Dr. Carrie Cruz is a general music educator in Jefferson County, Alabama and has been teaching since 2001. She received her PhD in music education from Auburn University. She is certified Orff, Kodaly, and has a National Board Certificate in Early/Middle Childhood Music. She is an adjunct professor of trombone and music appreciation. She enjoys watching sports with her two sons and eating tacos.
Learning in Tune: The Power of Music and Movement in the Classroom
May 16, 2025
Written By: Carrie Cruz, NBCT – Hueytown, Alabama Teachers are always searching for ways to make learning more exciting and meaningful for their students. One method gaining popularity in elementary classrooms is integrating music and movement into everyday lessons. While it might seem like just a fun way to break up the day, research shows that using music and movement as instructional tools can significantly boost academic achievement, student engagement, and even social-emotional development (DiDomenico, 2017). The foundation of this approach lies in holistic learning—connecting the cognitive, emotional, and physical aspects of how children learn (Allee et al., 2024). When…
Read More