It's Ok To Disagree

I have been living a myth. For some reason, I thought that being a brilliant teacher meant that no one disagreed with you. Now, I don't claim to be a brilliant teacher, but I was reaching for this unattainable level. I am not sure where this idea came from, but I have learned that it is simple not true.

Disagreeing does not include putting others down, being rude or thinking someone is wrong. We all have opinions and sometimes those opinions do not align with each other. The beautiful thing is that these moments can lead to great conversations, which in turn make us better teachers and people.

One of the hardest things for me is to to not take disagreements personally. I try to teach my students this too. Another person's opinion does not mean you are doing something wrong or are a bad person. I do not like conflict, so I always ran from these conversations. Disagreeing should not feel like conflict, so it is very important to keep tone in mind and choose words carefully. Disagreeing is fine, but we want these conversations to be a positive experience.

I challenge you to disagree with people. When someone asks for your opinion, tell them what you honestly believe and then explain to them why you think the way you do. This conversation is an opportunity for both people to grow.

Ways to be a Music Advocate

It has come to the point this year where I realized that I can either sit back and complain or I can do everything in my power to show the power and importance of music education. Honestly, I am tired of complaining, so I have decided to do something about it. I realize I am only one person, but I want my students to have the best music education possible. They deserve that from me. I am not going to leave it up to anyone else to advocate for music.

Ways I am going to be an Advocate for Music...

1. Being active during Music in our Schools Month. 
2. Keeping an up to date website full of information, pictures, videos and projects. I want parents to be aware of what their child is learning in music.
3. Performing at Grandparent's Day.
4. Share Day

As a Music Teacher, I Would Like You to Know...

Important things to know about the time your child spends in my music classroom.

1. You may see just a game, but I am teaching valuable skills: singing in tune as a group, keeping a steady beat, cooperation, team work, dynamics, gross motor skills and listening.
2. You may see us playing instruments, but I am teaching goal setting, team work, learning from failure and work ethic.
3. You see us clapping rhythms and singing patters, but I am teaching listening skills, working as part of a group and coordination.
4. You see us playing band instruments, but I am teaching dedication, work ethic, fine motor skills and coordination.

Advice for New Teachers

This will be an every going post, as I think of advice and tips to add to this list. Here is advice I have been given or learned the hard way through my experiences in education.

1. Remember it is always about the kids.
2. You can't make someone believe something they don't want to.
3. Be prepared to be miss understood.
4. To many (not all) music, art and PE exist so "real teachers" can have prep.
5. Relationships are what matter. Get to know your students and coworkers. Play with your students in PE or at Recess and go to their concerts/games. They want to know you care about them.
6. Be nice to the secretaries and custodians.
7. Listen more then you talk (at least at first).
8. Be a sponge and try to get better every day.
9. Be ready to advocate for your job.
10. Say thank you and remember your manners.
11. Focus on your kids. There is no better advocacy then students going home and being excited about your class.
12. Use your talents and strengths.
13. Make your classroom unique. You want your students to remember their time in your room.
14. Your job is as much about teaching music as it is about proving why music is important.

Music in Our Schools Month

For whatever reason, this is the first year in my four years of teaching that I have really done anything for Music in our Schools Month. This year, I really felt a need to do different things and demonstrate what we are doing in music to parents and the community.

This is what we are doing this month...
1. Mini performance- 2nd thru 4th graders are performing a dance during our Grandparent's Day assembly.
2. Share Day-this is an opportunity for students to play an instrument or to sing for their classmates. We focus on traits of both a performer and an audience member.
3. Favorite things tree-Each student wrote their favorite thing about music on a leaf. They cut then out and out then on the tree on our door. It was great to find out what they really like about class. This information helps me make class even better.

What is this Feeling?

I recently read a Twitter post that stated "Teachers who say they are burned out were probably never on fire to begin with." This comment struck me and honestly I was a bit offended, so I have spent time reflecting on it. This is my fourth year teaching and I think it is the most stressful so far. To be fair, there have been a lot of changes. This summer I moved 3000 miles, was married, started a new job and teach middle school chorus for the first time. All f this happened within a span of about three months, so it has been a bit of an adjustment.

What is burn out? I hear teachers use the word and I have used it myself, but what does it really mean? This year I have felt exhausted and frustrated. Upon further reflection I have learned that for me burn out is when I get too wrapped up in things I cannot control. When this happens I force myself to focus on my students and my classroom. These positive thoughts are usually enough to get energized and excited about teaching again.

What causes you to feel "burned out" and how do you cure it?

Listening to my Students

We study a new composer each month and I like to find a different project to conclude each unit. For Bach each student made an About Bach Poster, for Beethoven we watched the movie "Beethoven Lives Upstairs." I have the book "Let's Meet Famous Composers" by Harriet Hinghorn, Jacqueline Badman and Lisa Lewis-Spicer and it gives information about 19 composers and gives specific project ideas for each composer. The suggested project for Mozart was to write funny little songs like he did as a kid.

In my mind, I saw this as being a simple little project. I have learned this year that students do better when you give them basic guidelines and let them have freedom to make choices on how they want to complete the project. My students asked if they could have partners and after talking about expectations, I agreed. The projects they turned in are amazing to me. All students participated and they all went different directions. Some wanted to rap, some wanted to make up rhyming words, some created piggy back songs from popular radio and some students just wrote about something they like. In about 20 minutes of work time, most students wrote a half page song. One group was even starting to figure out rhythms.

Do you ask for your students opinions on projects? Do you ask for their ideas on how to make things better in your classroom? It is a scary idea, but I believe it impacts the quality of work they complete.