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Community Building in the Music Classroom classroom management classroom tips first year Jul 20, 2021

      The music room is a magical place. At any given time, someone walking in can hear folk songs being sung, students collaborating, instrumental improvisation, and many other beautiful sounds. But just ask any music teacher and you’ll quickly realize that the magic of the...

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46 | What I Wish I Knew Before Teaching first year show notes that music podcast May 25, 2021

 


 

      There are SOOOO many things I wish I knew before I walked into my music classroom. In this week’s episode I share a few of the things I truly think would have been a game-changer had I known before I started teaching music.

 

Links and Resources:

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44 | You’ve Got the Job: Now What? first year show notes that music podcast May 11, 2021

 


 

Today I share a few steps that you should take once you accept a teaching position.

      Whether it is your first position, or you’re moving onto something new, there are so many things that you need to do to help set yourself up for success.

Links and...

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Snow Day Thoughts first year music teachers teacher tips Feb 09, 2021

 

      It’s a teacher’s dream: Waking up to a beautiful blanket of snow outside and a message from your school reading “no school today, snow day!” Last week, I experienced my very first snow day as a teacher, and it turned into a double snow day. I...

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5 MORE Things About Elementary Music (That You Didn't Learn in Undergrad) educational tips elementary music first year Feb 02, 2021

 

      I often try to explain to my friends outside of the world of education what it is truly like to be an elementary music teacher. Sure, everyone has been to school and has some schema around what they believe it is like.  However, I am constantly finding occasions...

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Top 5 New Years Resolutions for the Elementary Music Teacher first year music teacher journey music teachers Jan 05, 2021

      Another year has come and gone! At the time of writing this, 2020 is winding down and (finally) coming to an end. No matter how hard this year was for all of us, teachers were able to make changes to keep our students engaged. Going into the new year, here are some ideas of...

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Labels for Children with Disabilities: What terminology should we use? exceptional learners first year teacher tips Dec 29, 2020

      Throughout my life, I have seen and heard my fair share of “polite” words to describe students with disabilities. Growing up with a brother who has autism and an intellectual disability, I have heard people describe him as “special,” an “extra...

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Tips to Calm First Day Jitters for Teachers back to school first year mental health teacher tips Sep 15, 2020

      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...

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7 Things to Do Over Summer Break to Prepare for Back to School back to school first year summer break teacher tips Sep 08, 2020

 

“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...

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10 Misconceptions About Teaching Elementary Music elementary music first year music teachers Sep 01, 2020

      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...

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You Got Your First Music Teaching Job, Now What? first year music teachers teacher tips Aug 11, 2020

 

      Congratulations! You’ve just received that long-awaited job offer you worked so hard for! Now that the offer has finally come, you can hardly contain your excitement -- and for good reason! You are about to enter one of the most fulfilling career fields out...

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5 Things About Teaching Elementary Music (That You Didn't Learn in Undergrad) educational tips first year student teaching Jul 28, 2020

 

      For better or for worse, most states' music teacher licensure includes certification in Kindergarten through high school. While this can be incredibly helpful when it comes to job security, it comes at a cost.

      For obvious reasons, most...

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