a Collection of Things

First off, we finally recorded and uploaded our performances of Mbira Jam in 5th grade and Tropic Rondo in 4th grade. I put them into playlists and posted them on my website page "Things from Class" but thought I'd put it here, too.

Click here for the 5th Grade Mbira Jam playlist

Click here for the 4th grade Tropic rondos

Second, I used the iPads for the first time today for Recorder Karate. In one word? Messy. I had them review their classrooms' guidelines for iPad use rather than reinvent the wheel, created a Symbaloo for Recorder Karate (love this!) and printed a QR code that linked to it. Once kids got into groups I handed out the iPads, opened the scanner link, and even opened Guided Access on each one. They used the QRscanner to get to the Symbaloo and BOOM! they were at the resource page with sheet music, fingering charts, youTube videos, and sound clips to help them learn their music. Smooth. Except not really. I forgot about the Kid factor. When it came to using the iPads as a tool while also helping each other and listening to each other, it felt rather like a small disaster. There were groups of kids clustered around an iPad, headphones on, completely ignoring each other, some even with backs to each other. I had a student come up to test and discovered he had no idea how to even play B-A-G. I asked him if he had shown his group and he said they told him he sounded fine!?!! Granted, we haven't used recorders in a few months but I didn't expect the skill to atrophy quite so quickly! 

What I learned:

1. Students need me to model group work WITH the tool/resources MORE than I actually did.
2. I need to create smaller groups.
3. Students still need paper music so they can write on it.
4. I need to completely redo my video system in a more user-friendly way. 

Whew! I'm exhausted already.