Re: Multi-Grade Elementary Curriculum

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Music Teachers Chatboard

Multi-Grade Elementary Curriculum

by Sarah S

Jul 27, 2015

Hello All!

I recently began teaching at two small schools in North Dakota and have realized that as great college was, there is no way to actually be prepared for the "real world."

My biggest insecurity is how to develop a curriculum for a multi-grade classroom. One school is divided pk-1st, 2nd-4th, 5th-6th. The other school is divided k-2nd and 3-6th.

Any suggestions on how to create a curriculum that works for these kids but also allows the kids to grow from year to year?

Thank you so much in advance!

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Adam On 7/27/15, Sarah S wrote: > Hello All! > > I recently began teaching at two small schools in North > Dakota and have realized that as great college was, there > is no way to actually be prepared for the "real world." > > My biggest insecurity is how to develop a curriculum for > a multi-grade classroom. One school...See More

Jul 28, 2015

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Miss Friday Hi Sarah,

Oh boy! Multiage classes have got to be the hardest curriculum wise. It really does a number on your scope & sequence.

If I was in your shoes, here's what I'd do: For the little kids (the PK-1 class and the K-2 class) I would use John Feierabend's "First Steps in Music." It is relatively inexpensive and eas...See MoreHi Sarah,

Oh boy! Multiage classes have got to be the hardest curriculum wise. It really does a number on your scope & sequence.

If I was in your shoes, here's what I'd do: For the little kids (the PK-1 class and the K-2 class) I would use John Feierabend's "First Steps in Music." It is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement. He provides three years of lesson plans, but only 24 weeks in those years, so you will have to expand/repeat some lessons. Although I've found the expansion/repeating process quite easy.

For the upper grades, it gets a little more complicated. Basically I would look at starting a curriculum that contains two parts: repertoire and musical skills. Let's talk about these individually.

Repertoire: I would make sure the repertoire changes each year the kids are in the same class. For example, you will eventually want three years of repertoire for the 2-4 class. In 2015-16 do Year 1 repertoire, in 2016-2017 do Year 2 repertoire, in 2017-18 do Year 3 repertoire. Then in 2018-19 repeat Year 1. I would organize the repertoire by types of music. Taking that same 2-4 class, I would do the following types of music: Year 1 = American folk music, Year 2 = world folk music, Year 3 = popular musics (film/Broadway/rock). Remember these are just examples, you will want to do the kinds of music that you feel are most important.

Skills: This is the hardest piece of all. First step is to lay out your sequence of skills you want the students to learn. (I think 3rd Year & I had a dialogue here on how to this last year.) I would keep this list very short as you want to have a lot of review built into your curriculum. Then I'd divide them up by class. I would make sure I cover *every* skill in each year of the class. Remember, this won't be boring because the repertoire will be new for everyone. (FYI, this is what band/orchestra teachers do all the time.) I would make the first 4-6 weeks all review for a variety of reasons (e.g. classroom management, procedures, etc.). Then I would start in learning class-level skills.

I hope that helps. If you want more specifics, feel free to email me privately: [email removed]

Cheers! Miss Friday On 7/27/15, Sarah S wrote: > Hello All! > > I recently began teaching at two small schools in North > Dakota and have realized that as great college was, there > is no way to actually be prepared for the "real world." > > My biggest insecurity is how to develop a curriculum for > a multi-grade classroom. One school is divided pk-1st, > 2nd-4th, 5th-6th. The other school is divided k-2nd and > 3-6th. > > Any suggestions on how to create a curriculum that works > for these kids but also allows the kids to grow from year > to year? > > Thank you so much in advance!

Jul 28, 2015

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bec To add to good advice you have already been given..... I already spiral through and repeat things from year to year, adding on as they can handle it I agree with Feierabend for the younger classes, then just try to teach music reading and other concepts through the repertoire. Maybe the younger students won't quite get it all, but next year they wi...See More

Aug 13, 2015

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