Get Ready for This!

What a great start to the year we've had so far! I had a wonderfully busy summer but am glad to be back in the classroom! It is always so exciting to see all of my students and hear about what they did during their vacation.

Speaking of back to the grind... we all know how boring it can be do go over the rules that first week of school. It's necessary, but painful. However, I've discovered that if you start the first class with a really fun, but simple, movement activity, the "rules talk" goes over a lot more smoothly. Some teachers do instrument activities that first day. More power to those teachers but I am not that brave! ;) 

This year, I started my 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes out with a fun dance! I made sure to tell the boys that it wasn't a "girly dance" so they would buy in. I learned this choreography while getting my Orff level 1 certification with Deanna Stark and Judy Beale. It is fairly simple to teach, it gets out a lot of energy, and my classes have really enjoyed it!

It uses the song, "Get Ready for This" (from Space Jam) which is such an appropriate song for the start of the school year.  Here is a quick break-down of the movements...

Section A - Students stand with their hands on their hips and alternate putting out their right heel and then left heel (first to the front, then to the side, and then point toe to the back) and end with two jumps and two claps

Section B - Students jump/turn on beat 1 and clap on beat 4, alternate right/left

Section C - Students choose various poses and freeze for 8 counts (song ends with one final pose)

   

Of course their favorite part is creating the statues!

So. Much. Fun!  What a great way to start our year in music. :)