Who's In Charge Here?

Sometimes the teacher is in charge of a lesson -  I teach the students to sing like this, or move like that, or write down a melody that I play. 

Grade Three Zoo Music

Sometimes the students are in charge, and they decide how they will learn a concept or practice a skill.  This week, Kindergarten students choose where we keep the beat on our bodies.  Grade One’s pick a melody to play for their group on the xylophone.  Grade Two’s decide how to show friendship as they mime playground activities.  Grade Three’s compose words that shape our “Zoo Music".

As students propose ideas, we evaluate each suggestion, learning how to make musical decisions. Yes it can be a bit messy and we make lots of mistakes, but by constructing their own learning activity, each child learns that their voice is important, and that they are responsible for their own learning.  And the end result is always more interesting than anything I could come up with! 

Kindergarten students suggest places to keep the beat.