Cheryl Watts-Plasencia

Watts-Plasencia's "Take Notice" project enables students to improve their reading and math skills through decoding and reading music. The project uses dry-erase boards, markers, music software and world-music drumming instruments as well as woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. After using these objects during classroom instruction, students give performances to demonstrate what they have learned. Students actively encourage parents and community to become involved by interviewing them for possible guest performances. As the project's final step, students attend these performances, evaluate and critique the musicians, and supply the artists with feedback.