Learning Names

One of the big challenges for music teachers (and other coverage positions) is that we can teach a lot of children. A lot. It could be as high as 300 students. 

If you're new to the school and the students have been together for years, they're not interested in doing the same name games they've done every year. There are some names you'll learn within minutes of walking in the classroom, but others...

When I took over a music position mid-year, I was looking for a way to explore what the students already knew. I also needed to learn their names. Could I combine the two needs?

Of course!

Rhythm is just musical syllables. Some say ti-ti, some say 1 and, some say apple. In primary grades we'll often change up what words we use to theme lessons to different holidays. 

Why not use actual names?

I started with demonstrating my name, and different ways it could be spoken:

I added the note after my name ends because when we're clapping, an eighth note sounds the same as a half note unless we add the next beat. 

I had students create two false ways to say their name, and the real way. Then they had to video themselves clapping and saying their rhythms. We did run into problems with recording on the Chromebooks. My version of Google Slides has a record screen option, but they had to use their camera app, and then some didn't know where the file went, or how to share it. I find that sort of thing the hardest with using technology! Despite having the same devices, students were doing it in different ways. 

Most students were pretty successful! Those that weren't were mainly ones who didn't listen or read instructions and rarely do their work anyway. That's a whole other blog post! 

If you'd like to try this activity but want it all laid out for you, including the Google Slides, a print out, and a rubric, check it out on Teachers Pay Teachers!