So what is it about music that changes your mood, changes your train of thought, motivates you to move and shake? Music is powerful! And when you put music on in the classroom, magic happens. What I love so much about putting music on in the classroom is watching students, of any age, try out some of their best moves. Watching them dance, sing along and laugh really changes the entire mood of the day. Of course, you get a few kids who feel completely out of their comfort zone that refuse to strike a pose and just watches, but don’t be fooled. The music is reaching deep down inside them and they are reaping the benefits of the music just as much as the others are. They just aren’t showing it.
Music is especially necessary for brain breaks, and much needed to release some energy on long, cold or rainy days. Music also helps release stress before tests and certainly during “testing season.” But music also has many other benefits and the one I like best is how my students reach deep down to find the music inside them which motivates these creative minds to write thoughtful and expressive writing pieces.
Why Music?
Sometimes kids are just not in the mood to write or they just don’t know what to write about. Some kids are not confident writers and feel that they are not writers at all or lack writing skills. My favorite part of teaching is teaching writing and transforming non-writers into writers. Looking for ways to do this is not always easy, but incorporating music into our writer’s workshop has been one of my best-kept secrets.
Music helped transformed my writers in these ways:
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Changed students’ mindset
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Changed students’ mood
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Stimulated their brains
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Increased energy
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Sparked new ideas
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Sparked emotions or feelings
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Improved learning
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Decreased stress & anxiety
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Made them happier
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Increased focus
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Improved their writing voice
A good friend and an excellent teacher that I had the pleasure of working with for many years, once mentioned putting on the song, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, during their writer’s workshop and asked me, “Do you think that’s ok?” I thought, “Ok? That is brilliant!” Incorporating music in the classroom has so many benefits and after listening to the lyrics, I just knew that the kids would love it.
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten.
These words alone motivated myself and my writers and began the trend of incorporating music into writer’s workshop
Music in the Writer’s Workshop
Transitioning into Workshop Mode
As students transition to the beginning of Writer’s Workshop, I would put on a song on like Unwritten, while my students were beginning their writer’s workshop, gathering their materials, sharpening their pencils, etc. The kids would sing out loud, hum to it, dance a little bit but once the song was over, they had to be in their writing spot, ready to move forward with their writing. Allow students to make song requests that they find uplifting and inspiring before Writer’s Workshop. The kids love this idea and really take an active part in incorporating music with writing. They became more aware of music and its lyrics, focusing on the writing and meaning behind the words. Really powerful!
During Writer’s Workshop
I would play soft, classical music while they were writing. This kind of music calms the mind and increases focus. A true workshop of little workers, finding the music inside them to produce their best writing is really amazing to watch and to be part of. The happiest time of my day and for many of my students!
Wrapping it Up
Again we would play a song from our playlist, to transition from writing to putting our materials away to get ready for a quick writer’s share. During our writer’s share, select students would share on each day, and it never failed that they would mention how the music inspired them or gave them an idea. I saw a complete shift in attitude from my most reluctant writers and witnessed how proud they were when they shared their own writing.
Writer’s Workshop Playlist
Our playlist was always ready and ongoing, always adding to the music that inspires us. Most songs were popular songs on the radio or from movie soundtracks that kids were singing to. Managing the playlists was as simple playing from a digital library or finding a quick video to project overhead, and even sometimes just checking out what was randomly on the radio, a surprise song to jam too!
Our Writer’s Workshop Jams
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Happy (Pharell Williams)
True Colors (Cyndi Lauper)
Firework (Katy Perry)
Disney’s Hakuna Matata
Can’t Stop the Feeling (Justin Timberlake)
Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars)
Fight Song (Rachel Platten)
For The First Time in Forever (Kristen Bell & Idina Menzel- Frozen)
Cups (Anna Kendrick -Pitch Perfect’s When I’m Gone)
Shake it Off (Taylor Swift)
Party in the USA (Miley Cyrus)
I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
Before we knew it, we even had some kids writing their own song lyrics. The music inside us had grown and developed to something bigger and better every day. Try it and see how for yourself how music transforms your students into better writers.
Do you incorporate music in your classroom? How so? Comment below and visit For The Love of Teachers and go to Forums, Writer’s Workshop or The Arts, to share how you infuse music into your classroom. Can’t wait to hear more ideas!
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Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing your playlist. I homeschool my children, and a few years ago we used “The Call” by Regina Spektor for writing inspiration. I was quite pleased with the results. Now that my children are both in high school, I might open up our upcoming school year with a writing assignment that involves music. Thank you for this reminder!
Thank you Jennifer! I love a good playlist that gets students pumped up for writing. I think it’s fantastic that you homeschool and use music as writing inspiration. I’m glad this was a reminder to you! I love to teach writing and who doesn’t love music! 😉
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I am not a teacher myself but i loved reading this article because i always put music on in my house and it always reflect the mood i’m in that day. i also use music to teach my daughter number, shapes and abc’s
thanks for writing about music and the Natasha Bedingfield song is one of my favorites.
That’s awesome Samantha! Music works wonders on a variety of things! Thanks for your comment… appreciate it!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
As a former music teacher…YES! I use it every day, although instrumental only for writers workshop! Great post!
I did a research paper on Music & Health for school. I learned how it helps us so many ways. I knew it would an amazing tool for kids and I personally use it so many times with my nephew. Love the playlist you added.
That’s a great topic for research! Thanks for sharing! Glad you liked the playlist! Thanks for your comment!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I love music in all parts of my life, we play it often and are always dancing here!
Good for you! Glad music is a big part of life, as it should be! 🙂
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I play wordless music all day long and most of the songs are top 40 songs without the lyrics and I always catch my kids singing along. They love it and it calms them down so much! Great post! Thanks!
That’s a great idea! I love when I catch the kids singing along and moving and shaking! So much fun! Thanks for your comment!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Great read…I always played music in my classroom during writing time and quiet time as well as when they walked into the classroom. We even sometimes played music during Stations and of course Parties!!
Hi Kathleen! Thanks for your comment! I play soft, classical music during quiet time too! I love the idea of playing music when students arrive! Yes, and of course during parties!!! So much fun!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love this! Music is so inspiring and I have seen my students perform better with music. I do like my soft, quiet music but on our “fun Fridays” I play more upbeat songs and it incredible of their work ethic and what they produce- their mood really does change! So instead of my soft music (Monday-Thursday), I play the VSQ violin string quartet which play common songs the kids know- they LOVE it and so do I!! Thanks for sharing this- music really makes a difference! 🙂
Hi Megan! Thanks for your comment! It sounds like you got a good thing going on in your classroom with music. It definitely does make a difference and changes the mood of the kids, myself and the entire classroom! I love “fun Fridays” too!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love the idea of playing more upbeat songs. I like to play classical music but sometimes student do not connect to that type of music! I love unwritten! One of my all time favorite songs!
The upbeat songs really get us going…class fave! I love Unwritten’s lyrics too! Thanks for your comment!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
What a great playlist. I usually play classical music, I will definitely have to try these out! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lori! Thanks for your comment! Classical music is great to play during writing but we liked to get pumped up before writing, and even after!!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
What an awesome idea and post! Love it and going to try it out with my little man
Hi Bj! Thanks for your comment! Thank you… glad you will try this out!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Students today are so connected with music so this is a great idea! Thanks for a specific lists of songs as well. Great resource for teachers trying to give that extra push to their students.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your comment! I agree with you that students are so connected with music, which is why music works to motivate! Glad you liked our Writer’s Workshop list of jams!!!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I can’t imagine a life without music.Enjoyed reading the post!
I know… me too! Music motivates me to do so many things… like clean and exercise! What would we do without music!!! Thanks for your comment!
~Christine at For The Love Of Teachers
Music is absolutely the best when it comes to getting in your zone. I loved this.
So true! I agree! Thanks for your comment!
~Christine at For The Love Of Teachers
In school, my teachers utilized music in the classroom and it helped me to remember my lessons especially Maths. Up to this day I remember the song about Algebra. Great article!
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience with music in school. I too remember so many songs from elementary school… music sure does make the content stick!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I enjoyed this post. I listen to music while performing many activities, writing like you mentioned is one of them. I like the playlist that you shared and will be saving it.
Thanks so much! We love the playlist too! So much fun!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Music also helps me when I`m writing on my blog or even when I`m writing articles and other stuffs for my clients or bloggers. 🙂
Thanks for your comment and for making a connection to music with what you do. Music helps all writers!
~Christine at For The Love Of Teachers
This sounds like fun! My mums a principal so I’m going to share this article with her for some inspiring ideas for her teachers! Thanks for the share!
And I have to say I love your suggested list – most of those songs would be on my writers jam list!
Cassie, Thanks so much for your comment and for sharing this post with your mum. I love those songs on the jam list too!!!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love, live love. As a fourh grade LA teacher this blog makes me smile
Hi Rhonda! Thank you so much! I’m so glad this blog makes you smile! That makes me smile too! Smiling is contagious 😉
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I’m far from a student anymore but I’ve always used music to focus and get over creative blocks! Great post, we should have more of this in classrooms around the world!
Hi Kirsti, thanks for your comment! I am glad to hear that music has helped you too! Besides learning, I also use music to motivate me to clean and to exercise!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I really did not know music could do such wonders! 😊
I know, right!? Music is inspiring! Thanks for your comment!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Oh my goodness! Another great one! My 8th graders always bring ear buds to listen during writers workshop, and I love seeing them get into it! I really enjoy reading your blog!:)
Hi Andrea,
Thank you! Ear buds are a great idea, especially for those kids who have their own kind of “jam” they like to listen to or for those who are a bit sensitive to music. I love music myself so it’s just so much fun! Thanks for reading my blog! I appreciate your feedback!
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I love this! When I was in grade school our English teacher would put on classical music during writing time and it’s so true it transforms your mind. You are more relaxed and the creative juices really flow. I hope more educators will adopt this into their teaching plan!
Thanks for your comment Tania! I just love classical music and how it makes me feel. I swear I am an old soul. I feel like I come from another era…lol.
~Christine at For The Love of Teachers