[HANASHIR:4594] Re: 6th and 7th graders

[Emworobey <Emworobey...>]

Beth, and others who have been successful with this age group, please do 
share any specific songs or techniques that work for you.  I had two 
completely opposite extremes today with my 6th graders and 7th graders.  My 
first class this morning was with the 6th grade and I felt like I was at a 
funeral.  I tried very hard to infuse some ruach but nothing I did worked.  
This particular group does not enjoy singing at all (can you imagine?!)  They 
were the same way when they were 5th graders and I'm told that they were this 
way in the earlier grades as well, although I haven't observed this first 
hand because this is only my second year at this school. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, is our 7th graders who I worked with 
later in the day.  There are several very musical students in this class.  
Most of the kids either play an instrument or have sung in the youth choir 
(grades 3-6) in the past.  Two of the girls played their flutes today at 
B'Yachad (weekly assembly/snack time) - Maoz Tzur in two parts.  They were 
wonderful so I encouraged them to play another song or two during music 
class.  When they were playing, the other students listened quietly and 
respectfully.  When we sang songs together some of the students asked if they 
could stand in front of the class with me and help lead because they had sung 
an arrangement of it in the choir (e.g. Shalom Rav) or had sung the song at 
their own Bat Mitzvah (Lechi Lach, for example).   The more they got 
involved, the more they seemed to enjoy themselves.   This is an age when 
most kids are self conscious and not at all comfortable getting up in front 
of their peers so that's why I think it's so important to encourage them when 
they show that they want to take a leadership role.  I guess it's the luck of 
the draw to a certain extent, but there has to be a way to break through to 
classes like my 6th grade.  I'm thinking that maybe I should combine the 6th 
and 7th grade classes so that the 6th graders are able to learn from their 
'older' peers that music can be fun. This could also backfire if I'm not 
careful and the 6th graders could end up bringing down the 7th graders.  What 
are your thoughts?  Any insights you can share will be most appreciated.

Emily Worobey

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