2 Years and 50 Episodes! PBJamz Celebrates with a Grand Conversation, A, B, and C!

The Grand Conversation, Part 1

In part 1, everyone introduces themselves and shares current projects or upcoming publishing news!  Then we dig deep into conversation surrounding music and the classroom -- how to integrate music into the classroom. We talk about the power of music and how to unleash that power to benefit teachers (anyone teaching littles, whether at school, home, or elsewhere). We also tackle a sidebar about how music helps memory not only with littles, but with folks who are struggling with memory. We all share great stories of how we've used music or how it has affected us or how we've seen it utilized to great effect!  You can join the conversation by commenting below how you've used music or seen it used to great effect yourself.

2 Year Birthday Celebration, Part B. Using Picture Books in the Classroom

In this second installment of the Grand Conversation, we chat about using picture books in the classroom in general and the mantra came up again, "Picture books are for everyone!!" Yes!  Thank you, Jolene!  We also get very specific about using picture book biographies about musical figures in the classroom. Enjoy part 2 and don't forget to leave a comment so I can enter you in the giveaway for 3 lucky winners to win either: 1. a signed set of Melanie's beautiful books!!!! OR 2. a PBJamz notebook OR 3. a critique from Yours, Truly!

Part 3 Picture Books are for Everyone!

Picture books are for EVERYONE! The value of collaboration, PB biography formats . . .these are a few of the topics we address in this last little leg of the grand conversation! This collaborative chat was so much fun with implications for writers, teachers, readers, families, and everyone ;-)

The Magic of Music

Remember WEE SING?  This song is the perfect complement to our conversation: how music gets into our head and has power to do things in our brain and body, AND how music builds community because it is something we do together!

A Book to Share:  MUSIC, MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

While this book is a bit dated (1988, so maybe more than a little), but it is such a lovely example of so many of the things we talked about in our grand conversation.  See if you can pinpoint some of the power of music in this book!

Flashback!  To these earlier episodes with my friends!

If you're just tuning in or if you missed these earlier episodes, I'm sharing them below for your convenience:

Nancy Stewart's episode

Jolene Gutierrez's episode

​Melanie Ellsworth episode

Rekha Rajan's episodes:
This is Music: DRUMS
This is Music: HORNS
This is Music: STRINGS
This is Music: VOICE

And if you missed the one that started it all 2 years ago OR if you need some fun, fabulous birthday music, activities or fun, check out episode 1, the 
BIRTHDAY JAMORAMA 
In that episode, too, you'll meet Annie, who helped me write and record the theme song, and Allison Strick who designed the logo for PBJamz, as well as teacher Molly Ippolito who designed my author logo and created the birthday freebie that's still available on the episode.
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Teacher Tips:  Integrating Music into the regular classroom

1. Use music for transitions/classroom management. Have a song or a sound that calls students to whatever place or task you need them to go or do. If the class is unruly, start a song or a clapping pattern (doesn't even matter what it is.) Get softer and softer until you're whispering and they're whispering and ready to listen to directions.

2. Use music to motivate students -- either to give them something to look forward to or to encourage them. Songs with positive messages will help build students' confidence, self-esteem,  and encourage them to do their best.  Use music as rewards to motivate students. (good behavior, passing a test, being able to do _____) Music and dance are great rewards.

3. Use music to build community and foster togetherness.  Have a class song or a special song that you're all "in on". Something that is special for you. Use music to celebrate together -- or grieve together.

4. Use music, rhythm, chants, raps, poems, songs to help students connect to what they're learning and to foster memory. Repetition, repetition, repetition.
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5. Use music as a fun way to share content.  It's much more engaging to sing the parts of a plant or the life cycle of a chicken or the capitals of the states or the parts of a letter if you sing it.

Integrating Music into the Music Classroom

See above -- it works exactly the same. I know it seems like a no-brainer, since we teach music.  But it's easy to focus on the prescribed curriculum and forget the power of music.  It works in the music classroom in all the same ways as above.

Guests' Links!

Nancy Stewart, Children's musician
​Website
Sing with Our Kids website
YouTube
FB
Instagram

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Jolene Gutierrez, Teacher/Librarian & Children's Author

Website
FB
Twitter/X
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn

Melanie Ellsworth, Children's Author
​
Twitter/X
Instagram
FB
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Rekha Rajan, Author for Children and Adults
Former music professor and opera singer

Instagram

​Twitter/X

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Tonnye Fletcher, M.Ed, NBCT
Children's author
K-2 Music Teacher
CCNCRA President
Host, PBJamz
Twitter/X
Instagram
FB
BlueSky

I'm available to do presentations for adults on integrating music into the classroom, connections between music and literacy, writing picture books, using picture book biographies in the classroom, conducting an afterschool writers' group,  StoryWalks for Communities, or other topics. Send an email to: [email protected] for more information.

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Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Music is. . . 
2. When I listen to music. . . 
3. My favorite song/type of music is ____ because. . . .
4. THE MAGIC OF MUSIC
5. Reimagining of THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
6. A teacher uses music to . . . 
7. Music has the power to . . . 
8. Write about a time music helped you remember something.
9. Write about a special song you share with someone, or a song that makes you think of a particular person.
10. Write about a time a song motivated you to do something.
11. Write about a time a teacher used music to teach you something. Was that a postive experience? Why/why not?
12. Write about what music means to you.
13. Write an acrostic poem using the letters in MUSIC.
14. Write a letter to music.
15. Write a story wherein Music is the main character.

More Links and Fun!

YouTube playlist for Part 1(A) -- Puff the Magic Dragon, Encyclopedia, Onomatopoeia, Preamble to the Constitution and more!
YouTube playlist for Part B -- Teachers modeling good read aloud strategies, reading songs, fluency, etc.
YouTube playlist for Part C --


​Pinterest board "Music and Literacy" full of teaching ideas that merge picture books and music or other music/literacy connections
Pinterest board "Sing a Story; Read a Song" to go along with a presentation I did for NC Reading Association annual reading conference
​Pinterest board "Music Integration" which shares ideas for integrating music into many areas of the curriculum.

PBJamz Snack -- PBJ Sandwich Cookies

Healthy, flourless PBJ sandwich cookies are the perfect snack to share with friends, along with a GRAND conversation of your own. What you talk about is totally up to you, but the conversation will be nuttier and sweeter if it includes music and/or picture books. ;-)  Find the recipe here.
Enjoy making and sharing these yummy treats.

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GIVEAWAY ALERT!

FROM MELANIE:
Melanie has offered a signed set of all three of her books to one lucky winner!  What a generous offer, and her books are awesome!  You will love them!

FROM PBJAMZ:

​1. Your very own PBJamz journal (Pic below)

2. Picture book critique from Tonnye (up to 600 words, non-rhyming)

​To be eligible, simply leave a comment below.  I'll draw 3 winners on March 7, 2024.