Using Music to Support Lessons

I don't know about you- but I love using music in the classroom.   Using it for transitions, for signals, for celebrations, for anything.  But I had never really thought about using music for lessons.  Working with ESL students this year, it fascinated me how many American songs they knew the words to, without even realizing it!  And I quickly realized there are some amazing websites out there to help teachers practice listening to songs and filling in the gaps. Two of my favorite to work with this year have been LyricsTraining and LyricsGap.  They are fun to use and oh so simple.  All you have to do is go to the website, choose your song, and listen away!!  I like to view everything ahead of time for 2 reasons... 1)  I like to make sure the video and language are 100% appropriate and 2)  I like to write the words out on flashcards.  See why below.  

I have yet to have trouble finding a song I want!  They have nearly everything. 

Choose your song!

And plug in the missing lyrics

 LyricsGaps has a special feature that allows you to create your own gaps in songs and then assign them to students.  Students can complete this for homework and you get their scores!

 

 

AND THEN comes my fav part- using words from the song, I create flashcards and we use them to form sentences.  Whattt?  So brilliant and easy.  Each time we do this, my camera is either full or I forget it!  Sorry- no pictures of kiddos in action.  But not only does it get them creating sentences, it gets them speaking and singing, and feeling more comfortable with the beautiful English language- A huge win-win for me!! 

How do you use music to help you in the classroom?