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Differentiating With Student Tutors in the Music Classroom

October 30, 2015 //  by Linda//  3 Comments

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It can be hard to manage a classroom while trying to give each student what he or she needs. I have developed a recorder program that enables my 5th
grade class of 27 students to receive individualized help and learn at their
own pace.

Five years ago, my favorite mentor teacher and I designed a black
belt system for the recorder. We incorporated 24 folk songs that my students
know and love since they started singing them in Kindergarten. The students
earn 9 belts culminating with a black belt.

Yarn and beads for the Black Belt
At the beginning of 5th grade, I review the folk songs by singing
them, doing the solfa hand signs (solfege), playing the associated song games,
and reading the notes. This builds up a great desire in the students to start
recorder, which starts at the beginning of the 2nd term, only after every
student can read the notes for the black belt system.

I start the students as a group to get them all
through the first three belts in the system. The most eager students come
to school 15 minutes early to work on the recorder and pass off songs to me.
Some students start earning their black belt in a matter of weeks and become
tutors in order to help other students learn and pass off their songs.

For the past four years, every single 5th grader has
earned their recorder black belt. They wanted to learn even more songs, so we
now have 75 songs beyond the black belt. When students earn the black belt,
they receive a special black belt chart on the bulletin board outside my
classroom. They get a picture icon on the chart for each song they learn beyond
the black belt. The students who pass off every available song also use music
software to write arrangements of their favorite songs to play on the recorder.
My bulletin board gets taken over by black belt charts

This is a
win/win system. The advanced students develop leadership while advancing at
their own pace. I also have happy students who are motivated by passing off fun
and interesting songs. All students work hard to earn their black belt so they
can move on to the extra belt songs and also be a tutor. It is amazingly
motivating. 

This student has earned a ton of belts beyond the black belt


My free black belt system has 9 belts (24 songs) and the details of how I run my program. 

FREE Black Belt Recorder Program
My 315 page Recorder Mega Pack has everything you need to further motivate and keep your students learning way beyond the black belt.

Recorder Mega Pack- Complete Bundle

This is a HUGE hit at my school and is something that even little brothers and sisters look forward to! It has become a big tradition at my school and is a wonderful way to help every student reach his or her potential.  
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda

      October 30, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Elizabeth Caldwell

      February 20, 2016 at 10:59 am

      I am all for anything that encourages students to help and support each other in positive ways while allowing for differentiated instruction! I use a similar setup for my recorders but it is less formalized than yours- the systems you have set up are excellent! #fermatafridays

      Reply
      • Linda

        February 20, 2016 at 12:52 pm

        Thank you, Elizabeth! I have spent years getting my system the way I want and it is very gratifying for me and the students.

        Reply

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