Susan Brumfield

First We Sing: Teaching Strategies (Intermediate)

First We Sing! Kodaly-Inspired Teaching and its companion volumes and materials offer guidance and direction for teachers who are new to the Kodaly approach. Experienced teachers will find fresh ideas to supplement their materials, along with another perspective on Kodaly's philosophy and its implications for teaching today. Finally, the books and teaching materials include a sample Kodaly-inspired curriculum guide, which can be adapted for a variety of school settings. Teaching Strategies for elements taught in the intermediate grades (3-5) are printed on 3-hole punched loose-leaf paper so teachers can easily customize the teaching sequence in order to make the most of each lesson. Each teaching strategy contains a list of requisite readiness elements and skills (what the students need to know and be able to do) before learning the new element. It includes a list of activities to prepare for the new element, a scripted, step-by-step procedure for presenting it, and ways to practice using the new element in each skill area.