Add Music
During the orientation week , when students are working in groups, put on some proper music to calm them down. Scott Humphrey.
Music is a great way to set the tone of the classroom.
You can still get in a legal bind here. If you are involved in “for profit†activities even if you are only using broadcast radio ASCAP would still expect you have a license to insure the artist are being compensated.
Sometimes music can get out of control as well. I used to play music softly in the background but ran into an instance where music was against a student's religion and rather than address it with me she took it above me. I had never thought about it from that perspective before.
John--
This is a great idea and I'm sure something that makes your students feel more comfortable and I am sure they remember this for a long time!
Susan
Musical tastes tend to run all over the place. I have picked a song, which I have adopted as my class "theme song." It is completely non offensive and some recognize the song and group. It is an ice breaker, I play it around the third day at the beginning of the class and it has the name of the class in the first opening phrases. Everyone gets a little charge, a small laugh and then we get into the lesson of the day. It works and with all of the musical downloads on ipods and
Pandora, it could be a positive little plug, especially if you have a difficult subject to teach.
yes jimmy i agree,. i used to play hard rock
music also, but i have found that the music
sometimes has demorilizing lyrics. yes mello
oldies are just what the doctor ordered for a calming effect in the classroom
I play a mello oldies station at the start of a new class while students enter and get situated. I think it tends to calm and relax.
I used to play a rock station and most enjoyed it but the oldies usually tend to be less offensive.
It would seem that might also cause some conflicts if the students do not like the style of music playing.
Completely agree, even if it is low volume in the background. It helps to set a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere!
Scott--
That is very interesting! Music is a great way to set a tone in your classroom.
Susan
I agree, Scott. Just remember it has to be Broadcast Radio, not CD's that we don't have Re-broadcast Copywrite Permission for.
