Submitted by Tari, Ohio
Idea posted August 23, 2001
In a way back issue of Music K-8 there was an article on SQUILT in the Network section [by Jan Applegate, Music K-8, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 6. See SQUILT in the MusicK8.com index for more articles,ed.]. SQUILT stands for Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time.
I have SQUILT time at the end of each class (second through sixth grades). It usually lasts for two minutes. I play the same selection for the entire school for 2 weeks (four music classes). In a long piece I sometimes skip to play the middle and the end because they always want to hear how it ends! During my SQUILT there are no visuals. I do keep a large list of what our SQUILT pieces have been, the composer and dates, and the type of group performing (orchestra, piano, band etc.) and we discuss the piece's relationship to history when appropriate. The students must keep their hands in their laps and listen as if they were part of an audience.
I take this time to evaluate each child's progress during class that day.
I've had SQUILT for two years and my gradebook has never looked better! The kids came to LOVE SQUILT in about two weeks. They absolutely will not let me forget it. The classroom teachers often come in and sit down also. A few of them have gone to stores and asked where the SQUILT music could be found!