Music as a Management Tool in Elementary Physical Education: A Qualitative Investigation

Classroom management is an important aspect for a K–12 teacher in any content area. The same applies in physical education (PE). In PE, there are large spaces, students are moving, and in many cases, equipment (basketballs, rackets, Hula-Hoops, etc.) is involved, thus making PE a unique challenge in regard to classroom management for PE teachers. One tool an elementary PE teacher can use for classroom management is music. For this study, one school administrator, 19 elementary-aged students, and one PE teacher were interviewed about their perceptions of music as a management tool in elementary PE. Findings indicate that students prefer music as a management tool rather than the PE teacher using a whistle or loud voice.