The beginning of each new year brings lots of fun challenges and exciting opportunities. Right now, my brain is swimming with ideas about programs, scheduling, sharing resources with other teachers in my district, procedure for behavior, trying out new techniques, purchasing, and so much more. ...
“Kids in Motion” is a CD that I was introduced to during my student teaching and is a resource that I go back to again and again. I’ll admit, this album is pretty old and one of MANY on the list of great resources made by creative partners Greg & Steve, but it’s one of...
Well there might be product displays at every Target, Walmart, and Office Max from here to Toledo, but I will NOT at this moment admit that it’s almost “the time that shall not be named.” There can be decorations of backpacks and yellow school busses in every window, but I’...
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 Camp, and this last week I was ...
After a week-long class about critical thinking in the art/theater/music classroom I was inspired! We had been talking about all the ways that arts education addresses every level of Bloom’s Taxonomy and music education in particular encourages strategic thinking in students. I realize tha...
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 do well this last ...
At the end of the school year you’re exhausted. It’s all you can do to pack away your instruments and materials, input thousands of grades, get through field day/field trips/special assemblies, and make it out the door to summer freedom. You deserve time in the summer to relax and re...
OMGoodness, don’t you love that it’s already May! I can’t believe the school year is almost over… or at least I say that when my principal is around. Truthfully, I’m excited for summer and all the new learning, relaxation, and project time that it brings. I wi...
If you’ve followed my blog so far, you know that I work really hard to make students excited about playing the recorder. Students have to really buy in to the idea to want to work on it, otherwise they won’t practice or advance. One of the most effective things that I’ve done i...
Through the blessings of so many people, I have been able to really build up the number of barred percussion “Orff” instruments in my classroom. When I came to this school we had two soprano metallophones and a bass xylophone and now there are nearly 14 instruments of all different typ...
Trombones, trombones, trombones of all sizes! This video features the “German Brass” ensemble, a talented musical group which is comprised of members of major German symphony orchestras and professors at univers...
I will admit, I spend a lot of time on Pinterest browsing ideas, getting inspiration, and seeing how other teachers decorate and plan for teaching. Pinterest can be a really great tool to help you plan for your own classroom and inspire you to try new things. Why not share some of the great idea...