We are beginning a new school year which is a new opportunity to begin using classical music in the classrooms during class, in the hallways, in the lunchroom, and on school buses to and from school. Classical music played in the background helps students learn to relax, allowing them to concentrate and do a better job on their work. The new school year is also a wonderful opportunity to start learning a musical instrument to learn discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Studying a musical instrument develops millions of new connections, synapses, between nerve cells in the brain. Many of the world’s scientists, doctors, teachers, authors and mathematicians are also musicians.

Start preparing now for your first day of school. Dr. Frank’s, “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!” are included in this newsletter with her “10 Secrets to Stop Students Boredom, Inspire Them & Make Them Smarter”.

Dr. Madeline Frank’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for August 2013

Can playing Classical Music in the background of your classroom help your students to concentrate and do better work in your classroom?

https://madelinefrankviola.com/madelines-one-minute-radio-show/

Our blog features Elizabeth Hamilton a master teacher for over 45 years, a former principal in public and private schools for 6 years in grades k-12, and an expert in teaching “Character” to students in public and private schools in grades k-12 for over 20 years. During the past 12 years, she has written and published more than 20 books on “Character Building” as well as hundreds of articles. Thousands of public and private schools around the world are using these materials to make amazing, positive changes in their students.

Mrs. Hamilton please define what “Character” is and write a line on what the first step on developing “Character ” would be to add to our “First Day of School Script” for teachers in their “Procedures and Rules” .

Mrs. Hamilton: “Character is knowing the right thing to do, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, and taking the consequences for what you do. The first step to develop character from the First Day of School is to teach that definition, and challenge students to build walls of character around themselves in the weeks ahead.”

Mrs. Hamilton’s web site for teachers to order downloadable books, complete lesson plans, activities, crafts, and many other materials for developing “Character”:

http://character-in-action.com/

Dr. Frank’s, “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!”

  1. 1. Effective teachers and administrators agree to have an assignment on the board for students to start on the second they walk into the new classroom. “A well-planned lesson eliminates 90% of discipline problems.”Before your first day of school have your “First Day of School Script” ready with the “Procedures” you will use for your class and implement them by rehearsing your class until all the students know your procedures and understand them. ( Example: What is your procedure for students having a cell phone in class? In your “Procedures” include Mrs. Hamilton’s definition of “Character”. “Character is knowing the right thing to do, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, and taking the consequences for what you do. The first step to develop character from the First Day of School is to teach that definition, and challenge students to build walls of character around themselves in the weeks ahead.” Remember to decide your rule for each of your procedures and teach them to your class on the first day of school. ) Harry K. Wong and Rosemary Wong’s book “How to be an Effective Teacher the First Days of School” is a must read for all teachers’. Here are a few of the Wong’s articles:“Effective teaching”: http://teachers.net/wong/FEB09/ For Elementary School Routines & Procedure Power PT. click on middle of the page for power pt.)

    “A First Day of School Script” http://teachers.net/wong/JUN00/

    “Teaching Procedures is Teaching Expectations” says, H. & R. Wong http://teachers.net/wong/JUN02/“Stress Free Teacher” (Middle School): http://teachers.net/wong/FEB02/

    Middle School/High School script: http://teachers.net/wong/MAR03/page_2.html

    The Wong’s say “The First Five Minutes are Critical”: http://teachers.net/wong/NOV00/ 

    Have your smile in place, your student’s seat assignments ready, and your first assignment on the board for the students to get started immediately after sitting down and have your classical music on in the background.)* School starts the first minute the students enter for the new school year. Be prepared! Start preparing and rehearsing this summer. Remember students need to feel safe and secure! They need rules.

  2. Before the first day of school decide how you are to dress for success in bright colors to get your students attention. Remember first impressions are the most important.
  3. Do you remember the middle school and high school Chemistry and Math teachers playing Classical Mozart Symphonies in the background of their classes and how much better behaved and smarter the students became? Well you can do this too! Put on your Classical music and help your students get smarter and work faster.
  4. Don’t just lecture tell a story. Make the material visual. Be creative by becoming a teaching artist! Example: Dr. Madeline Frank’s “Musical Notes On Math”, teaching fractions and decimals to children in K-5 through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent-to-Parent Adding Wisdom Award. https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math/
  5. Make your course come alive. Make it fun to learn. Remember that Alicia Keys and Dr. Condoleezza Rice both studied the piano learning Classical music and skipping grades in high school. They were both at the top of their high school classes all through school because they played Classical music every day. Playing Classical music made them smarter! Dr. Albert Einstein was able to win his Noble Peace Prize and make his scientific discoveries by playing Classical music on his violin or piano every day. Dr. Judith Resnik astronaut and electrical engineer made perfect scores on her SAT’s through playing her Classical piano music every day for one hour. Louis Armstrong learned Classical music on his cornet at age 13 and his life was changed forever! Your students can be smarter too by playing Classical music every day!
  6. Involve your students in your course by posing a problem and helping them solve it! Make them into detectives. (Sherlock Holmes and his side kick Dr. Watson) Help your students work cooperatively. (In a musical String Quartet members work together cooperatively with set goals and without violence.) Put on your Classical music to help your students concentrate better.
  7. Help your students gain self-esteem and self-worth by showing them kindness & patience.
  8. Romayne Leader Frank, Mother, friend, Family Advocate, teacher, & Lawyer, always said “every child has one gift.” Find that gift and accentuate it!
  9. Dr. Frank’s favorite saying is “every student is a gem in the raw.” Start with that thought and work with your students. Believe that each of your students, on the first day of school, wants to learn your course and desires to learn.
  10. Does anyone here like to work? No, then make it fun to learn. Put on your Classical music! © 2013 Madeline Frank

For all students from Dr. Frank’s “10 Secrets to Stop Students Boredom Inspire Them & Make Them Smarter”

  1. Have your Classical music on your CD or iPod to improve concentration. Stay focused, relaxed and remember more. On your first day of work, school or shopping have your materials ready…paper, pencils, pens, notebooks, and calculators. Be prepared! Be on time! Don’t be late! Have a smile on your face and put your best foot forward.
  2. Dress for success. Remember first impressions are the most important.
  3. Be a detective like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson! Think of the right question by putting your classical music on to help you think better like Einstein, Schweitzer, Condoleezza Rice, Judith Resnik, Louis Armstrong and Alicia Keys.
  4. We remember the stories of Albert Einstein, Louis Armstrong and Condoleezza Rice. Their stories are easy to remember and with humor the story is even more powerful and visual. So, use stories to help you remember and put on your Classical music to help you get smarter.
  5. Romayne Leader Frank, Mother, friend, Family Advocate, teacher & Lawyer, always said “every child has one gift.” Find that gift by playing classical music!
  6. Dr. Frank’s favorite saying is “every student is a gem in the raw.” Each of you is a gem! Believe in yourselves and put on your Classical music to help you!
  7. Do you remember the workers at IBM, Audi, AT & T, and Hallmark and how they grew calmer and were able to concentrate more and work faster and more accurately through listening to Classical music? Well you can do it too! Put on your Classical music CD.
  8. Do you remember the middle school and high school Chemistry and Math teachers playing Classical Mozart Symphonies in the background of their classes and how much smarter the students became? Well you can do this too! Put on your Classical music and get smarter and work faster!
  9. Remember that Alicia Keys and Dr. Condoleezza Rice both studied the piano learning Classical music and skipping grades in high school. They were both at the top of their high school classes all through school because they played Classical music every day. Playing Classical music made them smarter! Dr. Albert Einstein was able to win his Noble Peace Prize and make his scientific discoveries by playing Classical music on his violin or piano every day. Dr. Judith Resnik astronaut and electrical engineer made perfect scores on her SAT’s through playing her Classical piano music every day for one hour. Louis Armstrong learned Classical music on his cornet at age 13 and his life was changed forever! You can be smarter too by playing Classical music every day!
  10. Dr. Frank asks her students to remember one thing “If I take this action will it make me proud?

© 2013 Madeline Frank

Dr. Frank’s 10 Powerful Secrets of her Non-Invasive Medicine…Music

  1. Research shows that children and adults study better and get higher grades on tests while listening to Mozart and Bach.
  2. Studies show that shoppers buy more things while listening to Classical Music.
  3. Play Classical music in classrooms for better concentration.
  4. Play Classical music in school cafeterias for a calmer lunch period.
  5. Play Classical music on buses to make school buses safer.
  6. Parents make sure Bach and Mozart are on your child’s iPod.
  7. Play classical music in the hallways while students are changing classes.
  8. Numerous studies have shown that students studying musical instruments for extended periods do up to 20% higher on achievement tests- IOWA, CTBS, and SAT than students not studying musical instruments.
  9. To help someone you love remember, play the music they love best!
  10. To lesson tremors and improve balance and movement, play a loved one’s favorite dance music and have them move to it. © 2013 Madeline Frank

Classical music has the power to organize the brain while listening to it as background music while you are doing your homework, to help you relax after a hard day of work or while doing exercises. Begin listening or playing your musical instrument for 30 minutes at a time. It helps because of its highly developed mathematics and therefore exercises the brain as physical exercise exercises the body. For more scientific evidence, medical evidence, test results, and true stories of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians who have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. “The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. Click on the link:

https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/the-secret-of-teaching-science-and-math-through-music/

“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award. For more information click on the following link:

https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math/

For Tips on how to use “Musical Notes On Math” click on the following link: https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/pg47.pdf

Mrs. I, a fourth grade teacher, lists below how she used Dr. Frank’s creative tips from “The Teacher’s 11 Secrets to Success” and “10 Secrets to Stop Students Boredom, Inspire Them & Make Them Smarter” during her August-Dec. 2008 public school classes.”

  1. Mrs. I began preparing for her new students, a month before the semester began, by studying their files, to more effectively deal with their problems.
  2. On the very first day of school, students were informed about procedures and practiced them.
  3. Mrs. I dressed appropriately and at times dressed to reflect the theme of the lesson or story.
  4. Mrs. I prepared daily so that time was spent on learning activities and not preparation during school time.
  5. She encourages her students to do well and gives examples that students can relate to of why it is important to do well and stay in school.
  6. Students know that Mrs. I take’s an interest in them and tries to see the good in each student and looks for positive things to say about her students.
  7. Classical music is played. This helps students quiet down, stay calm, and focus more on their work with fewer distractions. They really enjoy the Classical music and ask for it.
  8. Students are spoken to in private, concerning behavioral issues and are not embarrassed in front of other students.
  9. Cooperative learning groups and differentiation are used in the classroom. Students get to be a part of completing tasks successfully as a group in a fun but challenging atmosphere.
  10. Articulation, inflection, and timing are encouraged when reading and when learning key phrases and clues.

Mrs. I says “that by using Dr. Frank’s tips, a classroom environment is created where students want to come to school. They enjoy learning, and every child finds a measure of success.”

A recent survey asked public school students in grades 5-12, what characteristics make a good teacher. Many students said a good teacher “is passionate about their subject, has the intelligence to inspire students to learn by keeping the class material fresh and interesting by making the class seem to go by faster and getting all the students involved.” A good teacher “listens and cares about their students never raising their voice and is willing to help any student who needs help.” A good teacher “thoroughly explains the subject matter is always patient and never makes fun of any student. A good teacher has a good sense of humor and tells good jokes to help teach the material.”

On August 1, 2013   /   2013, Madeline's Monthly Blog Archive