Third Graders Recorders

The third graders are having a blast playing the recorders.

They have learned how to properly play the notes B, A, and G and are working together to play "Hot Cross Buns."

I love watching my students help each other. I believe you have mastered a skill once you have the ability to teach it to someone else.

IMG 0165 from Valerie Díaz Leroy on Vimeo.

If you were wondering what hot cross buns are...

YUM!

Here is a link on how to make your own recorder case. All you need is a 1/4 yard of your favorite fabric!

If you would like to play along with the Recorder Karate songs, you may do so at this website. Please email me for the username and password.

Feeling Blue?

The fourth graders have a bad case of the blues. They can't help it! They've spent the last two weeks learning about the origins of the blues, how to build the 12-bar blues, and playing along to the blues. 

MVI 8572 from Valerie Díaz Leroy on Vimeo.

After playing the blues, students began write the lyrics to their own blues songs. Most people say you have to have lived a long life to be able to understand the blues. But, these fourth graders have some really sad tales to tell!

Colors All Around!

The kindergartners have had a really great start to the year reviewing all their Spanish basics. Our unit on colors kicked off with Jose-Luis Orozco's song "El Balie de los Colores." Students (and the teacher) had to work hard to sing color names fast enough to keep up with the song! We then explored our environment to find colors all around. The catch, students could only let me know that they found their color in Spanish.

It's Good to be Back!

I had the most amazing summer. Why? Because much of it was spent with your children, or in professional development workshops so I can better teach your children! Señora Bockman-Pedersen and I started off the summer with our first ever field trip to Puerto Rico. We had an amazing time speaking Spanish, learning about the culture and history of the island, and forming deeper bonds with Shorecrest families.

 My favorite part of the trip was hiking through Tanama Woods and zip lining for the first time. Thank you to all my former students who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

Mrs. Bell and I taught two camps this summer-Beading and Sewing. It still amazes me how creative our students are. Though I spend much of my free time beading and sewing, campers dreamed up and completed projects that never could have come to my mind!

In between all of this I attended two music workshops in Tennessee. I studied vocal and instrumental music and received instruction on how to arrange musical groups, developing the voice, and over coming stage fright. It is so important to live in the same type of environment I put my students into every day. I hope to be the living model of what I am teaching and what I want your children to learn in my classroom. As an added bonus, I had the opportunity to perform at the world famous Station Inn with one of my favorite musicians, Claire Lynch.

I cannot wait for the year to progress so I can watch your children grown into even stronger and more confident musicians!