I believe that music speaks so deeply to us. Do you ever get that one lyric or tune stuck in your head ALL DAY LONG?! Depending on the tone and lyrics of the song, it can put you in a great mood or a not so great one. Why not make sure the tune that’s stuck in our students’ brains sends a powerful message?

Before becoming the technology-lovin’ school administrator I am today, I started my career as a music teacher. I used to carefully select songs that either helped to reinforce academic concepts or songs that I believed uplifted and spoke life into my students. Although I no longer teach music every day, I still know the power that music has and have found one way to harness that power: By playing music over the PA system throughout the school building during arrival.

At Rennell Elementary, we play morning music for 15 minutes each moring – from the time we open up our school doors to welcome kids until the morning announcements begin to signal the start of the instructional day. If you don’t have the power to control your school’s PA system, you can still use these uplifting songs to change moods and reinforce positive messages in your classroom! Here’s our current playlist of positive, uplifting, and motivating songs:

My new favorite artist for songs for school is CJ Luckey!!! Ya’ll! He has amazing positive messages that don’t sound like little kid music – it sounds like good music! Check out his amazingly positive single that promotes a growth mindset “The Power of Yet.”  Watch out – you WILL have this tune stuck in your head all day:

You can download the single on iTunes, but don’t stop there – download his entire C.A.P.S. (Celebrating All Persevering Students) EP! Some seriously GREAT music with GREAT messages for kids. PS – I am in no way affiliated with CJ Luckey – but I am quickly turning into one of his biggest fans!

Our morning playlist also features CJ Luckey’s:

The Famous Mindset

Grit and Resilience

Good Morning

and The Power of Mistakes

Here’s a teaser he released of the upcoming Power of Mistakes music video:

 

We love the positive message in Britt Nicole’s “Gold” with lyrics like:

“This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world

whatever you’ve been told – you’re worth more than GOLD

So hold you’re head up high – it’s your time to shine

From the inside out it shows – you’re worth more than GOLD”

 

Next on our playlist of favorites is Shakira’s “Try Everything” from Disney’s Zootopia.

We love the message to keep trying despite failure – failure is part of learning.

“Birds don’t just fly, they fall down and get up…

I won’t give up, no I won’t give in

’till I reach the end, and then I’ll start again

No I won’t leave

I want to try everything

I want to try even though I could fail”

 

“This is Me” from The Greatest Showman has a great message to be who you are unashamedly with lyrics:

“Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me”

 

We also love to inspire happiness with Pharrell William’s “Happy,”

 

“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors,

 

“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang,

 

and “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves.

 

We also start the day with “Good Morning” by Mandisa & TobyMac.

 

More positive tunes that rotate through our morning music playlist include:

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” bt Justin Timberlake

“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

“Firework” by Katy Perry

“Uptown Funk” by the KIDZ Bop Kids (original version not appropriate for school)

“Pennies from Heaven” by Louis Prima

“When You’re Smiling/The Sheik” by Louis Prima

“I’m a Believer” by the Monkees

“September” from Trolls

and

“ABC” by the Jackson 5

These are our current favorites for getting ourselves and our kids pumped up for a great day of learning. I encourage you to incorporate music into your school and classroom! Music is powerful! The messages resonate deeply within us! Use that power!

What songs would you add to the list? Please leave a comment! I’m always looking for more great music to add to our playlist! 🙂