Start the Year Off With Your Walk Up Song!
Ever been to baseball game and heard the different songs that play when each new baseball player takes the plate? The songs represent the player's feelings, goals, and personality. I had the privilege of hearing Stephanie Harvey at ILA this year. In her talk about striving readers, she suggested finding out each students' "walk up" song. I investigated this practice and learned that the walk up song in baseball is an important ritual of getting ready to knock it out of the park. It represents the players persona, intentions, attitude, and much more! Hearing it gives them confidence and focus.
So, what's your walk up song as a teacher this year? My walk up song is "Something Big" by Shawn Mendes. I love the lines "Something big I feel it happening/Out of my control/Push and pull and then it's grabbing me/Feel it in my bones like." It reminds me that good things are all around me and to keep the faith. I feel that if I do my part, God's got the rest. Whenever I'm nervous or needing a boost of confidence, this is my jam.
Each MLB Baseball team has their team playlist listed on their website. Check out the New York Yankees or Texas Rangers playlist for inspiration!
How Do We Use Walk Up Songs in Our Classroom?
Walk up songs are a great tool for building relationships in the first weeks of school!
Ask students to tell you what they want their walk up song to be! Students can brainstorm songs that they enjoy and that illustrate their goals, personality, and theme statement of the year. Have students write a short expository piece explaining the song, what is says to them, and how it changes their thinking when they hear it. This is a great first piece of writing for the year. Be sure to look at it as a baseline expository writing piece.
As students walk into the classroom each morning play one of their walk up songs. Ask the student who chose that song to explain what the song means to them.
Music is great as a transition cue. Most songs are 3-5 minutes long. Use the music to cue students to clean up, turn in work, or prepare for the next part of the instruction.
We all need brain breaks and time to stand and stretch. Playing upbeat music can do the trick. Great songs can help reduce tension and get our brains ready to refocus and move on. And that student who comes in and puts their head down? What is his/her walk up song? This might be what he/she needs to wake up.
Take Songs a Step Further!
Take walk on songs to the next level and use one a week as a mentor text, close reading text, or fluency karaoke warm up. The possibilities are endless!
Check out our Youtube playlist for some walk up song suggestions!