🎤🎉Singing Through the Madness: How to Keep Choir Fun During Spirit Week
It’s Homecoming week at our high school! 🏈🎉 For those of you who teach middle or high school, you know what I mean. There are spirit dress-up days (hello, Pajama Day! 😴), extra assemblies 📣, students acting like there’s a full moon all week 🌕, and of course, the HOCO dance is just around the corner 💃. It’s a LOT.
For the first 10 years of my teaching career, I dreaded weeks like this. I was frustrated about losing rehearsal time 🎶 and didn’t appreciate the way the students behaved.
But then I noticed something. My own children were so excited about their elementary school’s end-of-year ABC countdown 📅, the Halloween parade 🎃, and even show-and-tell days 🧸. They looked forward to those special moments.
That’s when I realized... I had become a “Fun Killer” 😳. I started to notice that middle school students seemed a little sad when those fun days, like Halloween or birthdays, didn’t feel as special as they did in elementary school. I knew it was time to shift my mindset.
Finally, I decided to embrace the craziness and just have fun. Can students still learn during these weeks? Absolutely! It’s all about finding the right balance ⚖️.
Here are some easy ideas you can try in your choir classroom during those wild weeks:
1. Host a Choir Spirit Week 🎤🎶
Plan a choir-specific spirit week that ties into your school’s events but adds a fun choir twist! For example, have a "Choir T-shirt Day" where students wear their choir shirts, or a "Twin with Your Choir Teacher Day" where students match your “teacher style.” (For me, that’s always a cardigan! 🧥)
2. Choir Karaoke Day 🎤
On days like "Decades Day" or "Throwback Day," hold a quick karaoke session 🎶 where students sing songs from the decade they’re representing. It’s lighthearted and still musical!
3. Choreography Challenge 💃
If students are too distracted for regular rehearsals, switch gears. Have them work on fun, quick choreography to their concert pieces or popular songs that match the day’s theme. It’s engaging and still keeps them thinking about music!
4. Pajama Day Warm-Up 😴🎶
On Pajama Day, do a “Relaxation Warm-Up” focused on breathing exercises and stretches 🧘♀️. It’ll help students relax and get ready to rehearse calmly and focused.
5. Incorporate the Theme into Rehearsal 🎯
On a day like "Sports Day" 🏈, use sports metaphors to teach choir concepts like teamwork, timing, and precision. You can even divide the choir into sections and make them “teams” for a friendly competition!
6. Student Takeover 👩🎓👨🎓
Let your choir officers or student leaders take over part of the rehearsal or lead a warm-up on one of the dress-up days. It’s a great leadership opportunity, and students love seeing their peers in charge!
7. Social Media Fun 📸
Snap pictures of your choir students participating in Spirit Week and share them on your choir’s social media accounts 📱. It’s a great way to build visibility for your program and show that your choir knows how to have fun! Pro Tip for HS teachers: Be sure to keep those older grade level pictures handy for when the students are seniors! It is a hoot to randomly pull out an old picture. The kids love it!
8. Themed Singing Activities 🦸♀️
On days like "Superhero Day," ask your students to share their "choir superpowers." For example, "My superpower is singing perfectly with the altos!" 🦸♂️ It’s a creative way to connect their personalities with their musical skills.
9. Playlist Party 🎧
Create a collaborative playlist where students can add their favorite songs. Use it as background music during passing periods or downtime, and make it match the day’s dress-up theme 🎶!
These are just a few ways to turn the craziness of Homecoming or Spirit Week into a time for connection and creativity! Take advantage of the opportunity to build rapport and create lasting memories with your students. 🎉
Happy Singing! 🎤
