Tips for Teaching Holiday Songs in Elementary Music

When thinking about teaching holiday songs in elementary music, it can be frustrating not knowing how to go about it.  There are so many holidays throughout the school year.  So, how do you know what music to teach when?  There’s not one size fits all approach, but these tips should definitely help you if you’re starting out or continuing your elementary music teaching career.

 

Put on holiday programs

One of the easiest types of programs to plan are those involving holiday songs.   Why is this?  Not only are there several programs already available for you to purchase, but in your curriculum and resources, you have so many holiday songs you already teach throughout the year.  An easy thing to do is to go through all your materials and create a program that includes songs, poems, and speaking parts.

For example, let’s say you’re doing a Patriotic program for Veteran’s Day with your 4th graders.  As you look through all of your Patriotic songs, you’ll realize you can easily put a program together.  Add some little flags, invite some Veteran’s to attend, write some speaking parts and voila, you have a program.

 

Vary things up

If you’ve been teaching for any amount of time, you’ll notice when teaching holiday songs in elementary music, things can become tedious.  Don’t be afraid to vary things up.  If you’ve always done that Patriotic program we talked about earlier with 4th grade, then change things up by doing a Patriotic program with 2nd grade this year.  If you’ve always taught the same Halloween songs and done the same activities, throw in some new lessons this year.    As teachers, it’s important to not get stuck in our ways, but to always be changing things up.  Even if you want to do the same songs, add something new to them like instrument ositnatos, movement, or games.

Sometimes just teaching an old song in a new way makes it seem new.  We’re all familiar with “Jingle Bells.”  After your students have sang it, than teach it as a partner song, add a class set of Jingle Bells, or even have students come up with new verses.  The possibilities are truly endless and that’s what’s so much fun about teaching music.  You get to teach students to use their creativity unlike any other class.

 

Don’t stress out about doing it all

What I mean by “don’t stress out about doing it all” is that it’s ok if you don’t cover every single holiday throughout the school year.  Have you looked at a calendar of how many holidays there are now?  It seems like there’s literally a holiday for everything.

There will be many factors that determine what holiday music you teach that includes:

• What your principal expects
• How many holidays you’re wanting to teach
• If the classroom teachers want to collaborate on a certain holiday
• What else you’re teaching and what you have time for

Just like I’ve talked about several other times, don’t get so worried about doing everything right that you do nothing.  The teacher down the street from you may do 7 holiday programs every year, have elves participating, and the Easter bunny shows up and meanwhile you’re lucky to get one holiday program done.  That’s totally ok!  You be you and do what you’re comfortable with and don’t take on too much, especially if you’re just starting out.

 

Teach songs in the classroom

I know what you’re thinking… “thanks Captain Obvious!”  Let me explain what I mean.  You’re teaching a variety of songs throughout the school year already right?  So, if you’re doing a large Winter program with 3rd grade, teach Winter songs to every other grade level.  How many holiday songs you teach is completely up to you.  You may want to teach a different holiday song each time you see your students, once a month, or even just cover 4 total holidays in a school year.  Every state and district has different standards, and like I stated above, there are different requirements and expectations put on every music teacher as well.

While looking through your materials, determine how much holiday songs you’re wanting to teach, then choose the songs accordingly.  If you don’t get to everything on your list, that’s ok!  The main goal is for your students to learn music, and if they’re doing that, than great job!

 

How do you teach holiday music in your classroom?   Do you have your go to songs or are you looking to change things up each year?  I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.   

Also, I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it.

P.S.  Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher?  Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!