How Music Transforms Learning In The Classroom

How Music Transforms Learning in the Classroom

When music plays, you just feel it. You begin tapping your foot or swaying. Maybe you start singing along or humming to yourself. You can’t help it. Even those with hearing impairments find themselves connecting to the rhythm as it throbs and vibrates in our bones and in our brains. Music is powerful. It evokes so much. When hearing the theme from "Friday the 13th" or "Chariots of Fire" we feel correspondingly apprehensive or inspired. Couples have their own breakup, make-up, and love songs that elicit corresponding memories and emotions. I think everyone has an innate connection to music. My…

Read on!
There’s No Such Thing As Being Good Or Bad At Science

There’s No Such Thing As Being Good Or Bad At Science

While I enjoyed studying the different biology courses in high school and college, I would never have admitted to anyone that I was good in science. However, when you’re a poor college graduate looking for a paycheck, and they offer you a science teaching position, you take it or starve! Thus, my first few years of teaching were in math and science. The amazing thing is how I learned to teach it effectively through the lens of a kid who struggled--yes, that kid was me! Do you sometimes feel stuck when teaching science? Can I be of any help? Here…

Read on!
The Week In Rap – Free Every Friday!

The Week in Rap – Free Every Friday!

If you didn't know, now you know: by the time you're pouring OJ on Friday morning, there's a brand new, TOTALLY AWESOME, current events rap music video waiting for you at the Week in Rap That's right folks: In 2 minutes, Flocabulary gives you a week's worth of current events, rapped and loaded with relevant, engaging educational power. Subscribe to get the link emailed to you every week. Or just come by the site with on Fridays, and enjoy. You're welcome.

Read on!
Warm-Up Activities For The First Week Of School

Warm-Up Activities for the First Week of School

Flocabulary is all about good times in the classroom - as long as valuable goals are being advanced, of course! Here are some great activities for the beginning of the school year. 1. Take as Much as You Want! During the first "circle time" activity, have a roll of toilet paper on hand. Explain to the youth that they will need this for the next activity. Tell students that you're going to pass around the roll. Invite each student to take as much as they want. After everyone has had a good laugh over the amount of paper they took,…

Read on!
Flocabulary Fridays, Word Up Baseball And More

Flocabulary Fridays, Word Up Baseball and more

Shelby Oates from Summerour Middle School (just outside of Atlanta, GA) is an educator with a never-ending supply of tricks up her sleeve - to motivate students, engage them in learning, and help them achieve to their highest potential. Check out some ideas she recently submitted for use with Flocabulary's Word Up Project program! ------------------------- "I have begun to use the program!  My kids were excited just from the mention of the name!  We have deemed our Friday's, "Flocabulary Friday" and though sometimes we have to miss a week due to other deadlines, it has become such a reward for…

Read on!