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[_andiunfold]

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[bean_bunny]

I'd find out what "their" music is first. I mean, you can probably draw SOME value from it.

[_andiunfold]

When I asked them what kind of music they liked, all I could get out of them was "we like to listen to beats". I thought, great, I'll teach rhythm and maybe we can watch STOMP. Most of them thought STOMP was stupid-- go figure! :-/

[_andiunfold]

Ooh, percussion ostinatos! That would be a lot of fun-- I'll definitely use that in a couple upcoming lessons.

Thanks so much for your comment!

"Useless Period"

[penquin53]

I know that you don't want to turn your class into useless fun, but maybe having them listen to and analyze their "own music", you could get their attentions. Have them make a list of the songs that they really like right now. Remind them of the policy of being clean and what not (there are plenty of songs out there!) Choose a couple songs and teach them. With rap you could teach rhythm and meter. Maybe have them write their own lyrics with your help. If any of them are musically talented, have them write their own songs and present them to the class. Make you class a forum for letting their feelings out through music. Bring in all types of music and say "see what inspiration your artist got from Beethoven? or Mozart?" Make the lessons relatable, that may get their attention. Good luck fellow teacher and I hope it all goes well.

Re: "Useless Period"

[_andiunfold]

I like the idea of having them make a list of their favorite songs and teaching from those (like I said in the above comment, they told me they liked "listening to beats", so I used that to teach rhythm. It worked-- to a point.). I thought about having them write their own raps, too. I really like the idea, I'm just thinking about the best way to execute it!

Thanks for your comment! :)

[rebelowl42]

I teach similar students in my band classes 6-8 (I teach at the school most likely to send the gang members, drug dealers, and sex offenders to the alternative school

[altorogue]

As a last resort you could make them sit silently and hand copy a chapter out of Grout. After that any activity will seem more worth doing.

Oh MY GOD. That is a great idea- in the sense that I would have LOVED to give that to my last hour class today.

But really, it might be worth giving them a choice. Here's something that's relatively fun and neat, and here's something that's boring and more 'traditional'. These are your choices, you get to pick. This is what I COULD be having you do- so count your blessings!

[_andiunfold]

Ha! I actually pulled that one in a moment of frustration the other day on a couple of moody teenage girls:

"Ms. J, this is boring."
"Oh, I can make it way more boring than this!"

;-)

[altorogue]

From one Ms. J to another, hi! :D

Yeah, be glad I'm your teacher and not so and so, who wouldn't have you guys do something like this in a MILLION years!

[umarisa]

Hi; as a teacher who's still struggling with discipline/respect issues, I can tell you that it's also important to enforce consequences. Be positive, don't yell, etc., but let them know that you know when they're doing something wrong and that there is a consequence attached to it. As the person above me mentioned, it is also very important to get to know them on an individual basis, and although it's really hard, try not to take it personally.

Finally yes, give them something where they can be creative and expressive in a constructive way. You might not be able to do anything with them that you learned in college, but the point is just to get them to understand and appreciate music a little more... right?

[_andiunfold]

Your last sentence sums it up perfectly. :)

Thanks for your comment!

[jenni9]

I taught for 2.5 years in an urban school district, grades PreK-8

[_andiunfold]

I'm still working on my classroom management skills. I've noticed, though, that the kids are usually pretty respectful to me (with one or two exceptions... moody teenage girls!); it's their attitudes toward eachother that tends to be the main problem.

I like the idea of teaching rudiments/rhythms on mouse pads-- that's something I could do easily and that they would enjoy. Thanks a lot!