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New Year's Resolutions for Teachers

New Year's resolutions for teachers.  You'll laugh.  You'll cry.  You probably won't resolve to do anything with this list of sassy ideas for educators.

I will try to drink more water each day and stop calling my early morning soda my “coffee”.
My bus room kids think that me calling my diet orange Sunkist "coffee" is hilarious.  Little do they know, it is the only thing keeping me from crawling under my desk until the bell rings and they leave me in silence to wake up.  So, perhaps after my first "coffee" of the morning I'll try a little water.  Probably.


I will remember that I really do love kids even when after teaching in a swamp of germs and disease I have my 5th cold of the year.
I do love kids.  I do.  I hate being sick.  I really do.

When taking notes in a staff meeting I will stop making a list of things the speaker says that could be taken in a naughty way.
This one may be the toughest one yet!  I mean when someone says "We just need to come in from behind." or "It's just bigger than we expected."  Don't you automatically put the phrase "that's what she said" in there?  Oh no!  Have I been binge watching too much of The Office?

I will stop freaking out every time the school wifi goes down and instead use it as a time to go class old school with my lessons. 
Old school as in, let's play Red Rover cause my lesson plan is just over.

I will stop telling people that the men’s restroom is actually the Poop Bathroom for men or women.
Yeah.  I do this.  In my building there are like 3 men and 47,987 women.  So, it is just a courtesy to most of the staff to tell everyone to use the men's bathroom when they have to poop, right?  What's funnier than that is telling those guys that I'm telling people that.  Bwahahahaha.  I don't even know if people do it.  It just makes me giggle.  

I will try other organizational techniques than shoving things in my drawers and that one scary cabinet at the back of my room.
I bet I could supply a first year teacher with everything he would need from the awesome stuff that I have shoved in my cabinet and forgotten. Oooo!  Maybe that's how I get it cleaned up.  I should totally "gift" it to a new teacher!

I will stop cramming tons of stuff in my teacher bag and taking it home to do every night and then feeling guilty when I watch TV instead.
I think that instead, I'll just leave it all on my desk and feel guilty anyway.  Same great guilt.  Much less work.

I will stop googling “what other jobs can you do with a teaching degree” every time grades are due.
Seriously....why do I wait until the last minute to get the last few sets of grades in?  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

I will not judge myself or others by the perfection, originality and creativity of their bulletin boards.
I rarely do this, because I change my boards so often that I don't have time to look at other people's displays.  It's really a sickness I have.  I change them at least once a month.  Sometimes more.  Hello.  My name is Tracy and I may have an unhealthy relationship with bulletin boards.

I will talk to more adults about things that are not school related.
This is hard because most of the adults I talk to ARE school related.  There should be a friend matchmaking website that connects teachers to non-teachers just so we can widen our friend circle.    

I will remember that I have the greatest job in the world.
This one is easy because I DO have the greatest job in the world.  I get to be an ambassador of joy and instill the love and appreciation of music in the lives of my students every day.  


Remember these for next year by PINNING them!
New Year's resolutions for teachers.  You'll laugh.  You'll cry.  You probably won't resolve to do anything with this list of sassy ideas for educators.

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26 Things Music Teachers are Thankful For

Things Music Teachers are Thankful for...hearing that song your students are singing in the bathroom, music education victories, a drawer full of chocolate.  Be thankful music educator!  You've got a great job.


1.  Hearing a song you've taught a class, ringing out of the student bathroom as you pass by.

2.  An email that says "My son/daughter has never taken an interest in music, but I think you have inspired them to take up a new hobby."

3.  Boomwhackers, arranged in perfect order and hanging on the wall.

4. That rush of pride and relief that comes after a performance.

5.  Comfy shoes and a drawer full of chocolate.

6. The technology working just as it is supposed to.

7.  Supportive administrators.

8.  Spouses who totally get concert week.

9.  Being tagged in a favorite teachers post on Facebook.

10.  Perfect attendance at after school choir.

11.  That one second in recorder class when everyone rests at the same time and your soul knows a moment of peace.

12.  The parade of the birthday cupcakes, donuts, snack cake and other goodies during the last hour of the day.

13.  Classroom teachers that accept you as part of the team, not a babysitter during their break.

14.  The smooth, clean feel of a brand new tubano.

15.  Artie Almeida.

16.  Pool noodle ponies standing neatly in their "stall" waiting for the next class.

17.  Finishing a folk dance with students that rolled their eyes and moaned in disgust before, but now are flushed and happy and saying things like "That was so much fun!"

18.  Teachers Pay Teachers.

19.  Food Fridays in the teachers' lounge.

20.  Kids who laugh at my jokes.

21.  Friends and family that have to listen to me talk about my classroom and students non-stop.

22.  Thunderous applause.

23.  Being a witness to music bringing people together.

24.  Although many of us would like to see our students more often than we do, we are also pretty darn thankful that we see SOME classes once a week for less than an hour.

25.  Beautiful, colorful bulletin boards hanging perfectly on the wall.

26.  We have the best job in the whole world.  We make a difference in the lives of students every day and are often the only ambassadors of joy they see each week.

Let me know what you are thankful for in the comments!  Like this post?  PIN it for later.

Things Music Teachers are Thankful for...hearing that song your students are singing in the bathroom, music education victories, a drawer full of chocolate.  Be thankful music educator!  You've got a great job.

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Music Teacher Pet Peeves

Music Teacher Pet Peeves is a list of relatable situations and conversations that modern music educators find themselves in.  Don't worry music teachers!  You are not alone.

This blog post was written to let music teachers everywhere know that they are not alone.  It seems that we are always having to justify why the study of music has merit, defend our class times and handle the same student issues over and over.  Here are just a few of music teacher pet peeves I have experienced or that music teaching friends have experienced.

I can't come to the concert because I have sports practice.
Practice?  Not a semi-final championship?  Not even a game...just practice?  This is frustrating.  The concert happens one time a year.  One time.

It's Moat-zart not Mo-zart.
I have modeled this correctly time and time again.  Why?  Why say it incorrectly?  Argh!

No gum.  Anytime.
This one is probably just a personal pet peeve, but we are going sing and you don't need gum in your mouth to do that.  If we are playing instruments, I don't want any gum in or on them.  Weirder things have happened.  Just don't do it.  Spit out your gum or better yet, just don't chew it at school.

Little Johnny is behind in math, can he skip music today?
So that he can become behind in music?  I get 50 minutes one time a week to teach a year's worth of curriculum.  I need every single one of those minute and so does little Johnny.

Is this for a grade?
Bwahahaha.  No, dude.  This is pretty much like recess but with drums. *rolling eyes*
Of course this is for a grade.

Sorry we are late.  It is just so important that we get every single minute of reading in that we can.
This is complete disrespect for my time and my job.  What happens in your room is not more important that what happens in mine.  It may be tested more than my curriculum, but it is not more important.

I understand if once in a blue moon you run late, or forget to give a spelling test because it is party day or whatever, but if this is a regular thing, it is a regular problem.

Somebody farted.  I must roll around clutching my nose, flopping around like I have inhaled poison until the whole class is in complete and utter chaos.
You've smelled bad things.  This isn't theater class.  Let's move on.

P.S.  Okay.  Okay.  I've had a few of these that we actually had to stop what we were doing because we all thought we might die, but usually...we can just move on.

Are you a real teacher?
Seriously?  I have more credit hours with my Bachelor's degree than most classroom teachers have with their Masters.  I have dual certification in both K-12 instrumental music and K-12 vocal music.  I see up to 30 different classes a week with individual lesson plans all the while maintaining accommodations for IEPs and 504s.  I cram all of my yearly objectives into one class period a week.  I do this while preparing concerts where I am judged for 60 minutes of "show" instead of the hours of teaching I do every day.  It's like a big public report card.

I am not just a "real" teacher.  I am a frickin' rock star.

Let me know if one of these is also one of your pet peeves.  What other things make you a little crazy (vanishing pencils, observations the day before Christmas vacation, hearing the word "li-berry" instead of library)?


Pin this post to read again!
Music Teacher Pet Peeves is a list of relatable situations and conversations that modern music educators find themselves in.  Don't worry music teachers!  You are not alone.


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Sub Plans for the Non-Musical Sub

Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.

It happens.  A kid gets sick.  Your car breaks down.  You are suddenly called to go out of town.  The flu wraps its icy fingers around you.  You need a sub.

As a music teacher, I can't always count on getting a musical substitute teacher.  Actually I have only rarely had a sub that was comfortable doing musical activities like singing, dancing or playing instruments.  Due to this fact, I have created a sub tub with activities that even a non-musical sub would be comfortable teaching.

Currently I am teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grades but I have used this system with K-8 quite successfully.  I organize all of my instructions for the substitute teacher in a binder.  Here are some of the things that are helpful to include:
  • Where to find things like the attendance book, seating charts, office supplies, bandages, hall passes, nurse passes, etc...
  • Procedures for emergencies.  If your school uses code words or special signals, be sure to include those in your plans.
  • Instructions for using technology in your room and any passwords that they will need.
  • A list of helpful teachers and where to find them.
  • A picture or drawing of how you set your room up.
  • An explanation of how to follow your emergency plans if no other plans are left.
  • General rules for the music room.  I have flexible seating choices in my room but I only use them for workstations or movie days, so I want to let them know how I use them.
  • Change for the soda machine. 
This is the first thing a guest teacher to my classroom needs to read to get acquainted with the music room and how their day will go. 

The sub plan binder also contains several different lesson plans for each grade.  These plans include a list of what they will need, where it is, what to do and a tracking sheet that I ask them to fill out so that I know what they have done and with which classes.  Keep reading to find out how to get these starter files for free!
Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.

When I return from an absence I can quickly browse through the binder and see what students have done.

The binder refers to materials in the sub tub.  These materials are either videos (some with worksheets, some without), worksheets or activities with children's books.  

Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.


Videos
Here are some videos that I recommend for the sub tub:

Kindergarten and 1st Grade:
Wee Sing Train
Wee Sing King Cole's Party
Wee Sing Big Rock Candy Mountain

2nd Grade:
Wee Sing in Sillyville
Wee Sing Marvelous Musical Mansion
Tubby the Tuba
3rd Grade:
Wee Sing Marvelous Musical Mansion
Overture to Disaster
Music and Heroes of America
Julie's Green Room (on Netflix)

4th and 5th Grades:
Stomp Out Loud
Composer's Specials (Bach, Bizet, Liszt, Strauss, Rossini, Handel)
Beethoven Lives Upstairs


Videos with Worksheets
I have created several resources that you might find valuable for your sub tub.  They are all actually bundled up in one bundle in my store (or you can purchase them individually).  Check out this Musicals Mega Bundle which includes tons of resources for these musicals:



Worksheets
I'm not a big fan of worksheets, but they do have their purpose and place in music class.  For substitute teachers they are often a familiar and comfortable activity that they can be successful with.  In my sub tub I use worksheets that reinforce skills we are constantly working on like note values, pitch names, composition and instrument identification and classification.

I pull those worksheets from the same sets that I have posted in my store.  They come in a bundle (that continues to grow) or you can buy the sets individually.  There are more than 400 usable pages in the bundle.  You can get it here:  No Prep Music Worksheets Endless Growing Bundle

Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.

Activities with Children's Books
Like many elementary music teachers I LOVE teaching with children's picture books.  I have dozens of books that I use regularly and some that work really well with substitute teacher lesson plans.

The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow
This is such a fun story!  I have students complete a writing prompt that asks them to draw and write about an instrument they might like to play.  This book is also a great time to talk about onomatopoeias so we take time to write down some musical onomatopoeias.

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
This book is relatively new to my collection.  It's a delightful story about a boy who collects words.  After the story, students go on a word hunt around the music room to collect words.  This is also a great time to use some of the syllable search worksheets from my worksheet collections.
Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.
Tubby the Tuba by Paul Tripp
This is such a wonderful story!  In recent years I have stopped showing the movie very often.  It feels like it is 4 hours long.  The book, however, is delightful and not four hours long.  Subs love this lesson too!  After the story, I leave some discussion questions and a color the orchestra worksheet (color by instrument family) and a word search.

Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Another sub favorite is Moses Goes to a Concert.  This book talks about the experiences of a deaf student that goes to hear an orchestra perform.  The percussionist in the orchestra is also deaf and helps the students experience the music through vibrations.  With this book I leave a listening comprehension worksheet and a copy of the ASL alphabet.  After the worksheet questions have been answered and discussed, students can use the alphabet sheet to practice their names.  There are also TONS of YouTube videos of people signing popular songs that students love to watch.

The Rocket's Red Glare by Peter Alderman
This book tells the story of the "Star-Spangled Banner".  Although there are several books out there, this one has such beautiful illustrations that it is quickly becoming my favorite.  For sub plans, I have the teacher read the book, discuss the etiquette that we should display during the national anthem and then listen to the version that comes with the book.  After that, students receive sheets that are mostly blank with the exception of one of the phrases of the the "Star-Spangled Banner".  Students are then challenged to illustrate their phrase.  When they are finished it makes a beautiful display for the hallway or a bulletin board.

I have all of my children's literature sub plans bundled in my store.  Included are the ISBN numbers for the books, links to any pertinent videos to show as time fillers and all of the worksheets and activities listed about.  Get it here:  Sub Plans for the Non-Musical Sub

You might also like to watch this replay of a Facebook Live video where I take you on a tour of my sub binder and sub tub resources.





Ready to build your sub binder and Sub Tub?  Download these free starter files:  Sub Plan Starter Files

Like these ideas?  PIN them for later!
Music teachers often need to leave sub plans for non-musical substitute teachers.  This post is filled with tried and true lesson plans that are practical and comfortable for any teacher that steps into the music classroom.  Children's books, videos, worksheets and more are discussed.


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Classroom Tour - Jedi Musicians

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

I've been waiting for years to do this theme in my classroom.  My only regret is that my Star Wars loving husband isn't here to see it.  I think he would be proud!  This year's theme is Jedi Musicians.  Let me take you on a walk through of my room.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
This is the front view of my classroom and what the students look at most of the time they are in their chairs.  My instrument storage is easily accessible and they can easily see two character education bulletin boards and my awesome Millenium Falcon rug.  The large message across the front of the room is a bonus in the Jedi Musicians bundle.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
This is a closer view of the Be a Kindness Trooper bulletin board.  You can snag it here.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
Jedi Mindset bulletin board.  You can download it here.
Growth mindset is something that I have encouraged in my classroom way before it was a trendy buzzword.  It is important to make students feel that my classroom is one that is safe to make mistakes in and that the voice in their head is the most important one they will ever hear.  This year I decided to present this in a dark side/light side.  My students LOVE it!
Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
This view is of the corner of my classroom.  I store my Orff instruments, Boomwhackers and some miscellaneous things (pBuzz and steady beat swords).  The poster on the left is a painting that my son did.  He is so talented!  The song lyric posters are positive messages to me and my students.  They sit on the wall just opposite of my desk so I see them all the time.  You can get them HERE if you are interested.
Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

I keep a display of common tempo and dynamics terms as a reference during the school year.
Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

I also love to keep something up all year that reminds students of ensemble names and sizes.  We refer to this during listening lessons all year.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
Although the picture above looks like a word wall, it is actually my instrument family display.  I like being able to sort them into families in this way and love that it doesn't take up too much space.  This is at the back of my room because later in the year my third graders will take some quizzes on them and it is easier to cover up there.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
This is the back of my room.  I have one long bulletin board that I divide into several sections.  The board on the far left is my treble clef lines and spaces display.  The board on the right will be my Song of the Month display and the one in the middle will be changed out monthly.  These groovy borders are all from Creative Teaching Press.   
The shelves house textbooks I rarely use.  Under the table are foot stools that I use for flexible seating and to put glockenspiels on when we play them.  This makes it much more comfortable for students to play.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

This area contains a funny picture from Tone Def Comics about Jedis and Conductors.  Love it!  The Leia and Han Solo people were actually left from my farmhouse theme last year.  I just made them a little Star Warsy (is that a word?).  We don't use them as actual bathroom passes (because...uhm...gross) but they hang near the area where students sign out to leave the room.

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.
This is my favorite corner!  This is my reading area.  I will use these each time we do stations.  There are books in baskets on each side of the bookshelf and students are sure to be comfy with the pillows and R2-D2 rug.  Heck, I might curl up there during my planning time!

Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.

My desk.  I kept the faux wood contact paper I put up last year and added these Star Wars inspired letters from Aisnes Creations.  I have a cozy footstool from Five Below under my desk.

If you are interested in using the Jedi Musicians theme, you can find it exclusively on thebulletinboardlady.com

If you  like these ideas, PIN THEM for later.
Star Wars classroom inspiration can be found in this blog post crammed with pictures.  Classroom organization, decorations and more are included. The force is strong in this music classroom.  Be inspired.


Wanna see a video walk-through?  This Facebook Live has been archived for your enjoyment:

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10 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Classroom Management


Why does classroom management seem to come easily to others while you are still struggling?  Why don’t the brilliant plans you read about work for you?  Why are you so stinkin’ exhausted at the end of every school day?  You might just be sabotaging your classroom management plan and not realize it.

Here are a few things to think about if you are struggling with classroom management.

Jumping in Without a Plan
Remember that old saying “Look before you leap!”?  That is good advice for classroom management too.  If you are starting your school year or semester without a plan for managing your classroom, you will end up struggling with it the entire time. 
Think about classroom procedures, how you will redirect students that are off-task, what attention getting signal you will use and what you’ll do when a student is out of control.  Write it down.  Thinking about it is a great start but write it down so that you have a reminder for your students and for yourself.

You may be sabotaging your classroom management and not even know it!  Learn how to figure out a plan that works with teacher tested techniques. Preschool, middle school, high school?  These strategies work for controlling transitions, talking and can set your substitutes up for success too.Fred Jones, author of Tools for Teaching, says that teachers with the best run classrooms spend most of the first two weeks teaching procedures and routines.  My favorite quote: "Do it right or do it all year long."

Being Inconsistent
It is hard for students to know what behavior is acceptable if you aren’t consistent with what you are telling them.  If it is not okay for students to interrupt your lesson to ask to go to the restroom, but someone does, and you let them go, smile and then continue your lesson, your students will assume that it is okay.  

When I first started teaching being consistent was exhausting.  Why?  Because I had rules for every single thing and I was running around like a crazy woman trying to enforce them.  After much reflection (and too many headaches) I realized that I just didn’t care about some things and I could let them go.  For example, I don’t mind if students are chatting during workstations or center time.  If they are working and completing their tasks, I WANT them to have conversations about that learning.  I don’t care if they get up and get a Kleenex without permission or if they sharpen their pencil when it needs it as long as they aren’t disruptive. I used to have a rule for all of those things and I didn't really want to enforce them.

Now I have three classroom rules and my life is easier: Respect yourself.  Respect others.  Respect the property of all.  This allows me to be more relaxed AND more consistent.

You may be sabotaging your classroom management and not even know it!  Learn how to figure out a plan that works with teacher tested techniques. Preschool, middle school, high school?  These strategies work for controlling transitions, talking and can set your substitutes up for success too.Trying to Be Like the Teacher Down the Hall
A great mentor can make you a better teacher, but what works for them may not work for you.  Don’t get bogged down by trying to imitate every great idea you see someone else do.  Find what works for you.


Laughing a Little Too Much
I like to laugh, and I like kids.  I especially like funny kids.  Sometimes I find it difficult not to smile or laugh when kids say something to get us off track.  Laughing too much or smiling and chasing those off-topic rabbits can derail a lesson.  Use quick phrases to keep it light to refocus your group before you have to hear twenty funny cat stories.  I use statements like “Great story!  Let’s get back to Beethoven now.”  or “Thanks for making me smile.  You know what else makes me smile? Music theory!”

Not Taking it to the Hall
Guilty.  On occasion I have corrected a student in public rather than taking it to the hall.  This can be embarrassing for the student and is not a good way to prevent this behavior from happening again.  It can build resentment toward you and others. Always try to correct a student in a private way if possible.  Speak quietly to them at their seat or call them to your desk.  Ask them to step outside of your classroom and chat with them there if possible.

When directing large groups or rehearsing intensely I will pause and say “David, please see me after class.  I need to talk to you.”  Although this is a signal to David to stop the behavior I’ve noticed, it doesn’t let others know what’s going on unless they noticed it too.  I often have students stay after class for positive reinforcement, treats from the goody box or personal messages of encouragement.

Being Front and Center
You may be sabotaging your classroom management and not even know it!  Learn how to figure out a plan that works with teacher tested techniques. Preschool, middle school, high school?  These strategies work for controlling transitions, talking and can set your substitutes up for success too.Stop it.  Move around the room.  Always be a few feet away.  Even as music teachers we can step away from the music stand and be closer to our students as they work and perform.  This stops misbehaviors before they start and gives you a chance to redirect students and help them individually.

Getting Emotional…In the Bad Way
Music is such a passionate thing.  Sometimes it gives me goosebumps or brings a tear to my eye.  Students are passionate too.  Sometimes they give me goosebumps or bring tears to my eyes.  Sometimes they make me want to stomp and scream!  Your students know when you are frustrated or upset.  Don’t let it get out of hand.  Take a break.  Sip some water.  Breathe.

Be honest with them.  Plenty of times I have a heart to heart with them and say “I really want to try this activity again because it is a great way to learn *insert whatever skill we are working on* but it is too loud and too chaotic.  I don’t feel like everyone can learn and I’m getting frustrated.  Let’s talk about what we can do to make it better this time.” It works more often than not and gives me a chance to sit down and use a quiet, calming voice.

Decorating a Classroom without the Students in Mind
I see my students once a week for 50 minutes.  They are in my room less time a week than they are in the restrooms!  So for many years I decorated for myself.  I used colors and themes that I liked because I was the only person that had to be in the room all day long every day.

When I started decorating with my students in mind I created rooms that were bright and colorful, but not dripping with text everywhere.  Some students are overwhelmed and will spend their entire class time reading your walls.  Keep it simple and useful.

When I thought more about what my students needed in my classroom I added flexible seating options for centers, an easy access point for getting supplies and positive messages for them to read and reread on the walls.  If you are interested in learning more about setting up your room you might enjoy this blog post:  Questions to Ponder as You Set Up Your Music Room

You may be sabotaging your classroom management and not even know it!  Learn how to figure out a plan that works with teacher tested techniques. Preschool, middle school, high school?  These strategies work for controlling transitions, talking and can set your substitutes up for success too.Making it Personal
When kids are angry, embarrassed, scared or frustrated they can say some pretty mean things.  It is a symptom.  Something is going on.  Maybe it is something you can see: They aren’t understanding what you are working on, they are being picked on or they have a physical need that isn’t being met.  Yes, they could be hangry or uncomfortable.  Maybe it is something you can’t see like the big fight mom and dad had last night.  Don’t take it so personal.  Be professional.  Move on.

This isn't to say that you should allow them to be disrespectful.  Speak to them privately if needed.  Then move on.

Not Making it Personal
I know I just said not to take things so personal, but this tip is for your relationship with the kiddos.  Get to know them.  Smile at them.  Ask questions.  Help them make connections.  As a specialist I feel like this one is hard.  I see students for such a short time each week and there often isn’t time to chat as we cram in curricular and performance goals.  
To combat this I go out of my way to chat with them before school in the hall, at lunch or recess or any other duty I may be assigned.  Students need to know you care in and out of the classroom.  This helps classroom management issues disappear.  Seek out that attention stealing student and start a conversation.  Compliment that shy student when you see them in the morning.  Make connections.

If you are a new teacher or a veteran teacher looking to up their game, you might enjoy this blog post too: Advice for the New Music Teacher.   You can do this.

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Take Music Class Outside

Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

Take your music classes outside!  No, not just for an extra recess.  Take them outside for an extra special music class!  When the days are sunny and warm, you can go outside to sing, dance, play and even assess.  Here are 9 practical ideas for beautiful days.

Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

1.  Musical Hopscotch
There are plenty of ways to play musical hopscotch.  With a little sidewalk chalk, create a hopscotch board.  What you put inside each square depends on what skills you want students to practice.

Note Values:  Draw note with values from smallest to largest on the blocks if you wanted to work on note values. Students would pause on each block as they counted the notes or said the syllables.  Add multiple notes to get all the way to ten or create a hopscotch board in a different shape to accommodate your needs.
Solfege:  I created a hopscotch board (pictured above) with the syllables of a major scale.  I added sol and do in the spaces of 9 and 10 on the board.  To warm up, we hopped and sang the syllables ascending and descending.  Then the game started.  Students would roll their rock and skip whatever syllable it landed on.  They hopped through the board singing each syllable except the ones that were covered.  This game was challenging and so much fun.  What I discovered was that when I wasn't actively engaged with a group, their singing skills weren't very strong.
Pitch:  I haven't tried this with students but I would love to try a version where some students jumped and other students played corresponding Boomwhakers.  That would be lots of fun too!

Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

2.  Treble Clef Twister
When I play Treble Twist Up in class, I use a shower curtain that I have created a treble clef staff on and students take off their shoes and play the game like regular Twister.  Outside the shower curtain could work, but it wasn't a different enough experience in my mind.  If you have a playground that has the large foam squares as the "floor" of the playground you could create a treble clef staff with chalk on it to play.  Another idea is to spray paint the staff onto a grassy area.  The next time the grass is mowed, the staff is erased.  (You might want to get permission before you do this!)  Add THIS spinner and you have a great outside game that reinforces pitch names.

Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

3.  Yard Dice - Roll and Cover
I needed an excuse to buy a set of LARGE wooden dice.  *giggle*  Outside music class seems like a great reason!  I must confess that I already have a collection of large foam dice that I use inside and they would work perfect outside as well.  So, what do I do with them?  I use them with Roll and Cover worksheets.  In a milk crate, I pack a few clipboards, pencils and a stack of Roll and Cover worksheets.  This makes the entire station easy to transport and gives me a place to collect finished pages. Check out the Roll and Cover sets here:  Music Roll and Cover

4.  Parachute Games
Parachute games are perfect for outside music class.  My current music room doesn't have a high enough ceiling for very many parachute games so taking the activity outside is the only way I can use them.

When planning parachute activities think about using songs your students already know that utilize direction words like up, down, around, etc...   I like to use "The Noble Duke of York" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Add a football to the middle of the parachute and change the lyrics to "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" and you have a fun singing parachute game. Just change the word "Bonnie" to "football".  Add more actions to make it even more challenging.

"Charlie Over the Ocean" is a fun song to sing with a parachute.  Before each round choose a weather forecast like: warm and sunny, windy, stormy, hurricane, blizzard, calm and cool.  Students sing and move the parachute to match the weather forecast.  It is even more fun to toss a ball in the middle and focus on keeping it on the parachute during any weather condition.

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Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

5. Ukuleles
I am relatively new to teaching ukuleles, but they have proven to be a versatile instrument and are perfect for taking outside.  Take a few song books for students to work on in small groups or move your whole group instruction out to the lawn.


Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

6.  Four Corners - Instrument Families
Four Corners is a game that has been around for a long time.  I use it to reinforce instrument families.  Draw the four corner boxes and in each one add the name of an instrument family.  One student calls out the name of an instrument and the players move to stand in the family box that it belongs in.  Anyone who is not in the correct box is out.

This game was great with second and third graders, but my 4th, 5th and 6th graders were too good!  To make it a little more complicated I created instrument cards for the caller to use.  I included many instruments from around the world, pictures of those instruments and then their name and family to make the game more interesting.  If the game gets to the point where no one gets out for 3 turns, then the caller turns around giving the players a chance to stand in ANY box and then chooses a family.  Anyone not in that family is out.  Play continues until there is one winner and that person becomes the new caller.


Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.

7.  Singing Rocks
Singing rocks are great inside or outside.  There's just something fun about taking them outside.  I explain how to make these rocks in this blog post:  Singing Rocks

Basically the rocks are used for singing improvisation.  Put the rocks in a bag or box that isn't easy to see into.  Pull out a rock and start singing about what is on the rock.  The song doesn't have to rhyme.  The next person pulls out another rock and continues the ballad by singing about what is on their rock.  This is a great way to introduce the idea of opera too.  I've used this activity as a workstation and as a whole group activity.

8.  Singing Games/Folk Dancing
Ah!  Finally enough room to do all of those dances as an entire class instead of a couple of different groups taking turn!  A sunny, grassy area is the perfect place for folk dancing and singing games.


9.  Music Symbols Chalk Drawings
My daughter and I love going outside to create chalk art and so do my students.  I give them a sheet with music symbols on it and challenge them to create art using ONLY music symbols.
 Purchase this as part of the Jazzy Jack-o-Lanterns bulletin board.
I love the results!  While students are creating I engage them in conversations about the symbols they are using.  Win!  Here are a couple of examples:
Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.
A tree composed of a whole note trunk.

Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.
I think this was really just a beautiful picture.  Although it wasn't a picture of something made with music symbols, it was a beautiful picture made only of music symbols.  The next picture is an example of one of "those" kiddos that technically followed the rules, but was obviously pushing the boundaries.  It made me laugh so while he was going to get more chalk to clothe the musical man below I snapped a picture.  I must admit that it was pretty good AND used only music symbols, but you know.


I hope that these ideas have inspired you to take your music class outside to enjoy a beautiful day.  Do you already take your classes outside?  I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

If you like these ideas, PIN them for later.
Outside activities for music class can be just as engaging as activities that you plan for inside the music room.  Sing, dance, play and assess in the sunshine.  Nine practical ideas for beautiful days in music class.



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