Erzsie MERA

Honoring the rhythm children bring to the classroom. Bridging research to best practices

Tag: music education

  • The Beat Goes On: How Drumming Enhances Phonological Awareness

    The Beat Goes On: How Drumming Enhances Phonological Awareness

    #Drumming enhances #phonological awareness by requiring children to recognize and produce patterns of sounds. As they break down #rhythms into individual beats and blend beats into rhythms, they practice segmenting and blending #phonemes, critical skills for #reading and #writing. Read.

  • Lesson Plan (50 minutes): Beats and Bytes: A Percussive Exploration of Phonological Frontiers

    Lesson Plan (50 minutes): Beats and Bytes: A Percussive Exploration of Phonological Frontiers

    This dynamic lesson integrates drumming to kinesthetically reinforce phonological awareness skills. Students drum rhythms representing rhymes, sounds, and syllables – segmenting words into beats and blending beats into words. The multi-sensory approach promotes literacy development through interpretive movement and rhythmic improvisation, aligning with music and ELA standards. Read.

  • The Transformative Power of Music Education: Cultivating Appreciation for Life’s Artistic Expressions

    The Transformative Power of Music Education: Cultivating Appreciation for Life’s Artistic Expressions

    Music education transcends mere instruction, nurturing a profound appreciation for life’s artistic expressions. It sparks a connection to the emotive power of sound, fostering reverence for the world’s wonders. Through discipline and collaboration, it transforms minds and spirits, guiding us on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Read.

  • Honoring the melody makers: Celebrating Music Teachers

    Honoring the melody makers: Celebrating Music Teachers

    Let’s honor the unsung heroes of education—music teachers. Their passion for both teaching and music leaves an indelible mark on the lives of their students. From instilling discipline to fostering creativity, they shape not just musicians, but resilient individuals equipped for life’s symphony. Read.

  • Lesson Plan (45-minutes): Jazz Up Your Vocabulary

    Lesson Plan (45-minutes): Jazz Up Your Vocabulary

    This multisensory lesson connects vocabulary development to jazz music. Students interpret vocabulary words through movement, improvisation, and performance, exploring how context clues and musical elements convey meaning. By bridging ELA and music, learners deepen word comprehension through an engaging, interdisciplinary approach. Read.

  • The Power of Music for Autistic Students

    The Power of Music for Autistic Students

    In this blog, I share witnessing the magic of #MusicTherapy for #AutisticStudents. Circle time songs unlock inner genius, proving #NeurodiversityIsAStrength. #SpecialEducation #InspiredByMusic Read.

  • Lesson Plan (50 min): Rhythmic Writing and Word Play

    Lesson Plan (50 min): Rhythmic Writing and Word Play

    New blog: Rhythmic writing lesson fuses #ELA and #music for grades 2-3. Incorporates #musicpriming, clapping/moving to word rhythms, and “air writing” for multisensory #spelling, #sightwords and #handwriting practice. Engages kinesthetic learning, improves phonics and motor skills. #elementaryed #lessonplan Read.

  • Dalcroze music pedagogy in elementary education

    Dalcroze music pedagogy in elementary education

    The Dalcroze music pedagogy uses rhythm, movement, and listening to teach musical concepts in a multisensory way. For elementary students, it develops crucial skills like coordination, impulse control, phonological awareness, and auditory processing abilities. These support learning across subjects like reading, math, and following instructions. Dalcroze engages diverse learners kinesthetically while building executive function. Read.

  • Speaking engagements

    Speaking engagements

    Let’s discuss the significance and incorporation of music education in elementary schools. If you’d like me to join your upcoming event or meeting, please reach out. I’m available and eager to share insights! #presentation #K12 #musiceducation #advocacy #research Read.

  • Lesson Plan (45-min): Hip-hop Music in ELA

    Lesson Plan (45-min): Hip-hop Music in ELA

    Try this Hip Hop-themed lesson plan for K5 to teach nouns and verbs. Share feedback if you use it in class! #ELA #MusicEducation #K5 #LessonPlan Read.