[HANASHIR:4605] Re: 6th and 7th graders

[David & Susan Esterman <estermans...>]

I find this an interesting discussion. I teach songs every Sunday to a mixed
group of K- probably 10th grade (5 - 16 year olds). It sometimes works and
it sometimes doesn't. I would much prefer to teach age groups separately but
the only ones who are willing for that to happen are the 5-6 year olds
(actually the teachers of that group).
However, overall we make it work, by using a combination of simple and
occasionally stupid stuff to keep the littlies interested, and some simple
parts to keep the older ones singing! The young ones love action songs, and
the older ones yawn but join in. I have been doing this for about 20 years
now, and I don't think the age of the teacher is an issue - it's about
whether you actually love what you do AND the kids, and then it will work
most times.
We have a combination of service-related songs, holiday songs, and modern
Israeli songs - not so many of those at present, but next year who knows
what I'll teach them!
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: <DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 1:30 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:4596] Re: 6th and 7th graders


> I teach 6th graders (Judaica, not music) every Sunday and sometimes use
songs
> as part of our prayer curriculum.  It's amazing how students of this age
> won't sing what you want, when you want them to, but then suddenly
volunteer
> to get up and do a song/dance version of a prayer in front of the class on
> the spur of the moment (like today!) because it's what THEY want to do.
Yes,
> they like to teach me what they know (while I feign complete ignorance of
> what they're singing), and talk about the music they listen to; that's
what
> gets them going.  They got super-excited when they found one of my
daughter's
> cool cd's in the cd-player "by mistake."  For me, it's getting their
> attention, building the rapport, and then their listening and
participation
> will follow.  (Aha! They CAN sing!  They DO like music!)
> -Karen D.
>
>
>

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