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Music Teachers Chatboard

Props and Costumes

by Jeni

Aug 14, 2015

Wondering where you buy props, etc. for your concerts and programs. I use my own funds at Dollar Tree and Michael's, etc. but I can't use a purchase order there. The only place I can think of is Oriental Trading and Really Good Stuff.

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DonnaR/CA On 8/14/15, Jeni wrote: > Wondering where you buy props, etc. for your concerts > and programs.

In the past, props and costumes in my shows came from the following:

* I sent home a list of the props I needed, and parents could let me know they had something. Same with costumes.

* Joann Fabrics. I'm not sure if they...See More

Aug 18, 2015

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Jeni On 8/18/15, DonnaR/CA wrote: > On 8/14/15, Jeni wrote: >> Wondering where you buy props, etc. for your concerts >> and programs. > > In the past, props and costumes in my shows came from the > following: > > * I sent home a list of the props I needed, and parents > could let me know they had something. Same with cos...See More

Aug 20, 2015

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A Successful First Day Is No Secret

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 19, 2015

Two teachers fresh out of college... One fled teaching after a disastrous first 2 days; the other was highly successful from Day One. What made the difference? Read the article for first day tips even veteran teachers will find helpful. (From the archives, but the advice is timeless.)

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The First 5 Minutes [of class] are Critical

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 17, 2015

When a teacher abdicates structuring a classroom,structure is left to the student. - Harry K. Wong

What the teacher does in the first five minutes of class determines the effectiveness of the remainder of the session. Are you implementing these important practices? (Click below to read the article)

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NYCDOE F-Status Music Job

by daviesnut

Aug 14, 2015

Hello all,

I am between a rock and a hard place. I had my first year in the DOE last year at a city middle school. The Principal is experience and effective, but the student population was for the most part awful. I had taught K-8 previous for 12 years and never have I had an experience like the one I had. I was given all but 2 classes of...See More

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K I do not know the ins and outs of the NY system, but please consider your own health and well-being above all. If you are young and just starting out, you have nothing to lose by doing what you love. If you do it for a year and they cut you, you're back in the job market again - not an ideal scenario, but manageable. If you stay on the previous jo...See More

Aug 15, 2015

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Top 8 Mistakes That Doom Effective Lesson Delivery

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 15, 2015

Here is Susan Fitzell's list of the top 8 mistakes that can keep you from presenting an effective direct teaching lesson.

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2nd/3rd theme

by Teachk12

Aug 4, 2015

I am looking for a fun, upbeat theme for a Spring program (3 or 4 songs) for 2nd/3rd grade.

I was thinking Broadway or Movies, but I'd like something accessible, not too many verses, etc. Are there any collections anyone can suggest? (I am open to other themes...Zoo Animals, Around the World, etc.) My issue is that I will need to use a cd ...See More

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Chris Maneke We use the SB Making Music series and somewhere in the resources, it has musicals put together (possibly the online component?). There are scripts for themed musicals, using songs from throughout the series. We have the CD's for this set, which includes both rehearsal and performance versions of the tracks, but you can also download all tracks as a...See More

Aug 12, 2015

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Teachk12
Thanks for all the responses! It isn't really a "show",
just 3 or 4 songs. So there are no narrations, etc. We
have multiple groups that perform, so it can only b a few
songs. I have MK8 and Making Music. Just trying to get a
cohesive theme that is singable by 2nd and 3rd. Thanks!

On 8/12/15, Chris Maneke wr...See More

Aug 14, 2015

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Multi-Grade Elementary Curriculum

by Sarah S

Jul 27, 2015

Hello All!

I recently began teaching at two small schools in North Dakota and have realized that as great college was, there is no way to actually be prepared for the "real world."

My biggest insecurity is how to develop a curriculum for a multi-grade classroom. One school is divided pk-1st, 2nd-4th, 5th-6th. The other s...See More

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Miss Friday Hi Sarah,

Oh boy! Multiage classes have got to be the hardest curriculum wise. It really does a number on your scope & sequence.

If I was in your shoes, here's what I'd do: For the little kids (the PK-1 class and the K-2 class) I would use John Feierabend's "First Steps in Music." It is relatively inexpensive and eas...See MoreHi Sarah,

Oh boy! Multiage classes have got to be the hardest curriculum wise. It really does a number on your scope & sequence.

If I was in your shoes, here's what I'd do: For the little kids (the PK-1 class and the K-2 class) I would use John Feierabend's "First Steps in Music." It is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement. He provides three years of lesson plans, but only 24 weeks in those years, so you will have to expand/repeat some lessons. Although I've found the expansion/repeating process quite easy.

For the upper grades, it gets a little more complicated. Basically I would look at starting a curriculum that contains two parts: repertoire and musical skills. Let's talk about these individually.

Repertoire: I would make sure the repertoire changes each year the kids are in the same class. For example, you will eventually want three years of repertoire for the 2-4 class. In 2015-16 do Year 1 repertoire, in 2016-2017 do Year 2 repertoire, in 2017-18 do Year 3 repertoire. Then in 2018-19 repeat Year 1. I would organize the repertoire by types of music. Taking that same 2-4 class, I would do the following types of music: Year 1 = American folk music, Year 2 = world folk music, Year 3 = popular musics (film/Broadway/rock). Remember these are just examples, you will want to do the kinds of music that you feel are most important.

Skills: This is the hardest piece of all. First step is to lay out your sequence of skills you want the students to learn. (I think 3rd Year & I had a dialogue here on how to this last year.) I would keep this list very short as you want to have a lot of review built into your curriculum. Then I'd divide them up by class. I would make sure I cover *every* skill in each year of the class. Remember, this won't be boring because the repertoire will be new for everyone. (FYI, this is what band/orchestra teachers do all the time.) I would make the first 4-6 weeks all review for a variety of reasons (e.g. classroom management, procedures, etc.). Then I would start in learning class-level skills.

I hope that helps. If you want more specifics, feel free to email me privately: [email removed]

Cheers! Miss Friday On 7/27/15, Sarah S wrote: > Hello All! > > I recently began teaching at two small schools in North > Dakota and have realized that as great college was, there > is no way to actually be prepared for the "real world." > > My biggest insecurity is how to develop a curriculum for > a multi-grade classroom. One school is divided pk-1st, > 2nd-4th, 5th-6th. The other school is divided k-2nd and > 3-6th. > > Any suggestions on how to create a curriculum that works > for these kids but also allows the kids to grow from year > to year? > > Thank you so much in advance!

Jul 28, 2015

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bec To add to good advice you have already been given..... I already spiral through and repeat things from year to year, adding on as they can handle it I agree with Feierabend for the younger classes, then just try to teach music reading and other concepts through the repertoire. Maybe the younger students won't quite get it all, but next year they wi...See More

Aug 13, 2015

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Not asking?

by anon

Aug 13, 2015

I'm just curious:

We have a new vice-principal at my elementary school. Today he signed our school up for a ceremony at the nearby city, where students will sing 4 songs. He didn't ask me, he just did it. Is this normal? I'm a pretty new music teacher. I'm happy to do extra performances, but shouldn't we be asked first?

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anon It is during the school day. I understand that it was going to happen, no matter what, but I've always been asked in the past. Admins never said yes before contacting me.

On 8/13/15, Of course... wrote: > Of course he should have asked. > > Is this during the school day? > If so, a little less necessary to do so - but still jus...See More

Aug 13, 2015

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bec Yes, I would be shocked. i would probably tell him that I was surprised to find out that he had committed me to do that without asking. Do you have enough time to prepare for it? If not ask him if you will be given extra time with the students to prepare? Does he expect you to rehearse in lieu of the curriculum you had planned, etc. I have had peop...See More

Aug 13, 2015

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