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I’ve been there. That feeling of panic as you scour Pinterest for lessons on a Sunday night, planning day-by-day and never really getting “caught up.”
Hey. If this sounds like you…. Don’t beat yourself up about it. We do what we can with what we have! *And I still scour Pinterest!?
But if you’re looking for a way to know what to teach and when to teach it, I want to share with you what was HANDS DOWN the best investment I made as a music teacher. We’re talking about the holy grail of lesson planning resources.
Before I get too far down the rabbit hole on why these books are the best, I should tell you that IT’S OK IF YOU DON’T HAVE KODALY TRAINING. Some of my closest music teacher friends are Orff-certified rock stars, and that’s great. What many people like about the Kodaly method is its sequencing, which is extremely clear-cut.
What do I mean? What to teach, when to teach it, and strategies to teach it.
Here’s what any teacher would love about these books….
There is a book for each grade level k-5, and if you go to this link, you can look inside one of the books and view the complete table of contents. It’s almost overwhelming how much information is there, so I’m going to highlight the things that I have found most helpful in my teaching.
How to set up a lesson plan
How to choose what songs/games to use
Strategies for teaching concepts
Assessment
Sequencing and Lesson Plans
And so much more.
Wait. Lesson plans included???
Yep. There are detailed lesson plans in the books.
Are you going to be able to follow them word for word every single day? Probably not. Are you going to need to supplement with other materials? I do. But it's a wonderful place to start!!
I own all of these books, but I couldn't buy them all right away. (Plus, I am a hesitant buyer and wanted to make sure they were worth it.)
If you are like I was and teach multiple grades but can only afford to buy 1 book for now, I would do one of two things.
Option 1: Get Kodaly Today.
It has a bit more of a general overview of all of the things found in the grade level books) for grades 1-5. It also comes with a COMPANION WEBSITE and can be a godsend when it comes to scope and sequencing.
Option 2: Start with the Kindergarten book, Kodaly in the Kindergarten Classroom: Developing the Creative Brain in the 21st Century (Kodaly Today Handbook Series).
It will give you crazy in-depth information that will help you get a handle on lesson planning and teaching strategies.
I thought it was easiest to start with kindergarten because I didn’t have to factor in what they already knew. It really changed the way I lesson plan for kindergarten, and also how I transition from one activity to the next.
In the lesson plans and strategies included in this book, everything is connected.
It’s not just a list of activities:
Vocal warm-ups
Engine No. 9 Chant
Page’s Train Song
Assess fast/slow
Movement activity: button factory
It adds these AMAZING transitions to transform the lesson into something meaningful. *This is my own example, but it uses transitions like this to connect activities:
1. Vocal Warm Ups
*TRANSITION: That last “woo” sounded like a train whistle. It must be Engine Number 9 coming down the track!
2. Engine No. 9 Chant
*TRANSITION: Uh oh. It fell off the track! Good thing Page’s Train is coming to pick us up.
3. Page’s Train Song
*TRANSITION: The train conductor is asking for our tickets. Make sure to show him the right one!
**If you are interested in the train ticket idea, CLICK HERE to download them for free!
4. Assess fast/slow
Students might hold cards that say fast or slow
Play a music excerpt, then act as the train conductor to monitor responses
*TRANSITION: You know, if I weren’t a train conductor, I think I’d like to try something different. I have this friend that works in a button factory. Let me tell you about him… (Hey, my name is Joe…)
5. Etc.
I know that was very “bare bones,” but it gives you an idea of how transitions can help engage your students and make lessons so much more meaningful. And… It’s easier to remember the flow of lesson plans!
While only getting the Kindergarten book is not ideal since it only covers kindergarten concepts, it will give you a strong foundation for lesson planning that you can apply in other grades until you’re able to purchase the other books!
I should mention that there are other great books out there and some that I've also purchased. But, I think that the Kodaly Today Handbook Series is very cost-effective and comprehensive, so I would start here before adding other supplemental resources. :)
If you have a minute, go check out the Kodaly Today Handbook Series. Don’t feel like you need to rush into buying anything, but if you know you need SOMETHING, you won't regret going with these gems.
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