Music in the Classroom

 Music is Essential

...to me at least

I love music. I listen to it when I am running, reading, cooking, working, etc. I like all kinds of music, too. As long as there is music on I am happy. My colleagues will often find me with my earbuds in while I am working after school. There's just something about being able to shut out the rest of the world when music is being piped directly into my ears.

Since I like it and think it is important, I figure that the kids do as well. So, every morning, the first thing I do is put on Morning Music on Pandora and have it playing through my speakers. Sometimes I mix it up with straight classical and sometimes I get crazy and put on current music. Needless to say, it's music, and when it is not on- the kids take note. 

In the past, I have allowed my students to listen to music on their Chromebooks with their headphones on. Unfortunately, that can cause them to spend more time looking for the right song than it does just listening. I have not figured out how to streamline the music process for students and am looking for any ideas/help you have to offer. Short of making them all listen to my choice or the choice of their peers...I'd like to give them some flexibility, but not too much.

Do you allow your students to listen to music while they do their work? 

Do you have any strategies for giving them few choices?

What platform do you use? Pandora? Spotify? 

I would love to hear what you do in your classroom and what grade you teach. I teach 5th & 6th grade. Thanks and Happy Friday!