2020Sweet Sounds : 2020

Music Teacher's First Year - Ideas to Save your Sanity

This time of year is usually pretty crazy in the music teacher world - with performances and end of the year activities and field trips, it's all usually a blur by the end of May.

This year, with so many things shut down for the virus, I have a lot more time in the evenings to relax and decompress and think.

I've been thinking about the things that I found helpful as a first year teacher - so I thought I would share them with you!

1. Plan Ahead at School (what you can)

Things change so rapidly the first year at a school, so don't freak out if when your plans have to change, too.

Keep that in mind as you are planning things, and leave some empty weeks at the end of each semester/year for each time you have to bump lessons to the next week.

Lesson Planning (Yearly): Try to outline your year (or at least the first semester) so that things don't sneak up on you. Even penciling in things like, "do favorite Halloween song" or "teach the Nutcracker," will help you remember what you have going on during certain times of the year.

My first years, I literally wrote the weekly dates down a sheet of notebook paper and penciled in things that I wanted to teach. After years and years of teaching, I have refined my system, but a basic Excel/Numbers doc or piece of paper is a great place to start.

Programs and Performances: Find out what kind/how many programs you are expected to do and get them on the school calendar. Communication with your administration is very important. (But don't be the person who asks too many questions! If you can find the answer by asking another teacher, do it!)

There will be certain things you are expected to do the first year. After getting some experience under your belt, then you can start to change things and make them your own.

Pro Tip: Start teaching program songs and choreography sooner than you think. Since you don't have experience pacing student learning, you'll need to schedule a larger chunk of time than normal. You can always take a break and do something else for a few days if your students get too far ahead.

Depending on the grade level and skill level, my students take 8-10 weeks to prepare for a program. Sometimes I can start teaching the songs earlier through a typical lesson, which reduces the amount of "program prep" weeks.

2. Plan Ahead at Home

I can't emphasize this enough - you will be tired. And most of it is mental tiredness from making decisions all day long.

Mental Health: Think ahead about ways you recharge as an individual - reading a book, working out, visiting with friends. Whatever it is that helps you decompress, schedule it now so that later you won't have to make that decision.

Other ways to reduce decision making: Plan your meals, your clothes, anything at home that you have to make decisions about. You don't have to stick to it forever, but making a rotation of meals for the first 6 weeks of school can really simplify the decisions you're having to make.

Outsourcing: Another way to reduce that teacher-tired is to outsource anything you can afford to outsource. From lawn mowing to grocery shopping, there are ways to set up systems to help you at home after you've already spent all your energy at school.

Even outsourcing resources, lesson plans, worksheets, games - there are so many great resources out there. There is no sense in making a brand new Name the Notes or Label the Key Signatures worksheet - it's already been done - literally thousands of times!

Pro Tip: Check out Teachers Pay Teachers for tons of resources that help support your fellow music teachers! You might even discover a new song or pedagogical resource that will help you along the way.

3. Make a Sub Tub

YES, you will get sick - your classroom is a petri dish. Of the whole. school.

YES, you will need a Sub Tub. (or Sub Binder or box or however you roll)

If you have children, you know they'll get sick, so go ahead and prepare for it now.

It doesn't have to be fancy, but it needs to be done so that when you get sick, you can set the tub on your desk/table and not have to create more work while you're sick.

Be sure to include things for those who are not music teachers and/or not tech-savvy.

Leaving books for subs to read is a great option - especially books that you don't normally have time to read!

Sub Tub Log - I keep a log of which classes do which activities, so I don't lose track!

Here's a post of more ideas for your sub tub! (coming soon)

4. To Train or Not to Train?

I see people in the music teacher groups recommend getting additional training immediately after graduation. While that may be helpful, don't sweat it if you can't manage it before your first year.

YES, training is vital to what you will do day to day.

YES, every music teacher would benefit from getting highly trained in a specific method instead of relying on hodge-podge/eclectic style. (I know, I know, teachers combine methods all the time; I'm mostly speaking of the ones who just attended one clinic/workshop and didn't get trained in anything. My blog, my opinion.)

BUT having a year (or more) under your belt before you get training is also very helpful.

Why? You can take the things you are learning and mentally file them in the right place, since you have the kinesthetic knowledge of having your own classroom after going through that first year.

Learn More: During your first year of teaching, check out the blogs, YouTube videos, and online groups for each type of training so that you can see what you're getting into.

Talk to someone who is certified in more than one methodology. Talk to people who are leaders in their areas so that you can see what might fit you best. And start saving your $$ because it's not cheap. Go to clinics and workshops for each type of methodology to gain better understanding.

Exceptions: If your university is offering a training as part of your degree or is offering a discount TAKE IT. If someone is offering to pay for your training TAKE IT. If your school requires you to have training as a part of your first year DO IT.

My personal recommendation is getting trained the first 3 years after your first year. So, you would teach for one year, and the following 3 summers will be working towards certification. Yes, get all 3 years, it's worth it.

Pro Tip: If someone is offering behavior management training before your first year - do it! Or specialty trainings that your school may offer like Kagan training - these can be very helpful and can be easily adapted to the music class setting.

There are so many more things to think about, but that's a good start! What suggestions do you have for first year teachers? Join the conversation on Facebook!

Lori Sweet
Sweet Sounds

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Sunday

Covid-Era Teaching: Changes in my Music Classroom

On the music teacher social media groups, the talk is all about moving to a cart and creating individual instrument packs. I'm loving the brainstorming and camaraderie during this crazy time!

I am (luckily?) one of the few that is planning to be in an actual music classroom, instead of pushing in on a cart. While there are many benefits to being in my own space, I will definitely be making some changes to accommodate the physical distancing and cleaning procedures that will likely be in place in the fall.

Here are some of the ideas I'm brainstorming to help create a calm, welcoming, but more physically distanced classroom.

1. Remove the Extras for Space:

- Removing furniture to create more extra space - anyone else a collector of bookshelves? I'm planning to move or remove all of my shelves except what is absolutely necessary to create the maximum amount of square footage for students to spread out.

- Removing chairs / spreading out sit spots - I love having chairs as a "home base," but I'm probably going to remove them for this year so that I can spread out my sit spots as far as possible.

2. Remove/Store Materials to Facilitate Cleaning:

- Removing stuffed animals, puppets, and curtains (anything cloth)

- Putting small equipment and instruments into containers and buckets - typically my drum area gets very dusty and isn't cleaned very often. I'm hoping to get tubs or other closed storage for these to help with cleaning.

- Removing personal belongings/decorations - this is an easy way I can help my custodians save time. This doesn't mean my space has to be devoid of decoration, but I am going to think outside the box and maybe create laminated pictures and easily cleaned items (that I can clean myself!).

3. No Shared Materials

- Students bring their own pencils/white boards

- Creating enough mallets for several classes to use (and then clean)

- Individual sets of rhythm cards - I'm working on creating smaller versions of my rhythm sets so that I can print off a page for each student (we might bring our own scissors to music that day, I'm not sure yet!).

Other changes:

- Open Door or Windows: I'm extremely lucky to work in two classrooms that have either windows that open or an exterior door. I'm planning to have those open as much as possible throughout the year.

- Class Outside: At both of my schools, there is a small area just outside my classroom that could be used for outdoor class. I'm brainstorming ideas for the logistics, but I plan to take us outside as often as possible.

- Assigned Seats: While I have assigned seats for my chair area, I have traditionally let students choose a seat on a sit spot. I think the one of the first things we will do next year will be to assign seats for everyone.

This is definitely just a place to begin - I have some guidelines from my district, so I will start with those things, but I'm trying to think outside the box about what can be done to create more space.

This is in NO WAY a replacement for your county/state/district recommendations or requirements. I'm going based off of my state and local recommendations and how I think I can do that in my specific classrooms.

This is not the ideal situation (or anywhere close), but it's my attempt to see what I can do to make it more manageable for my classes. What ideas do you have? Join the conversation on Facebook!

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Favorite Music Activities for Valentines Day

What are your favorite things to do with your class around Valentines Day?

I hear that question in the music teacher groups around the end of January every year. So I'm sharing my favorite music activities and brain breaks for my classes in February!

Pass an Object: Holiday Edition

My younger students (Kindergarten and 1st grade) love to pass around objects while we sing. I have a set of wooden shapes for each holiday, but you could use foam shapes, valentines stuffed animals, or anything else you'd like (Lucy Locket's pocket perhaps?).

We pass the object around the circle and sing a song - you can choose any song you'd like (Lucy Locket, Valentine Red and Blue, or something that you're already singing in class!). At the end of the song, we stop passing and sing, "Who has the _____?" with a so-mi pattern.

There are two ways to finish the turn:

1. The rest of the class will say, "Caitlyn has the valentine."

2. If your students are ready for solo singing, the student that ended up with the object replies, "I have the valentine." (Or "I have the pocket," or "I have the heart.")

Pro Tip: If two kids end up with it at the end of the song, sing both names, or have them sing, "We have the valentine." They LOVE to sing that and it's so darn cute!

There's also a very sweet passing song that I learned from a clinic (I can't remember who!):

"The valentine goes around and around and around and around and around."

(Sing in a scale pattern starting on low s, like this: s, dd r rr m mm f ff m mm r rr d.)

This can be adapted to ANY holiday: The reindeer goes around, the turkey goes around, the shamrock goes around, the flag goes around, the bunny goes around, the treble clef goes around!

Reading Rhythm Practice

My middle-grade students love practicing reading their rhythms. Yes, you heard me right! They enjoy it because I make it a game!

I pop one of my smart board games on the board and let them select which rhythm to say by tapping a picture on the board.

While we love playing in teams, it's a great individual assessment opportunity for me to see who really understands each rhythm.

If you have a very mixed group of abilities, you can do a mixed point system. Your team can say the rhythm together for one point, or you can say the rhythm "solo" for two points!

Freeze Game

All of my classes - even the ones that are "too cool" for anything else I try - absolutely love playing this freeze game.

If you follow Sweet Sounds on TpT, you've probably seen the Christmas version (Reindeer, Christmas Tree, Candy Cane, Freeze!) or some of the other versions. I have tons of holiday versions, plus Carnival of the Animals Freeze, Nutcracker Freeze, and Pirate Dragon Unicorn freeze for other times of the year!

The best part about this freeze game is that it is non-locomotor. Some classes absolutely cannot do activities that move around during certain parts of the year. This has been true at every school I've ever taught at!

The solution? This super simple freeze game - you say the chant, pick a pose, and click the screen to see who is out. It's that easy! (And for some reason they love it! I think it's because it's more like Rock, Paper, Scissors than a freeze "dance" game.)

Classes that can handle the basic version get to add drums and other percussion instruments on the chant.

And if I need an additional improvisation activity for my takadi unit, I can grab almost any of the freeze game cards and they get so excited about improvising! Teacher win!

Pro Tip: This can be one of your stations - it doesn't have to be just for takadi (sixteenth notes beamed with an eighth note). Students could play the game, create patterns, improvise new patterns, add instrumentation - the possibilities are endless!

Pro Tip: This is great for subs! As long as you've played with your classes and explained the rules, my subs have had success using this as a backup activity when technology fails. Be sure to read "How I Teach This" inside the directions PDF for tips on making this a smooth game, where no feelings are hurt!

This Valentines-themed version of the freeze game is perfect for the end of January and beginning of February! My students beg to play, which gives me a nice bit of currency on those days after week-long indoor recess.

What music activities do you do in your music class around Valentines?

Saturday

A Year of Children's Books in Music Class

It's difficult to make time in a busy schedule to read to classes, but I think it's important so I make an effort to read to my students as much as I can!

In addition to reading to my classes, I try to leave a book for every class when I have a sub! It's something that subs like to do and the kids (usually!) don't mind.

I did a Goodreads challenge the last few years and I read around 100 books a year! Before you are too impressed, let me say that I include ALL the books I read in my classroom (or in preparation for a class), too!

Here are some of my highlights from this year:

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush - illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

This one is perfect for the first day of school! As a song tale, you sing each page and my kids love to join in.

There Was a Man and He Was Mad - adapted by John Feierabend; great song tale - if you have a male friend who can record himself singing this book it's even better!

Down by the Station - illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
I love this illustration of the folk song Down by the Station! Hillenbrand does a great job keeping my students' interest with new animals and an add-on sound effect each time. My students always notice the child in the wheelchair at the end. Perfect pairing with Page's Train or Engine, Engine!

Bear Feels Sick - by Karma Wilson
This is a great book to read in the middle of flu season! "Why aren't we high-fiving at the door, Mrs. Sweet?" "Because everyone has the flu or the stomach bug!" It's super sweet and has a good ending - and it gives you a chance to talk about staying home when you're sick so you don't get your friends sick. It's also a great pairing with the folk song Mother, Mother, I Feel Sick!

Charlie Parker Played Bebop - by Chris Raschka
After I found the Between the Lions episode with this book, it has become one of my favorites. Even if you don't show the video in your class, I recommend listening to it to get ideas for how to read the jazzy words.

The Song of Six Birds - by Rene Deetlefs
The Song of Six Birds is a beautiful African tale about a girl who goes and collects "songs" from birds to make her song better. Such a sweet message! It's a perfect pairing with Here Comes a Bluebird.

What Do You Do With An Idea? - by Kobi Yamada
This is a fun book to connect to your composition unit or after improvising. It is a great read for a sub!

Too Many Carrots - by Katy Hudson
This is an adorable quick read if you have a song about a rabbit - I like to pair this with Little Bunny Foo Foo! Of course, you could just read the Little Bunny Foo Foo book by Michael Rosen instead!

Lon Po Po - by Ed Young
This is a fabulous Chinese tale of the Big Bad Wolf. I have used this in October with We are Dancing in the Forest and I've used this during as part of a multi-cultural emphasis. It's a little bit scary, so save this for a more mature group.

Hoot & Honk Just Can't Sleep - by Leslie Helakoski
Such a sweet story! Great for loud/soft unit or to pair with a song with bird emphasis; very few words, so a quick but gentle read.

Chicks and Salsa - by Aaron Reynolds
Silly adventure story with some smart chickens! When I have time, I like to include this when I introduce Chicken on the Fencepost.

Dog in Boots - Greg Gormsky
I read this book as a hilarious transition from Doggie Doggie to Cobbler, Cobbler. (I replace the word shopkeeper with the word cobbler and it works well!) My students love the dog's antics and the ending is perfect.

The Wheels on the Bus - Maryann Kovalski
After presenting ta/tadi, my students love getting to practice on instruments right away! Most of my students know the song already, so we sing along and play rhythm instruments on "round and round" (aka tadi ta). The best part - it doesn't take 14 years to teach! There's also a French translation if you're daring (or know French!).

Animal Boogie - Debbie Harter

I make sure I read this book to the class and teach them little motions before I have my first substitute of the year. It's perfect for a sub and now there's a video on YouTube that a sub can play as well!

L is for Liberty - Wendy Cheyette Lewison
Beautiful short story with a patriotic theme!

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie - Alison Jackson
This is my favorite version of the "Old Lady" books. I try to impress my students by reading the repeated phrases as fast as I can - hilarious!

All the Pretty Horses - illustrated by Susan Jeffers
This book is an illustration of the folk song Hush-a-Bye. The pictures are gentle drawings with soft colors and fit perfectly into my loud-soft Kindergarten unit. This looks to be out of print, but can be purchased used online or at your local used bookstore!

I Have a Little Dreidel - Maxie Baum
Cute story that acts out the song - can be read or sung. Includes a recipe for latkes at the end!

The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet - Deborah Hautzig
This is a great addition to any Nutcracker unit! It tells the story of the ballet in simple words. If you're short on time, just show the pictures and let the kids tell you what they see.

The 12 Days of Christmas - illustrated by Jan Brett
This is a beautiful version of the 12 Days song! I like to pair it with another of my favorites (though it may be harder to find a copy!), Letters of Thanks. If you can find a copy of it, The 12 Days of Kiwi Christmas by Myles Lawford is great as well!

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - illustrated by Steven Kellogg
This is a book that I've read so many times, it's falling apart! I read this to every class the last time I see them before Christmas. The illustrations are incredible - of course! - and the storyline is fun.

If you want more, check out my Pinterest board Music Teacher Books here!

What books do you read in your music class? Comment below or connect on Facebook!

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