Blog
When it comes to IEPs, it can be overwhelming for the non-special education teachers to think about. Heck, it’s even overwhelming at times as the seasoned special education teacher, too! What is an SDI? Why should I look at their goals? What is a PBSP?! All these...
If you’ve followed That Music Teacher for a while now, you’ve likely heard the term “Exceptional Learners.” My school refers to this population as “Students with Learning Differences.” There are many names for these amazing students...
How is it already November?! I always feel like the holidays sneak up on me, and this year is no exception. Do you have an elementary music teacher in your life, or maybe you are one and just want to treat yourself? Look no further than our holiday gift guide!
2020 has been a strange year for all of us! If you’re feeling overwhelmed or scared or frustrated or any number of emotions, I hope you know you’re not alone. What I’m here to tell you is that you should never feel alone! In our profession, there are a...
As a specialist and quite possibly the only music and/or content area teacher in your school building, collaboration with other teachers is important. This helps you build relationships with other teachers, which is fantastic, because being a specialist can be...
Have you ever encountered a situation where you stood back and said, “Woah, no one prepared me for this”? Well, many music teachers I have conversations with tell me this when they are told they have to teach music to self-contained...
School is back in session! Whether you are going in-person, online, or hybrid, this season is undoubtedly busy, with a never-ending list of lessons to plan, meetings to attend, and emails to send or calls to make. It is difficult to find a balance between...
If you’re anything like me, you love telling people about the life of a music teacher. You love sharing all of the fun stories from your classroom and can’t stop thinking about the next exciting lesson you want to teach. But let’s talk about all of the...
I can’t believe it’s July already! While you’re taking time this summer to relax and get your curriculum ready, you should also take some time to think about things you may need to purchase for your classroom.
Here are some of my personal favorite...
We all know students get anxious about the first day of school, but so do teachers! I have struggled with anxiety and jitters leading up to the first day of school every year I have taught.
Along the way, I’ve come up with the...
“Summertime! And the living is easy!”
Those words from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess really sum up summer break for me. Summer is a time for teachers to recharge and spend time with family and friends they may not have seen during the...
Welcome to the world of elementary music! While this may not be what you originally envisioned when you first became a music major, I guarantee that this will be an exciting adventure in your career.
If you are a band, choir, or orchestra person who...