The 1st Semester is Over

So this upcoming week is the last week of the first semester. I cannot believe how quickly time can fly!

Here is a breakdown of what we are learning...
Kindergarten: Fast and Slow
1st and 2nd Grades are learning about composers. A couple of weeks ago we learned about Prokofiev and watched Peter and Wolf. Then students got to color pictures of their favorite instrument from the play. Then this past week we studied Tchaikovsky and listened to the music of The Nutcracker. We found out that yes, boys can dance too!
3rd Grade began learning about the 5 lines and 4 spaces that make up the staff and practiced drawing treble clefs. They love saying "here comes treble!"
4th and 5th Grade reviewed the staff by playing Orff instruments and by completing a musical alphabet crossword puzzle.

I am trying a new discipline technique called the Best Behavior Box. At the end of each semester, I am going to let students that have only broken a class rule once or not at all pick a prize out of the Best Behavior Box.

I stole the freebie prize ideas from Mrs. Cooley over at First Grader At Last. "Stinky Feet" was a big hit. Apparently a lot of students would rather be barefoot. :)