic and captivating for your students. Use YouTube videos, online curriculum if you have it, student devices, and websites made for kids to help you teach! There are so many fabulous resources available to us that will engage our students! We don’t have to reinvent the wheel!
Establish Routines and Transitions
Smooth transitions between activities are huge for classroom management in elementary music. Develop a set of routines for various classroom tasks, such as gathering materials, arranging seating, and transitioning between activities. Communicate these routines clearly to your students and practice them every single class until they become second nature. Kids love routine!
I find that if I’m going to lose my students at any point, it’s going to be during transitions. And it’s hard to get them back! Transitions were never something I thought too much about, especially with my older students, until the last couple of years. It doesn’t have to mean that your entire class is based on a story where the story is the transition between songs (like, Suzy went on a train “Engine Engine #9”, to the park where she met her friend Johnny “Johnny Works with One Hammer” and then played with a ball “Bounce High Bounce Low” until there was a bee “Bee Bee Bumblebee.”)
If you enjoy making stories like that for your littles, by all means, go for it! I don’t. Instead, I think about how students can get where I need them quickly and with minimal disruption to the lesson. If we need to go from our sit spots to the circle, can I have them echo patterns and move their feet to the sounds to stand around the circle? Can we make a train during a movement piece where I lead them around the circle?
Differentiate Instruction
Recognize that students have diverse learning styles and musical abilities. Differentiate your instruction by providing a variety of activities and materials that cater to different learning preferences. Offer opportunities for solo and group work, incorporate listening exercises, and provide options for students to create their own music. By catering to individual needs and interests, you empower students to engage with the material at their own pace and level.
So, not only should you be doing different modes of music making throughout class (singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and responding, etc.), but students should also have a choice within at least some of those activities. If we’re playing the steady beat on xylophones, can students choose between playing only C or alternating between C and G? If we’re moving, can they choose what movements they’re comfortable with?
Encourage Collaboration and Peer Support:
Music is social, and allowing collaboration between students can greatly enhance their learning experience. Encourage students to work together, share ideas, and provide constructive feedback to their peers. Peer support and collaboration not only strengthen musical skills but also develop social and communication skills. Create group projects like Genius Hour, composition activities (read more for K-2 and 3-5), ensemble performances, and opportunities for students to showcase their talents collectively. This cooperative spirit builds a sense of community and mutual respect within the classroom.
Sometimes I allow students to pick their own partners or groups, and sometimes I pick for them. When I pick for them, I either use emoji partner cards (the ones I got are not available anymore but there are a lot of versions on Teachers Pay Teachers), or colored jelly bands if I’m picking groups. Any time I can have students working together, I do!
Conclusion
Effective classroom management in elementary music is the key to creating a classroom where students feel valued and safe to make music together. By giving clear expectations, engaging students with interactive lessons, using visual aids and technology, establishing routines, differentiating instruction, and encouraging collaboration, teachers can help create a positive and productive learning atmosphere.
Are you a new teacher? I’ve got a New Teacher Checklist that will help you think about classroom management as well as many other parts of getting started as a new teacher! It comes with a lot of links to blog posts and resources to help you get started the year started with less stress and overwhelm. You can get that free checklist here. What are your favorite classroom management strategies? Leave them in the comments below or DM me on Instagram (@caffeinated.j)!
