Waltz with Us

Today was probably my favorite day teaching so far.  I had a great morning and afternoon teaching 3/4 time to 3rd and 4th graders!  First, we went through the "script" for reading time signatures.


               ______  "Beats per measure"
                (Top #)


               ______  "Gets the beat"
        (Bottom #'s code)

I explained that you read the bottom number like a code, and that when you see a "4", you say "quarter note"... and then you finish the script.


The students were getting the hang of it and reading time signatures like champs!  I have been working with them on reading rhythms, so I put the rhythm of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on the board and had them read it without putting the words up.  After we practiced it, I wrote the words under the rhythm and had them sing the song with me.  

***THEN***

I started dancing the waltz.  I showed the girls how to hold their hands and showed the boys how to hold theirs.  In the last hour of the day, I called two girls up to the front and then two boys and had them face each other.  I told them they didn't have to touch but they did need to face each other and put their hands up.  After a while, there were students everywhere pairing off!!  We were all laughing and waltzing and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and then I heard a "Miss Fitch?"  I turned around and saw little Adam, he asked "Can we actually do it?  Can we touch?"  My heart was meellllttttinnnnggggg!  I told him he and his partner could do the real waltz if they wanted to, and then there was hardly a pair in the room who wasn't trying the waltz for real.  


I kinda love my jobs...