by Melissa Stouffer | May 27, 2025 | Learning Through Play, Lesson Planning
Some of us get to teach summer music classes and camps which is such a fun way to get to dive into a little bit of extra. But what do you teach? Conceptual learning is difficult because you will have to come back to it since not all students have summer classes. Often...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 25, 2025 | Folk Dance, General Music, Interactive Learning, Learning Through Play, Movement
Sometimes it happens. You partner with the Phys Ed teacher. You combine because the students have lost their minds with 30 straight days of indoor recess. Maybe your room has been commandeered by an event or you all are just friends and know that you can combine class...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jan 21, 2025 | Folk Dance, Folk Songs, General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play
Since the Michigan Music Conference has been eating my life the last few weeks, I thought I’d give you a quick preview of what I’ve got coming up at my sessions at the Michigan Music Conference later this week. For those of you not in Michigan, I hope you...
by Melissa Stouffer | Oct 29, 2024 | Folk Songs, General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play
This commonly shared game is a fun guessing game for students, a great way to work on Low La, and show music from the Comanche/Otoe tribes. Both tribes were around the Great Plains area which may be why there is a similar game from both nations. Positionality: I have...
by Melissa Stouffer | Oct 1, 2024 | General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play, Note Reading
Post Office is a fun game that is perfect for practicing decoding rhythms and patterns and even works as assessments. Take a look at how you play this fun game which is perfect for quick individual assessments! Set Up: Print pattern cards, cut, and place them all in...
by Melissa Stouffer | Apr 16, 2024 | End of the Year, Learning Through Play, Lesson Planning
Field Day is a kid favorite and a teacher stressor. For music teachers, we try to figure out what we can do that is movement heavy, fun, and doesn’t require us to try to teach anything in the moment. Here are some great music activities for field day that will...
