In 5th and 6th grade chorus, we've been trying to use our singing voices more effectively, but also to express and "feel" the music. This is a video of a 5th grade chorus from Staten Island, NY, who I think does an awesome job of expressing while they sing. I'm sharing this song, because we are actually working on an arrangement of this song for our spring concert, but they have LOTS of other videos of all types of songs. They've been doing these type of videos for the past 10 years or so, and they've been invited to sing at all sorts of large events, Presidential Inaugurations, Grammy Awards, TV shows, etc. I talked to the kids about what makes them good. Yes, they sing well, but what really makes them unique is that you can tell that they are all 100% LOVING singing. That's really what music is all about - we want to do music, and love it! Not every song we do in music class will be loved by everyone, but having an open mind to new kinds of music means that we will always be finding something new in music to love.

AND, our Spring Concert is scheduled for May 21st, and we're working on some AWESOME songs for that, you won't want to miss it! Mark your calendar - 7pm at NP Mansfield HS Auditorium, free and open to the public, and featuring all of our 5th and 6th grade students in concert, playing and singing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOeymAfSenk

The 5th and 6th grade Guidance classes are working on the topic of Peer Pressure. In the next few weeks, the students will learn 8 Refusal Skills and then practice these skills by making mini-movies. The 8 Refusal Skills are as follows: 1. Direct 2. Humor 3. Exit 4. Excuse 5. Imagination 6. Invitation 7. Friend and 8 Avoid. 

Jump Rope for Heart

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who generously contributed to this year's Jump Rope for Heart Event. Warren L. Miller Elementary School has raised a record $4,014.00 this year! The money is donated to the American Heart Association and used for heart research and education.

Our school benefits a great deal by participating in this program. In addition to learning about a heart healthy physical activity like jumping rope, we are given jump ropes, educational materials, and physical education equipment vouchers to expand our current program. Once again, thank you to everyone who contributed to this cause!

The Art of Doodling

Zentangling or Zendoodling is a relaxing way of creating intricate and sophisticated patterns without alot of worry or fear of mistakes!  Like many of the other things that happen in the art room, I wanted this experience to feel fun and free, but really be a series of steps that lead to amazing skills and confidence building results.

After showing students in second grade the video below, they started to work on their own patterns.  We discussed organic and geometric shapes and how patterns can be regular, irregular, and have layers to them.   

The patterns are doodled on the back of a paper that has a different kind of pattern on it.  The whole design will become a rectangular prism through the use of a net (pattern that shows you how to construct a 3D form from 2D shapes.)

Jump Rope for Heart

As you can see, our Heart Hero Pond has many members and our Jump Rope for Heart event has kicked off this week. Students have been busy jumping ropes and creating obstacles to challenge themselves and strengthen their own hearts! Students have enjoyed these jumping activities and the "Ducks" continue to be popular again this year as well.

Please return all Jump Rope for Heart donation envelopes by

Wednesday, February 18th

Thank you for your continued support of Miller Elementary Physical Education 

and the American Heart Association!

Ice Music!

Here's something I shared with music classes last week as we deal with winter dragging on - some parts of the world have ice and snow all year long, and people in Siberia and Norway have found some interesting ways to make music using ICE! Enjoy!