Ruach

[JBZoller <JBZoller...>]

Shalom.  I have been songleading and teaching Sunday School music for 8 years
in the Chicago area and I too have been frustrated this year by my students'
lack of enthusiasm for singing and generally difficult attitudes while
sitting in class, being asked to sing for 20-30 minutes per week. (The
hardest ones to reach are in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, but it permeates into
the younger grades too.)  I also sense a lack of interest in music on the
part of other teachers, which I believe contributes to negative attitudes
among the students.
I would love to know what creative ideas other teachers/songleaders have come
up with to try to create renewed interest in the music room.  I love the idea
of having kids make up their own songs, but would love some more specific
ideas for executing that activity. Sometimes in my efforts to find lots of
new songs (to avoid boring the kids with the same oldies but goodies) I fear
I may be overloading them with longer, more complex melodies.
I'm anxious to get some ideas so I can try to address an issue that's
apparently not unique to my classroom!  Thanks everyone!

Jessica