Submitted by Stephanie Menefee, Tacoma, Washington

Idea posted January 13, 2003

I teach music in a public Montessori school, so all but one of our classrooms is multiage (versus split). I have been using Recorder Karate as a part of my 4/5 curriculum for the last month or so. Since I started using Recorder Karate, I have noticed the following things:

  1. Students who are normally highly disruptive or "problem students" are not only paying attention and participating in class, but are coming in to test for belts at lunch recess! What a terrific side effect!
  2. At the winter program, I had all but 10 students in the 4th and 5th grades show up (that is 80%), and I have never had that good of a turnout at a program.
  3. Even with 30 kids opting to come in at lunch recess, it still stays sane, and I have received compliments on how nice it sounds. The kids are working together in small groups, and some kids are even helping other students who are behind in the belts (going back to a song previously learned!).
  4. Students who struggle academically are successful and they realize it. I hear, "I got it this time!" and see huge smiles from these kids as they get the song.

I am so glad I found this method. It's so much better than just teaching BAG songs and the accompaniments help make it music.