“Whenever I play a Quaver Song, All I see Are Smiles”
By Kristin Clark Taylor
This is Where Joy Lives
When K–5 general music teacher Kelly Stinson describes her classroom, it sounds like she’s describing what happiness might feel like if you could touch it.
As she speaks, she paints a beautiful portrait of what learning looks like and sounds like in her classroom: Bright colors. Marvelous music. Loveable characters on the screen (Boobam, perhaps?) And best of all, a classroom filled with students who are engaged, enthusiastic, and excited about learning.
“Whenever we’re singing a Quaver song or learning a Quaver lesson,” Kelly says, “All I see are smiles.”
The natural follow-up question is begging to be asked … so I ask it: Why are all her students so happy?
“Because they love feeling so included, and they’re really happy to be so deeply engaged!” comes the rapid response.
She takes it a step further.
“I’ll tell you why they’re smiling: Because they feel like their participation really matters!” she says with gratitude. “They love the way the lessons really focus on them!”
They also love the on-screen interaction, she says, and she points out that even her youngest students are very tech-savvy.
“When class is over, and it’s time to go,” she says, “even the kindergarteners know to just go up and press ‘pause,’ and the song will be waiting for them when they come back next time!”
Everyone feels included. Celebrated. Stimulated.
This is why Kelly’s classroom is filled with smiles.
This is the place where joy lives.
Fats Domino, Frogs, and “Awesome” Flexibility!
Kelly also appreciates the freedom and flexibility that Quaver offers.
“I’m so happy to have found a resource that’s not just rich in content, but also allows me to pull in other resources in a way that lets me customize my teaching to fit my student’s needs,” she says.
“I can pop in a favorite photo or drop in a YouTube video, and it all works together,” she says. “This is awesome flexibility.”
You can hear the smile in her voice as she speaks.
“It’s almost like Quaver is telling me, ‘Okay, we’re giving you this amazing foundation and springboard … now have fun!”
Another beautiful benefit?
“Quaver helps me keep things organized and streamlined, which is a real game-changer because it gives me more time with my students!”
And Kelly makes every second of that additional time count.
She shares a recent classroom experience where one of her kindergartners came up and asked her, “Can you please play ‘Ain’t that a Shame?’”
“Fats Domino was one of Quaver’s featured Arts of the Month, and my students enjoyed that lesson so much, they asked for an encore!”
Within a matter of seconds, the Oklahoma educator was able to pull up Quaver’s lesson on Fats Domino, “and the entire class sang and danced around! The joy of music and movement was everywhere! All with a few quick clicks.”
And after Fats Domino? Another all-time favorite, “Frog in the Meadow”!
“All of my age groups love this song,” she explains, “because we’re able to introduce music and movement!”
“Sometimes they all hop to the middle,” she says, “or they pick one another to hop one by one. So much learning and sharing and fun is happening!”With this song, Kelly says she has her students “start with singing, then they hop from dot to dot, like little frogs hopping along the lily pads.”
Kelly Stinson poses with her favorite frog! The Oklahoma educator says her students love “Frog in the Meadow” because it integrates music, movement, and loads of fun-filled energy!
A Beautiful Balance
These days, Kelly says, young people often run the risk of becoming over-stimulated, given the fact that technology is at everyone’s fingertips (including theirs).
For this reason, it’s important to establish a balance.
“I’m very careful about measuring the amount of stimulation my students receive in the classroom,” she says with deliberate intention.
“As an educator, I feel like it’s my responsibility to help maintain a balance,” she says, more serious now.
“Quaver knows how to establish a comfortable balance between technology, music, and learning. Everything works together.”
This is why Kelly’s classroom is filled with bright smiles bouncing all around; it’s a room filled with students who feel seen, heard, and valued.
This is a place of discovery, exploration … and beautiful balance.
This is the place where joy lives.
Want to get Quaver in your classroom? Go to QuaverEd.com/Music to learn more.
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and a journalist.
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