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Classroom Ideas

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December 29, 2014

End of Season Sales – What to Look and Ask for

In this time of clearance shopping and crazy crowds, here are a few reasons why you should hop in your car and head to the stores.  Know that this advice is coming from someone who works part-time retail.  I have lived through the picky customers, fussy children, angry tag-along shoppers, […]
Using your classroom pointer for evaluation, critical thinking, and more!
November 26, 2014

Perfect Pointer Pointers

A few years ago I purchased one of those classroom pointers that every teacher seems to have (little pointing hand on a stick) when the book fair came through my school.  The following year I bought another one because it had cooler colors and was just generally awesome.  The problem […]
This blog post gives you ideas and suggestions to make an instrument petting zoo work for your open house or parent teacher conference.
October 23, 2014

Instrument Petting Zoo!  Parent Teacher Conference Day Win!

Parent teacher conference days are always a struggle for me.  I have 500 students and theoretically I could have 500 kiddos and their parents running into my room to ask about grades and standards and concerts.  But that has never really happened.  I’m usually lucky if 10 of those 500 […]
Here are some tips and tricks to help students remember their right from their left.
October 13, 2014

Right and Left – Helping Kids Remember

Every chance that I can, I use little phrases or hand signals to save time.  I try and do everything I can do to streamline my instruction so that I don’t have to reexplain or go back and reteach. I only get 25 minutes twice a week with my kids […]
The Music Education Blog Carnival
October 7, 2014

October Music Education Blog Carnival

A music education blog carnival is a monthly post that links to several new music education blog posts across the web.  These blog posts were compiled from the month of September and feature music teachers from around the world.   Thanks to everyone who has contributed blog posts this month! […]
Firikyiwa - A must-have instrument for the music classroom.
September 30, 2014

Tiny Time Saver – Firikyiwa African Bell Instrument

The Firikyiwa is a percussion instrument from African and is my newest favorite toy/tiny time saver in the music room.  I saw my friend Sarah Lillie use this years ago with her classes and I’ve ALWAYS wanted one.  This year on the requisition cycle I decided that I should spend […]
How to turn off all those extra channels so that when you pull up your Apple TV in class your students won't see them!
September 10, 2014

Apple TV Tiny Trick

How-to shut off Apple TV icons and previews. One of my favorite technology toys to use in the classroom is my Apple TV.  I love it because I can mirror the images on you iPad and show an entire class the picture I took, the APP I’m using, or anything […]
The Master Sticker - Fun Positive Reinforcement Trick
September 1, 2014

The Master Sticker

The “Master Sticker” is a little trick that I happened upon one day when working with my younger kids.  I was pulling the classic “I’m watching and listening and I’m going to give stickers to the kids who I think are really following directions and singing so well!”  We’ve all […]
Teaching students how to take off and put bars on your percussion instruments.
August 23, 2014

Bars On, Bars Off – Learning How to Set the Instruments Correctly

I love using my barred percussion/Orff instruments and I love when students feel proficient playing accompaniments, tapping out melodic patterns, and especially improvising!  What I love ALMOST as much is when students feel good about the procedures of how to hold mallets, how to stand at the instruments, how to […]
August 21, 2014

Orff to see the Wizard, Kodaly borrow your ruby slippers?

One of the things that I love about being a music educator is that there are a ton of ways to teach music to children.  Some of us dwell on rhythm, drums, percussion instruments, and improvisation.  Some people spend the bulk of their time sitting around a guitar or a […]
June 29, 2014

DIY Whale Prop for Concert

I’ve been off the map these last couple weeks because I’ve been so busy doing camps with kids!  A few weeks ago I was teaching music for theater camp with Theater in the Park, then I went home for a camp for abused and neglected kids called Royal Family Kids […]
I want to talk to you about one of the things that’s been in my head this summer as I plan for the new year: assessment.
June 6, 2014

Perfect Poolside Planning – Thinking About Next Year

No teacher every shuts off their “teacher” brain.  Not really.  We’re always thinking about what could change or what great things we want to improve on.  In the summer I like to think ahead to the new school year and also reflect back on the previous year.  What did I […]
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