“Quaver is teacher-centered and student-centered.”
By Kristin Clark Taylor
Meaningful “A-ha” Moments
When it comes to connecting with her students, Cyndi Chancellor takes no chances.
The elementary music specialist at Laurel Creek Elementary in Fairfield, California, is deeply thoughtful about her approach to teaching music and highly selective about the resources she relies on to get the job done.
“This is my 38th year of teaching, so I know what works,” she says with quiet confidence.
The distinguished educator, who also holds a master’s degree in Educational Technology, describes her first encounter with Quaver as something of an “A-ha!” moment.
“As soon as I saw all the things that Quaver was doing with technology, I thought to myself, ‘This is it!’”
She’s quick to point out, however, that it’s more than just having the technology, but also the thoughtful way Quaver uses the technology that makes it so impactful and effective.
Chancellor also appreciates the versatility of the curriculum.
In addition to holding the title of elementary music specialist, she is the Beginning Band Director in her school.
Using Quaver with her band students, “always creates a higher level of engagement,” she observes.
“Instead of me just standing there and talking, they get to experience music in a different way,” she says.
“As they’re learning rhythm patterns or figuring out the fingering of instruments, I can actually see these concepts coming to life! I see it in their eyes.”
Meaningful “A-ha” moments indeed, when music and learning leap to life.
A Relationship of Trust
“When my students log in and get into their own Quaver accounts, they absolutely love the variety they find,” observes the California educator.
“They particularly love being able to create their own avatars, and they know how to make their avatars look just like them!”
Creating this kind of interaction personalizes student learning and builds trust, Chancellor says.
Another way that Quaver creates such an authentic and enduring connection, she observes, is by ensuring that all students feel seen and heard.
“Every now and then, my kids will notice a slight inconsistency with a character or a song,” she says with a smile in her voice, “and whenever they do, they immediately come to me – that’s how well they know the curriculum!”
When Chancellor reaches out “to the good folks at Quaver” to share her students’ observations, “they listen, they evaluate, and then not long afterward – boom! – they’ve made the adjustment!”
This kind of quick response and follow-up “makes my students feel like their input really matters.”
It tells her something else, too.
Quaver listens.
QuaverMusic lessons contain movement videos, activities, interactives, games, and assignments. Assessments are built into the lesson structure to offer another way for teachers to measure skills.
Confidence in the Classroom
Without a doubt, QuaverMusic’s overall impact is positive, powerful, and perhaps even profound – and Chancellor provides the proof.
“We recently had a new teacher in the classroom who’d never seen the curriculum before,” Chancellor explained, “so she was really observing Quaver closely.”
To provide additional insight, Chancellor says she asked her students to share with the new teacher some of the things they liked best about Quaver.
“Suddenly, all these hands shot up in the air, and everyone had something to say!”
“It was interesting,” Chancellor notes, “because students from every grade level wanted to share what they loved about Quaver, whether it was a favorite character, a game, or a song!”
Chancellor says that other educators in her school have also taken note.
“I had another teacher in my district tell me she can spot the Quaver students because they always come into her classroom prepared and confident,” Chancellor comments.
While all students have the same promise and potential, she adds, having Quaver in the classroom helps unleash that potential in wonderfully unique ways.
Throughout the great state of California, extraordinary educators like Cyndi Chancellor are reaching for resources like QuaverMusic to bring learning to life and create exciting “A-ha!” moments of learning and inspiration.
Want to make meaningful moments like these in your classroom?
Go to QuaverEd.com/Music to find out how!
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and an editor.
***
