Organizing Books in Your Music Classroom

 One of the things in my classroom that I have worked the hardest at is growing my music library.  No, not that one.  My books about music and musicians, not the sheet music and octavos.  I love my classroom library!  Here's the story of how it has grown and evolved over the last 10 years or so.  Read on to find solutions for your music room and a free resource to help you organize your books.

For several years I just piled my books onto a little shelf with no system whatsoever.  This worked quite well until I started buying duplicates.  As my collection grew, I needed a better solution.

The next step was to put SOME of the books into book bins with labels on them.  I picked a few categories that I had several books for and the rest I just tossed in a milk crate.  This worked beautifully for centers.  I created a small reading area with a rug and loved keeping this a permanent center no matter what group I was teaching.

During the next few years I gathered books from used book stores, discount sellers, Amazon and from authors in workshops I attended.  You can see some of my favorites in these posts:  Books You Need in Your Elementary Classroom Primary and Upper Elementary.  As my collection grew I needed a way to keep track of what I had.  At first I created a spreadsheet, but to be honest I just couldn't keep it updated.  It felt cumbersome and wasn't easy to edit from my phone.  That's when I was inspired by a post from Katie Wonderly on Instagram and downloaded Book Buddy.

Book Buddy allowed me to QUICKLY add books to the app and download a paper list only when I needed it.  I currently use Book Buddy Pro to catalogue my classroom library, keep it organized and to keep me from buying duplicates.  All I do is use my phone to scan the barcode and for most books the information about the book just pops up, including cover photos!  I can add custom categories too which is how I organize my books.

Current Categories:

BOOKS ABOUT MUSICIANS  In this category I put picture books with stories about musicians that may not be bibliographies or about musicians of a specific genre.

BOOKS THAT RHYME  I use rhyming books for drumming, for movement, to add instrument accompaniment and more.  In this bin students can re-read some of the ones we have used in class.

DANCE AND MOVEMENT  I guess this category is pretty self explanatory.  Titles like Giraffes Can't Dance and Boys Dance are in this category.

CAREERS IN MUSIC  I NEED more books for this category. Right now it contains one fabulous book called Mandy's Mom The Music Therapist.

COMPOSERS  In this category are the typical composer books that many of you may have.  I'm always looking for books about more contemporary composers.

INSTRUMENTS -There are mostly non-fiction books in this category, but some titles like The Remarkable Farkle McBride are also in there.

LEARN ABOUT MUSIC This category used to be pretty dull.  LOL.  Recently I have added books like When Step Met Skip and Tiger Tempo. My students love them!

MUSIC GENRES  In this category there are books about different genres of music like When the Beat Was Born and The Story of Country.

MUSIC HISTORY  I am currently not using this category as the books that I have all fit into other categories too.

MUSICIAN BIOGRAPHIES  In this category you'll find non-fiction books about musicians.

NON-MUSIC I have several books about character that go in this bin.  Also books that don't rhyme but that I may have used for some other purpose in class are here.

PATRIOTIC/AMERICN  Books about the Star-Spangled Banner, song lyric books with patriotic songs and books about songs like "America the Beautiful" are in this category.

SEASONAL AND HOLIDAY Books about holidays or about seasonal topics or music are in this bin.  My favorite might just be "Leaf Man".

SONG HISTORY  This category is one that I am introducing this year.  It holds books about the history of certain songs. 

SONG LYRIC BOOKS This category is SO full that I have 2-3 bins of books in this category.

THIS AND THAT  I don't have a category for everything.  Oh wait....this is it!  LOL.  If it doesn't fit anywhere else, it fits here.

WOMEN IN MUSIC  I am introducing this category this year and moving some books from the Books About Musicians category into this one.  I have a LOT of books about Dolly Parton.  This is almost a bin filled will Dolly books.

WORLD MUSIC  I don't like the name of this category, but I don't have enough books from one specific place or about one specific culture to create bins for them.  Yet.  I hope to one day.

Before students use the library, I remind the class that they should return the book to the SAME bin that they take it out of.  I didn't expect this to work.  I was surprised that about 80% of the books DID remain in the right container, but it is not foolproof.  This year I'll be adding color coordinating dot stickers to both the bins and the books that go in them so that they also have a colorful way to remember where they go.

To help you get started organizing your music room library, check out these colorful labels that can fit on a book bin, magazine box or basket.  The categories mentioned about are all included, but they are not in any particular order.  If you find these handy, please leave some feedback!

DOWNLOAD HERE:  Book Bin Labels for the Music Room

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5 Ways to Use Pop Tubes in Music Class

If you can't beat 'em, join them!  Pop tubes are a popular fidget toy in elementary schools across the nation.  They can also be a fun and engaging tool for music education.  

Pop tubes are plastic bendy tubes that you can pull and push to expand or condense.  They make a hollow popping sound.  When fully extended, you can swing them around in the air and they make a pleasant sound as well.

You can find pop tubes at local discount stores, dollar stores, Amazon and toy stores.  When searching for them you may find them named pop toobs, whirly tubes  or "expanding tube toy." 

When I have students use the tubes, I always have them place it on a drum stick or rhythm stick.  This allows students to move them back and forth quickly without the tubes bending wildly.  I also insist that students hold their sticks and tubes horizontally.  This curbs the giggles of 5th and 6th grade boys that arise when held vertically.

Ways to Use Pop Tubes

Use to Accompany

Pop tubes make a delightful and oddly satisfying sound and are fun to play with pieces like "La Raspa" and "Blue Danube" as the obvious "ti ta" response to these pieces.  I've also used the pop tubes in the place of clapping or snapping for songs like "The Clapping Song",  "Addams Family Theme" and "If You're Happy and You Know It".

If you're happy and you know it, pop your tube.

If you're happy and you know it, pop your tube.

Pop it high and pop it low.  Pop it fast and pop it slow.

If you're happy and you know it, pop your tube.

Rhythm Reading with Flashcards 

Practicing rhythms with flashcards is as boring as practicing multiplication facts with flashcards.  Add pop tubes as the instrument students use and suddenly flashcards are great fun!  This makes a great workstation.  Set out 4-5 pop tubes and a stack of flashcards.  Done.

Poison Rhythms

Pop tubes have made a fun addition to Poison Rhythm Games.  You can read more about how to play Poison Rhythm here: POISON RHYTHMS.  You can also purchase one or all of the ready to go games at my TeachersPayTeachers store The Bulletin Board Lady.

Assessment

I use these What Do You Hear worksheets with my 3rd-5th graders.  The process is to perform the patterns, then listen as I play the pattern on a drum, cowbell or other percussion instruments.  Next, they circle the pattern they heard.  I add pop tubes to the first step.  Students read and perform the patterns on the pop tubes, then listen, then circle.  It really adds some fun to assessment. Click the picture to take a closer look at this set of worksheets.

Four Rhythm Cards

I should really find a better name for these, but it is working for now.  You can download these cards for free and read about other ways to use them HERE.  Here's what I do with the cards and pop tubes:

After passing out the pop tubes, I choose a song with a medium to fast beat (which are much easier than slower songs) and start it while holding up one of the cards.  Students use the pop tubes to play the pattern as an ostinato until I change the card.  That's really it!  It is a fun way to use pop music in your classroom.  (See, what I did there?  POP music?  LOL). It also gets students excited about practicing rhythms and performing as an ensemble.

I store my pop tubes in a plastic shoebox container.  They are easy to clean.  You can have students expand them and then spray them with Lysol or they can go in a sink of hot, soapy water.  If you enjoyed these ideas, pin them for later.

Bulletin Boards for February ❤️

There are so many things to recognize and celebrate in February.  Valentine's Day, President's Day, Black History Month and Random Acts of Kindness Day are in February just to name a few.  Here are four bulletin boards that are easy to print and post during the shortest and sometimes busiest month of the year.

NOTEable Black Musicians from A to Z

This colorful bulletin board is great for Black History Month or to post and leave up all year. It features 26 amazing musicians. Each musician is featured in an ABC format (with a few liberties taken with the alphabetization). On each page there is a picture and a short synopsis of their careers and accomplishments.

All That Jazz

Celebrate Jazz with some of these amazing musicians: 

Duke Ellingon, John Coltrane, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Thelonius Monk, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, David Brubeck, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Wynton Marsalis, Count Basie and Jelly Roll Morton

Love Yourself

Let's change the way we talk to ourselves and make it more positive.  This bulletin board reminds students to do the same too.

What Does Kindness Look Like?

Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17th so it is a great month to inspire students to be kind.  This colorful bulletin board does that.  Check it out and you can pick up a free kindness bunting to decorate the halls too!

I hope these ideas have inspired you and I hope you have the best February ever!

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DIY Light Up Staff

I have wanted to create an interactive treble clef staff display for my classroom for such a long time!  Using just a few simple and easy to find supplies, my students and I now have a beautiful and engaging new tool in the music room.

I use this staff display to show melodies for sight reading, lighting up a specific interval that I want them to notice.  I use it to highlight the notes that we will be using on Orff instruments.  I've used it when grading pitch naming worksheets by having students come up and tap the light of the correct answer.  I've even used it for games and centers.

As a center, students have labeled the lines and spaces of the treble staff.  They have taken cards from my Pitch Match Up sets and created the words on the staff.  They have used it to create their own "words" with the pitches of the treble clef staff.  I really feel like I have just scratched the surface of using this in my classroom. 

Let's get started with the supplies that you will need to create a light up staff display in your room. First consider the space that you will have for this.  You'll need some kind of magnetic white board or something similar.  I used a portion of a long white board in my room for this display.

Next, you'll need some puck lights.  You can also find them named push lights, tap lights and under the cabinet lights.  They often come in the shape of a circle which works great for note heads!  You can find them at hardware stores, Walmart, Target and on occasion at dollar stores.  I wanted mine to change color and I found two packs of Energizer Coloring Changing Puck Lights at Target.  

You'll also need black masking tape or black electrical tape, scissors, a roll of magnetic tap (the thick kind) and batteries for your puck lights.  

I started with a portion of my white board that I hadn't used and added a bulletin board border.  This one is from Schoolgirl Style.  I used black masking tape to place the staff lines.  Be sure to measure the distance of your lines by placing one of your puck lights between them.

I also used the masking tape to create the treble clef.  I'm sure there are more eloquent ways to do this, but this was fast and efficient.

Next I placed the puck lights on the board by hot gluing magnets to the back of them and them putting them on the staff.  

I considered stopping right here and using the display as it was, but was concerned that students who struggled with naming the pitch names would not find this very helpful.  I found some letter stickers at a local store and added those.  This was a great decision and has been really beneficial to all students.  If you are proficient with a cutting machine like a Cricut, you could use that to make your letter stickers. 

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