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Would an actor perform if no one was watching? Would the orchestra play if no one was listening? Would a teacher instruct
if no one was learning? The answer to these questions would most likely be "no." However, as a middle school social
studies teacher, I have seen many situations where teachers were instructing but few students were learning. In most cases
it was not the direct fault of the teachers. The teachers had invested the time and effort into making organized and highly
detailed lesson plans to provide structure and flow to their teaching. Yet, as these lessons were being taught, few students
were focused on the material being discussed. What might be the cause of this lack of attention? Technology.
Students today are used to being entertained in ways that are quick-paced, interactive, and appeal to a variety
of senses. Many students in school own MP3 players which give them access to thousands of songs with a swoop of their thumb.
Their video game systems allow them to log-on to networks and play against others in all parts of the world. Wireless web
surfing, cellular phones with cameras and downloadable ring tones, and personal digital assistants (PDA's) all compete with
teachers for attention. The days of a teacher standing in the front of a classroom reading from a textbook for 45 minutes
are over. Our students live in a world that provides great stimuli and encourages short attention spans. To be successful
teachers, we must adapt our lessons to incorporate some of the characteristics to which our students have grown accustomed.
The use of music and song in the classroom is one way in which a teacher can begin to transform their class.
Please take the time to explore published research describing music to be an effective learning tool for children
by clicking the link below.
Why Use Music?
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