GIVING CHOICES

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Home : 2002 : August : 31

GIVING CHOICES
By LURKER

Hey Deni,,,its me lurker.....first of all very frustrated that people keep asking for Shooting for Stars....(just reposted it..out of frustration..so it would be at the top)....anyways....now for pe and music...
you could
still use 3star method...but the reward can be...letting the class have free choice in gym or playing a fav. game.....KIds always love it..when I let them play Dodge Ball....You can do the same for music....letting the class play a favorite musical game..(if the teachers haven't left any...try 7up if possible, or I spy or hang man....or let the kids make some suggestions...They love

having some control or choice. Now you could do this at the end of each class...or store it over two periods if you see a group multiple times...but that might get confusing and you don't want to mix gym and music behaviours/classes......

One musical game I know...is Game 'Doggy doggy, where is your bone?' This is a game that I learned when I was subbing in a music class (not the area of expertise at all!) I have used this game in music, and non-music classes since.
This gamed is based on the concept of the game 'Hot/Cold' One student is the FINDER, they can wait outside in the room or in a secluded corner of the room. I have created the new job of KEEPER to make sure that the hider is not peaking.
One student is selected to be the HIDER. They hide the baton, pointer or what ever object that you chose to use. The finder comes in the room, and starts searching for the bone. The class guides him by singing softly if he is far away from the bone, and they sing louder as he gets closer to the bone. If the finder moves away from the bone, then the class has to sing softer again.
It is so simple, I do one on-hands run through with the kids and they have the idea of the game. You can sing 'Doggy, doggy, where is your bone?', but I being nonmusical, have difficulty with the tune. I usually substitute the alphabet song or twinkle twinkle little star.

I want to encourage to try and get too caught up in tangible rewards....it gets easy to rely on using stuff/bribes...but it is very hard for you and the kids not have them....I am thinking ahead to when you have a classroom of your own...But BUT still use stickers and the odd pencil for great behaviour. Best of luck...let us know how it goes.