Measuring Student Growth: 1st grade Singing Voice

In my district teachers are required to show student growth using data through a Student Growth Goal. My growth goal was focused on 1st graders finding singing voice and singing more in tune. Here's how I tracked the student data.


Student Growth Goal:

"All students will improve in their ability to sing in tune with accurate pitch. 70-80% or more will improve by at least one level or maintain the highest level according to the Singing Voice Development Measure, and will improve in the percentage of pitches they sing in tune in their singing test."

This resource gave me my rating scale and most of my songs and patterns. My principal LOVED that what I was doing was based in research!

The Measurement and Evaluation of Children's Singing Voice Development by Joanne Rutkowski

Pretest
On their pretest in October, students echoed patterns in minor tonality, and sang a minor song they had learned.

Song used on pretest (students sang for me individually as others worked in centers):

Patterns students echoed on pretest:

How students were rated in the assessments:

 Singing Voice Development Measure

Joanne Rutkowski's research determined that students progress toward using their singing voice through the following stages. I recorded the students singing with my iPad, and graded each student based on what range they were singing in.

1. Pre-singer – does not sing but chants the song text.

2. Inconsistent Speaking Range Singer – sometimes chants, sometimes sustains tones and exhibits some sensitivity to pitch but remains in the speaking voice range (usually A2 to C3).

3. Speaking Range Singer – sustains tones and exhibits some sensitivity to pitch but remains in the speaking voice range (usually A2 to C3).

4. Inconsistent Limited Range Singer – wavers between speaking and singing voice and uses a limited range when in singing voice (usually up to F3).

5. Limited Range Singer – exhibits consistent use of limited singing range (usually D3 to F3).

6. Inconsistent Initial Range Singer – sometimes only exhibits use of limited singing range, but other times exhibits use of initial singing range (usually D3 to A3).

7. Initial Range Singer – exhibits consistent use of initial singing range (usually D3 to A3).

8. Inconsistent Singer – sometimes only exhibits use of initial singing range, but other times exhibits use of extended singing range (sings beyond the register lift: B3-flat and above).

9. Singer – exhibits use of consistent extended singing range (sings beyond the register lift: B3-flat and above).

Mid-year assessment:

I checked on student range with this song in February. I used this song because it goes above the "Initial Range Singer" range above. Many students had grown to "Singer" level (Level 9 on the scale) by February, many of them even hitting high E's!!!

End-of-year assessment:

Students individually sang patterns, Hello There!, and See the Bird (from pretest) for their final assessment. 

Hello There:

Patterns in post-test: 

So how did it turn out?

The students grew more than I could have imagined!!  100% of students increased or maintained their singing voice level. Here are video examples of just HOW much these students grew!!