- Ditch That Textbook
- Posts
- 🎶 Make custom songs for your class in a minute
🎶 Make custom songs for your class in a minute
Plus: a creative boost, Dot Day and more!
Matt Miller
September 12, 2024
🎧 Create songs about fractions, chemical reactions, etc.
What classroom songs can you remember — as a teacher OR a student?
I created a song to help students remember countries/capitals of Spanish-speaking countries. It was catchy — and I still remember it!
The 50 states song.
The prepositions song.
Music works — to help students remember AND to engage them.
If you agree, then you have to try Suno (suno.com).
How it works:
Describe the content and style of the song you want.
Then click “Create.”
Suno makes the song for you in about a minute.
Click “play” and listen to it. That’s it!
In today’s new post, I share how to use Suno (super easy … get started in a minute)
AND I share 10 ways the songs can be used in the classroom. (You’re going to love it!)
Inside:
📢 NEW Google Classroom Add-on for FigJam!
👀 DTT Digest: Insta template, AI, Google Slides, Dot Day
💡 The Big Idea: Custom songs for class in a minute
💻 Tech Tip: Use MirrorTalk for a creative boost
😄 Smile of the day: TRULY alphabetical order
👋 How we can help
📢 NEW Google Classroom Add-on for FigJam!
🎉Exciting news from the team at Figma for Education - there is now a FigJam add-on for Google Classroom!
This integration allows you to seamlessly assign, collect, and grade FigJam files, all without leaving Classroom—making FigJam a natural part of your Google workflow and saving valuable time ⏳
If you haven’t already started using FigJam, now is the time. It's easier than ever!
As you gear up to say good-bye to Jamboard on October 1st, the new FigJam add-on can help make your transition a bit smoother:
🔗 Install it today in the Workspace Marketplace
🚀 Learn the in’s and outs of the add-on with Figma's new tutorial
✅ Review the installation guide for more details
🧠 If you haven’t already, don’t forget to import your Jamboard files into fully editable FigJams
👀 DTT Digest
4 teaching resources worth checking out today
📸ICYMI Insta-Style Profile Template — This is a quick and easy way to make learning feel like a place that students are very familiar with — Instagram!
🕹️Use AI to create your review games even faster — Ever make review games with Kahoot, Quizizz, Quizlet Live, Gimkit or Blooket? AI can help you make them faster. In this video I share some of my faves.
🤷🏾Who am I? — In this Google Slides activity students will explore their identities by reflecting on their personal traits, interests, and experiences.
⚫️ Get ready for Dot Day! — Celebrate Dot Day on September 15th with this activity choice board from Shannon McClintock Miller.
💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡
🎶 10 ways to use custom Suno songs in the classroom
Think about whatever you need to teach students next.
What if you made a custom song to help teach it?
Fractions. Chemical reactions. The electoral college. (Or even a quick song about a student to celebrate their birthday.)
Go to Suno (suno.com). Describe the song. Click “Create.”
Then, in about a minute, click play.
That’s it. It’s that easy. Go try it. Start to finish: it’ll take three minutes.
Bonus: there are SO many ways you can use it in class.
I’ve been sharing Suno in my AI teacher workshops all over the country for about a year now. It always grabs teachers’ attention!
FYI: The free version is really, really good. You can make up to 10 songs PER DAY with it.
How can I use Suno in class?
Try any of these ideas out. Use Suno to write a song for …
a character in a book or history
an event in history
an abstract concept (like the water cycle or balancing equations)
classroom transitions (clean-up, time to go to art)
your class — a class anthem!
your students as a birthday gift
ambient music for studying or work time
a student-written story
school or community events (like a big basketball game)
background music for student video projects
The list goes on and on and on …
💻 TECH TIP 💻
🚀 Give students a Creative Boost with MirrorTalk!
This is one of my absolute favorite MirrorTalk activities! The creative booster combines design thinking questions with creative boosting reflection prompts.
What is it?
Get a boost of inspiration on something that you’d like to create. Reflect through a series of guided design thinking questions that will help you with the creative boost you need to start creating.
When can you use this in class?
Before a project. Ask students to brainstorm their ideas with the help of AI.
During a project or paper. This is a powerful time to reflect and plan ahead. Teach your students how to stop and adjust as they are working.
And that’s just ONE of the many amazing activities ready for you to use in the MirrorTalk activities library.
How to get started with MirrorTalk:
Visit MirrorTalk using my special link to create an account -- and get a whole year of premium for free!
Follow the prompts to create your FREE account
Start your first reflection in your personal space by responding to the AI-generated prompts
Level up with Mirror hardware!
Mirror is a DEVICE, too: That’s the white rectangle the students are interacting with in the image above. It’s a durable tablet that leads students through MirrorTalk activities. It’s great for small groups and station rotation.
Want to try one out in your classroom? Fill out this demo form and you can have one within a week.
👀 Learn more about MirrorTalk: Check out our first post how to use it — Build meaningful reflection into class in minutes with MirrorTalk
😄 Smile of the day
Meet your “think outside the box” kid. 💡
h/t Teacher Related via Teacher Memes Facebook group
👋 How we can help
There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:
Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.
Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.
Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!
What did you think of today's newsletter?Choose the best fit for you ... |