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.

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!

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!

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!

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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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.

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.

Rekha Rajan, Author for Children and Adults
Former music professor and opera singer

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Tonnye Fletcher, M.Ed, NBCT
Children's author
K-2 Music Teacher
CCNCRA President
Host, PBJamz
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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.

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.

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.

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.

With short and simple rhyming couplets, Valerie tells the story of a neighborhood coming together for a block party and a jam session. She uses lyrical language and steady cadence to bring the neighborhood down the street for food, music, and fun. Readers will experience the music and fun, too, as Bolling shares instruments from around the world from various cultures.  You will, however, have to supply your own food. ;-) Readers of all ages will enjoy this book and you may even be inspired to host your own neighborhood block party or your own jam session -- or both!

What a perfect song to teach about community and reinforce the topics and layers Valerie put into  BING BOP BAM! TIME TO JAM.  It's a wonderful song about what community is and how diversity and unity make it better and stronger!

If you're teaching/raising preschool-aged children, there are lots of layers/topics you could pull to extend learning:

• What is a community?
• Community helpers/service workers
• Using simple percussion or handmade instruments to have a "jam session"

If you're teaching/raising primary/elementary school-aged children, here are some ideas:

• Different kinds of communities (urban, suburban, rural) etc.
• How to be a good neighbor
• citizenship
• Producers/consumers
• Goods/services
• Great tie-in for any community/citizenship study
• Your place(s) in the world. You are part of a family that's part of a community, that's part of a town/city, that's part of a county/parish/etc, that's part of a state, that's part of a country, that's part of a continent. . . 
• Culture (music, food, language) coming together to make a new whole

If you're teaching/raising middle school/high school students, they are not too old. Use the book as a jumping-off point for  research, discussion, or planning your own block party -- at school or in your own neighborhood! What a great project to bring people together!  

• Research your own neighborhood -- the history, the people, etc.
• Plan a block party and/or a jam session
• Research the musical instrument(s) mentioned in the book. What family do they belong to, where did they originate, how have they changed over time, etc.

**Be sure to check out the Pinterest board and the YouTube playlist in the links section for even more ideas!

Using the instruments mentioned (and pictured on the end papers), there are lots of topics you could teach/activities you could design from this book:

• Sorting instruments into the families of sound (brass, percussion, woodwind, string)
• Research the various instruments (For younger students, the teacher can share information about each instrument. Older students could work in groups. Even older students could complete independent projects.)
• Try out the ones you have access to. 
  • Allow students to play the instrument in turns or as part of a rotation
  • You demonstrate
  • You play a rhythm on the instrument; they echo with their instrument or tap on their lap, etc.
• Listen to/watch samples on YouTube or similar. 
• Listening maps/prompts, etc.
• Have students create their own instrument(see the Pinterest board for ideas) and have your own "jam session"
• **Host a block party for your school (It might make a great fundraising effort or a great cultural project) culminating in a tasting party of various cultural foods, and a musical performance by your students focusing on community and neighborhood, etc.

​**Be sure to check out the Pinterest board and the YouTube playlist in the links section for even more ideas!

YouTube playlist with 90 videos to embellish and accentuate your experience with BING BOP JAM, including videos introducing and telling more about the musical instruments included in the book, as well as songs and videos about neighborhoods, communities, and community helpers. Also fun block party music and videos for your next kid-friendly neighborbhood block party.

A Pinterest board with neighborhood activities, coloring pages, block party planning tips, music lessons, information about the instruments mentioned, crafts, and more!

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If you're attending a neighborhood block party, this seems like the perfect food to take. It would be great for a dessert, but also for a snack. If there happened to be any leftover, you could maybe eat them for breakfast. Oh, well, maybe that's just me. ;-)  A little grown-up appeal, a lot of kid appeal, and a whole lot of flavor, and if you're a PBJ fan, these deserve a permanent number on your street! Grab the recipe here.

Website: valeriebolling.com
Twitter: twitter.com/valerie_bolling
Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor
Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor

To purchase Valerie's books, visit the Books page on her website and click on the book for purchase links.

​Valerie has graciously agreed to offer a 15-minute telephone AMA (Ask Me Anything) to one lucky winner. If you'd like to pick her brain, hear more about her process, get her thoughts on publishing or anything else, leave a comment below.  I'll draw a winner from commenters who leave a comment by Feb. 14 at 11:59 PM. I can promise you it will be an inspirational and stimulating conversation.