Setting Up Centers in the Elementary Classroom


theme at school. It might include a listening map, or marker for them to create their own map. Center 5: a tub of rhythm cards I made. They play a game like WAR. The card with the longest note value wins the stack. Center 6: Note reading center: 4 or 5 keyboards with headphones and several examples of music we have already studied, or new music using treble clef. After they play the example, they can play it using the different synthesized sounds. That is one particular day; on others I have a xylophone center with a note reading or improv task; a scarf center with a particular tape to use scarves with; a center to improvise a play with hand puppets based on music in the machine; a reading center with books about music, instruments, musicians, and little storybooks we have used for lessons in class.

Teacher Three: I have a unique setup in my room that involves just that. Through a lot of hard work and some supportive administrators, I am fortunate enough to have 3 student computer workstations in the back of my room. Each has a Mac MIDIed to a synth/keyboard with GM, and headphones for up to 3 students at each station. Students are trained to work independantly while I teach the rest of the class apart from them. (by the way I have a Mac/MIDI setup of my own in the front of the room that I use extensively in my teaching) My 2nd graders explore "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", a hypercard/MIDI program. 3rd and 4th graders explore basic notereading programs. My 5th graders are composing soundscapes using "Musicshop" sequencer.The downside of all of this is that it takes time to train the students to be independant. Also it can takes a couple of weeks for all of the students to cycle through the computer stations. The upside of this is that the students are excited about using music technology. They experience music learning in a small group seting. It is wonderful to hear the student's compositions. They are able to create, record, and playback their own pieces. Quite impressive to see this amount of expressiveness from 10 year olds!

Teacher Four: I just started using centers this year and the kids seem to really enjoy them. I usually have 4-6 centers with 4-6 kids in each group. One is usually a listening center with something

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