For this post I decided to learn Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and add an audio recording at the end! I’m still learning so it’s not the best, but I hope you enjoy! I used this really simple video to follow along and practice with.
This song could be used in an elementary classroom, especially younger grades like K-3. This is a great song for group activity and transitions!
This was a very simple song to learn and only uses 2 chords! Most of the song is played by only using the strings, which are G, C, E, A.
First chord is F, where you hold your pointer finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
Second chord is D, where you place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
AI is a pretty consistent topic in our course, so, I decided to look through our Mattermost chat and found this poster that really interested me. I find it weird to think about the fact that this poster is used in an elementary setting. When I was in elementary school, this was never something that was talked about because it wasn’t affecting us as much, and that was less than a decade ago. Now there are posters telling kids to keep their information private, use AI as a “helper,” check if it’s wrong or biased, and ask teachers if they’re confused. It really hit me how fast things have changed and how deeply AI has become a part of everyday school life.
In one of our classes we all had the chance to share our opinions on AI being used in an elementary setting, and I found it really interesting to hear everyone’s perspectives. I noticed that my own opinion kept changing as I listened to other poeple. Some people were excited about the possibilites and how it could be used, and others strongly disagreed with the idea and said AI should not have a place in elementary schools. I can’t fully agree or disagree because on one hand you don’t want kids to lose their creativity and thinking skills, but AI and technology are everywhere now so pretending it doesn’t exist isn’t realistic either.
I think that this poster is age appropriate and a helpful tool for kids. It reminds kids to be safe, use other tools, and still add their own ideas instead of just copying what AI says. But at the same time, it kind of shocks me that we need this in schools now. It shows how much AI has impacted not just society in general, but education specifically. As a future teacher, it honestly worries me a bit, because it’s something I will always need to look out for and teach my students how to use AI properly and safely. I won’t just be teaching them subjects like math and writing, I’ll also be teaching them how to question what AI tells them, use it as a tool instead of a shortcut, and still trust their own ideas and thinking.
This week I worked on getting better at strumming and switching chords smoothly. I used a short TikTok video that showed some easy down-up srtumming patterns, which was a lot better than watching a long tutorial video. I practiced a few times this week, usually for about 30 minutes. The hardest part was keeping rhythm while moving between the chords C, G, Am, and F, but once I slowed it down, it started to sound better.
The main thing I noticed was how much smoother it sounds when I relax and don’t overthink it. Switching chords isn’t perfect yet, but it’s getting easier each time. I liked the TikTok video because it explained things quickly and clearly, and I could follow along right away. It’s nice when things start sounding clean instead of all over the place, it makes it more fun to keep practicing.
I’ve been realizing how important it is to stay patient with myself. It’s easy to get frustrated when I mess up, but that’s part of learning. At my Link2Practice school, I saw a teacher play guitar and sing with our grade 1/2 class, and it made me realize I could use the ukulele in my own teaching. Even though the song was in French and my class is an English class, the students were still super engaged. It showed me how music can make learning fun and build a sense of community in the classroom.
I’m slowly starting to feel more comfortable playing the ukulele. My goal is just to keep things sounding cleaner and more consistent each week. I can already notice a difference each time I play, and I’m excited to keep going.
Photo taken by Charlie’s Mom on Iphone. Used with permission.
For my inquiry project, I decided I want to learn how to play the ukulele. I played the ukulele when I was younger, and I’ve always wanted to get back into it, so I thought this was the perfect chance. The ukulele is such a fun instrument and is pretty simple to learn, so I’m excited to be starting! I also think that learning to play the ukulele will be very beneficial in my future classroom.
I grew up surrounded by music and the performing arts, so music has always been a huge part of my life. My love for music is something I have always wanted to incorporate into my future teaching. Throughout elementary school, I was part of a ukulele group called Little Ukers, and I remember feeling so proud and excited to perform for the parents. By the end of the semester, I hope to feel the same way, excited and proud to show off my new skill.
As much as I think about incorporating the ukulele into my future classroom, my main goal is to find a new hobby that I enjoy and can spend my free time on instead of scrolling on my phone. Life gets too busy and chaotic with work and school that we sometimes forget to take a break and make time for ourselves. I think that gaining this new skill will not only be beneficial but also something that makes me feel good.
My plan each week is to learn a simple skill, like how to hold the instrument properly or play a new chord, and not to overcomplicate it, so it stays realistic and achievable. Each week as I reflect on what I’ve learned, I also want to think about how I can incorporate it into my future teaching. I hope to use this blog as a resource for myself in the future, especially as a way to teach it to kids! By the end of the semester, I hope to know a few simple songs and feel confident saying, “I play the ukulele.”
I’m super excited to not only start but also share this ukulele journey and to see how much progress I can make by the end of the semester.
