I have to start off this post with a huge thank you.
THANK YOU!
I can’t believe how many people stopped by my TpT kiosk. Thank you so much for purchasing one of my items (or both). Seriously. I am thrilled and I am super thankful. I haven’t taken the time to speak with my office manager about setting the prices back to regular . . . so feel free to head on over there while both items are 20% off. It’s too hot for me to do anything else so they’re still on sale.
It was hot.
Like, all day.
So, I introduced the Music Box.
I didn’t want to.
And I really didn’t have to.
But I did.
I just felt like throwing another trick at them. A what-what. A “First Grade is so cool that even though we don’t ever get to go out to recess ever, you will love it more than kindergarten in here.”
Do you use a music box?
I have no idea who, what, or where I got this idea from. It’s not my original idea. But I’ve used a music box for years.
Basically, I wind the box up at the beginning of the day. Mine happens to be a Winnie the Pooh music box. It’s pink. It’s old. The lid doesn’t want to close on it very well anymore. But it works. And it plays the Pooh song, whatever that is. It’s kind of in my head right now, but I don’t know the words. Just the tune. If only the box would play the words . . .
It sort of looks a lot like this:
(source)
But instead of a ballerina in a tutu, it’s Pooh. In a shirt and no pants.
Huh.
I think I got it from Walmart a million years ago. That might explain why Pooh only has a shirt on and no pants.
Anyways, every time my class gets too noisy or chatty, I open the music box. And music spills out. Uh oh.
The kids then hear the music.
Which triggers their brain to send a message to their mouth to STOP TALKING ALREADY. (Except for the occasional kid who yells, “THE MUSIC BOX! SHE OPENED THE MUSIC BOX!! SHHHH! SHHHH! THE MUSIC BOX!!!!”)
When it’s quiet (and they have finally stopped talking already), I close the music box.
I do this all day long.
Open it. Close it. Open it. Close it. OOOOOPEN IT. Close it.
At the end of the day, we check to see if we have any music left in our box. I count, “1, 2, 3, shhhhh.” And the kids do it with me because they are so easily swayed into doing what I tell them to do. “1, 2, 3, shhhhh,” they say, as they lean forward in their seats in the hopes that some music will eek out. It’s precious, I tell you. Little wide eyed faces. Clasped hands under their chins. Precious.
If we have music left over, we each get ONE WHOLE STARBURST. A WHOLE ONE, people. I know, I know. I am SO generous. (Parents donate the starbursts. In the old days, it was a Hershey’s kiss. It could be a sticker. It could be whatever.)
If we don’t have any music left, (and we usually know when that happens, because I’ll just leave the lid open for the rest of the day, and Pooh just stands there. Silently. Dejected. Almost like Eeyore.) then we get nothing. NOTHING. Pooh. On that.
My kids went crazy for it today.
And with no recess, I kind of needed it. This particular group is really well behaved and sweet . . . so when I say they got chatty, I mean that four or five of them talked at the same time. Whoa. I thought I should get a handle on it before I lost all control.
And instead of playing Heads Up, 7 Up for Inside Recess (I’m holding off on Adventure to Fitness because it’s another trick up my sleeve), I passed out whiteboards. And, once again, I’m the greatest teacher in all the land. That’s right. Got my crown back.
So.
That’s the music box.
I don’t know if you want one. Or if you’ve already got one.
But click {HERE} for a bunch listed on Amazon. Some are reasonable. Some are not.
So do you use a music box? Or something similar?
Glad you are having fun……love all the tricks up your sleeve !!!,
I LOVE this idea…and I love reading your posts. You crack me up. Shine up that crown – you deserve it !! 🙂
Kelly
First Grade Fairytales
I will be shopping for a music box soon! It sounds so magical.
Your posts are hysterical. I could read them all day long. Gonna have to try a music box someday. So glad you were able to get your crown back today. You definitely deserve the greatest teacher in the world title with all those amazing teacher tricks.
Such a perfect idea!
Love reading your funny posts. I am in extreme CA heat too. The lovely Inland Empire. My very young noisy class will need lots of tricks this year. Thanks for the great idea.
Tonia
Mrsvento.blogspot
I wonder if we could figure out a song online and not let the students see the time? Just trying to think of ways to save money. I love the idea… just haven't had a chance to find a music box. Maybe I'll just order one.
I am getting a music box!! I love this idea. I know that if first graders are easily swayed by it then kinders will be completely knocked over by it! Thanks for sharing:)
What I Learned in Kindergarten
I love reading your posts! You are super cute! I set a goal of cubes for my students to earn…20 then 40 then 60 ect. When the whole class is doing well…I drop one cube into a glass jar. That sound…is pretty effective. I also take them out when needed 🙂
Alyse
Keep Calm and Apple On
I LOVE this idea and have never heard of it before! Brilliant!!! Your comment about Pooh and no pants and Walmart had me laughing out loud… I just got home from there and I know what you mean! 🙂
What a creative idea!
Jenn
Finally in First
Love the music box and sweet lil Pooh. So perfect-the music box, not the no pants! Love the tricks comin out of the sleeve already. You're fabulous!
~Christy & Tammy
I'm a big dork! I collect Winnie the Pooh things AND music boxes…why the Pooh music box never made it to my class–to make kids quiet, no less–I don't know why. Anyhoo…you MUST now whip this up on the SMARTboard if the kids end up having a bit of song left. This will make their little heads explode with excitement:
It is a sing-a-long Pooh cartoon (vintage) and the kids will be amazed! 🙂 Let me know how it works!
Corinna 🙂
We do this too! I have a music box, that I have had since high school. It's a replica of the one from the animated movie Anastastia:-)
Happy Tuesday,
Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Never heard of it. But I love it so much already…
What a great idea! I could have used this last year with my class that never would stop talking. I'm hoping this coming year I'll have a better class, but I'm going to look for a music box.
Thanks for sharing this idea!
Diane
The Teacher's Jungle
I have to say that I first heard of the music box idea from Hadar and her Everything's Kindergarten Expo class. We chatted a bit about my using it because I had a horrid class last year. I did not have a music box, and didn't have the extra money to buy one. But I am thinking I should have tried harder. I wonder if I can find one before next week. Keep the polish close by you may be using it a lot this year.
Terri Izatt
http://merrykinderkapers.blogspot.com/">KinderKapers
That is a super idea…thanks for sharing. I'll put that trick up my sleeve. Now to find a music box… 🙂
I love the music box idea! Now I have two weeks to find my music box in the basement. Congrats on your Tpt store!
Kimberly
done and done…must grab one.
Love the music box!!! Now I need to get both a quiet creature and a music box!!! And, girl you never lost your crown!!! I hope it cools down for you! I am sending you cool peppermint patty breezes. Or are you too young to remember that commercial?
So… Do any of those music boxes play rap? Or hip hop? Can you see the twirling break-dancing figure? I am trying to figure out how to adapt this for my "oldsters." If I even mentioned Pooh-with-no-pants," they'd be laughing for a week. : )
That crown is permanent, friend, although it may be melting in this heat!
Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
That's genius, yep…genius!! I love it. I'm all for anything that quiets them down without me talking ot SHHHing. I hate the "shhhing" sound! 🙂
http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.com
This idea is genius! I have never heard of this technique! I am definitely going to try this one! 🙂
Michelle
What an awesome idea!!! I am so getting a music box…next month when we get paid 🙂
Katrina
I can totally see you get very dramatic about the music box having no music left! Maybe the quiet creature needs to leave the class a letter about the music box almost running out of music! =)
Heather
Heather's Heart
I love these classroom management tricks!!! Keep sharing them!!!!
Heidi Butkus
Thanks for sharing your great idea! I also loved your humor in your blog which I just found today since I am on a hunt for some new great blogs. Your comment about Pooh wearing no pants and found at Walmart made me laugh out loud so I ended up sharing with my husband. Thanks again. I am going out to find a music box tomorrow!
I have done this on and off in my class for the last several years. I usually only bring it out for a few days at a time when we really need it, like after a vacation. One of the super teachers I work with introduced me to the idea.
Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff.
He's Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh.
Willy nilly silly ole bear.
The Music Box is a fantastic idea!! I have an Ariel music box that is going with me to my classroom tomorrow! And Mrs. Phillips did the song! Awesome! Oh, and Pooh never wears pants…
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