85 Positive Songs for Teachers to Use in the Classroom
I’m a music fanatic, and I love having a song playing as the students enter the classroom. The right song helps students to come into class feeling good about life and ready to learn.
An opening song is also a great signal device to start class. I usually have an entry task on the overhead, and my students know that it needs to be completed by the time the song ends.
Here’s my current list of the positive songs I use:
(The first thing you need to know is that my absolute favorite song of all time is “Over the Rainbow,” so I play that song quite a bit. I have over sixty covers of the song, from country to alternative to dance remix versions, and everything in between.)
[Update: Click on songs to listen to samples or to buy from Amazon.com]
All American Rejects, “Move Along ”
Bachman Turner Overdrive, “Takin’ Care of Business”
The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”
The Beatles
Natasha Bedingfield, “Unwritten”
Chris Cagle, “What a Beautiful Day”
Chicago, “25 or 6 to 4”
Petula Clark, “Downtown”
Coldplay
- “Clocks“
- “Speed of Sound“
- “Square One“
Sheryl Crow, “Soak Up the Sun”
Hilary Duff, “Shine”
Electric Light Orchestra
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Gloria Estefan, “Get on Your Feet”
Five for Fighting
- “100 Years“
- “The Riddle“
Fleetwood Mac, “Don’t Stop”
John Fogerty, “Sugar Sugar”
The Go-Gos, “We Got the Beat”
Goo Goo Dolls, “Better Days”
Green Day, “Time of Your Life”
Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Linus and Lucy”
High School Musical
Enrique Iglesias, “Hero”
Jars of Clay
Jimmy Eat World, “The Middle”
Joe Jackson, “Steppin’ Out”
Katrina and the Waves, “Walking on Sunshine”
Mat Kearney, “Nothing Left to Lose”
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”
Kenny Loggins, “I’m All Right”
Martina McBride, “This One’s for the Girls”
Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dyin’”
Jo Dee Messina, “Dare to Dream”
Hannah Montana
Randy Newman, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
Nichole Nordeman, “Legacy”
Tom Petty
Dan Powter, “Bad Day”
The Pretenders, “I’ll Stand by You”
Rascall Flatts, “Life Is a Highway”
Relient K, “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been”
Sister Sledge, “We Are Family”
Sly and the Family Stone, “Everyday People”
Smash Mouth, “All Star”
Starship, “We Built This City”
The Stray Cats, “Rock This Town”
Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger”
Switchfoot
Train, “When I Look to the Sky”
The Turtles, “Happy Together”
U2
Van Halen
Jaci Velasquez, “We Can Make a Difference”
The Wailin’ Jennys, “One Voice”
John Williams
- Olympic Fanfare and Theme
- Main Title from Superman
- Main title from Star Wars
- Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
- March from Raiders of the Lost Ark
Steve Winwood, “While You See a Chance”
Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance”
Weird Al Yankovic
- “The Saga Begins“
- “Ebay“
Other Soundtrack Music
- Theme from The Magnificent Seven
- Theme from Rocky
- Theme from Bonanza
- Theme from Peter Gunn
- Theme from The Pink Panther
Now that you’ve seen my list, tell me your opinion or add your own favorites by leaving a comment below.
This is awesome! My last child of four is graduating high school so I wanted to get something for our HS principle who happens to love music as much as the kids! I’m putting together a cd from our four kids to him to help him get through many more years with students! Great picks, everyone!
Love this list!! I also love music and try to incorporate it into my classroom as much as possible. It shows that you put a lot of sincere thought into this! Wow!
“Speak Life” by TobyMac
Love the list. I use music (and movie clips) with my college level class (as appropriate)
usually, at the beginning of class—- as you noted it creates a climate;;
additions to your list: You’re the one, I’m holding out for a hero and hacuna matata
So where do you store the music you buy? Do you download to your own personal device and play from there?
like ur list, u can also add
Passenger: life is for living
Let her go
Dolly Parton: Coat of many colors,
Westlife: Home
Brave by Sara Baraeilles
Love the list
I would add count on me by Bruno Mars 🙂
Add NEW SHOES by PAOLO NUTINI to your list….your students will be singing and dancing up and down the halls and so will you!
Great list! Also, “Kind and Generous,” “Wonder,” by Natalie Merchant and “These Are Days” by 10,000 Maniacs.
The Mowgli’s “I’m Good”
Love the list, today I played “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. The 8th grade students loved it. Great way to begin the day.
“One Day†by Matsiyehu
I appreciate this valuable and therapeutic approach in the classroom!