Back to School Night

Tonight was Open House at the school. I didn't really know what to expect, considering I am a specialist and that my room is off the gym. I put up my choir recruitment posters and posters pointing to the music room. Thanks to the teachers telling their homerooms to come see me, my room was packed! There was a line out the door! I am very pleased with the turn out in the music room.

My information video was a big hit too since I was talking to families the entire time! Thanks to Mrs. Q's Music Blog for the idea!

Final Classroom Tour

Well, there is officially one day until the kids come!! Here are pictures of my room because I am completely done! (The only thing I added were some last minute finds at the Family Dollar)

Daily standards poster

Music Education Standards

Art Cart

Star Status Chair

Writing prompt

My desk

Teacher area

The think spot

Finally cleaned and organized

Family Dollar find

Guitar lamp (it is really bright!)

Standards of Learning

 Today, while sitting in a meeting about the new Virginia teacher evaluation system, I had a creative moment. I realized that, just like in Tennessee, I will post the national standards for music education in my room. I also decided that I would make a specific board just for the standard that is covered each day.

I wanted it to be dry erase so I laminated two poster boards, put a cute polka dot tape around the edges and applied wall decal stickers. I bought some special "teacher only" dry erase markers in cute colors that matched perfectly!

National Standards for Music Education

Poster for daily standards met during lesson

Think Spot

I've seen it work a million times over...Time Out! That seems to be a go-to punishment and really, it makes sense. After a warning, removing the child from the situation is the logical choice (to me). So, in my classroom, we will have a time out corner. However, I'm adding a twist to it.

I'm calling the time out corner, the Think Spot. I found a cute little sign in the Walmart Dollar Bin to hang back there that says "Take It Easy".

While the student is in the Think Spot, they will have a paper to fill out. This paper allows them to reflect on the choices they have made to land them in the spot. Reflection is the only way they will understand the punishment. Here's a picture of my Think Spot worksheet:

I think this is also a good thing to put in the child's file. If things escalate and a parent must be contacted, I will have documentation of the behavior(s).

Song Index

This is a song index that I am saving for use in my classroom.

Open publication - Free publishing - More music

Technology is Just Great!

I just signed up to send text and email reminders to my students and their parents through Remind101.com. It was so easy! I tested it and it works great! They even give you instructions for the parents!

When you sign up, you get a phone number to text. You are able to create a special code for the message. Otherwise, they give you jumbled letters and numbers. Once parents send the text, a reply message is generated that asks for their full name. When they reply, they are added to my subscriber list on the website. I never have to see their phone number! Safe and easy!

Back to School Night Plans

Next week, our school hosts a Back to School night. The kids come to meet their teachers (and new teachers), drop off supplies and get back in the swing of things. I'm told there "could" be some big interest in a new music teacher! So, in hopes (and preparation) that my room is buzzing with interested kids and their parents, here are my plans.

Thanks to Mrs. Q's Music Blog for some these great ideas!

I'm really, really hoping there are people in my room! I have planned some different things to keep people busy if they happen to be talking to me.

First, I will have a movie playing on my tv in the back of the room. This movie outline what we are covering, materials the kids need, and information about chorus.

Next, I am going to have a large piece of bulletin board paper outside my door with the question, "How was your summer musical?" I am going to encourage students (and parents) to write a message and draw pictures to represent their experiences in music over the summer.

From the advice of experienced music teachers, I have created "Do Not Touch the Instruments" signs for the music room. I'm going to cover my instrument storage shelves with the signs and place them on the Orff instruments and the piano. I'm actually going to unplug the the piano, just in case. (I've ALREADY had adults in my room having a piano recital! Come on!) The temptation is just too great.

I have a rolling cart covered in cute contact paper that I am using to store the music portfolios. I am going to have all the music paperwork available for the parents here. This includes my music newsletter, recorder order form, and choir information.

As far as choir, I have a special green clipboard with a sign-up sheet attached for those students already interested in choir. With this sign-up sheet, I'm planning to get contact information from the parents to add to a emailing list so we establish communication about rehearsals, concerts, trips and general reminders.

Lastly, the thing I'm most excited about it is my QR code! Thanks to Pinterest, I found a site that allowed me to make a contact card with all my contact information. Parents with smartphones will be able to scan the QR code with a reader app and instantly save my contact information in their phone! So cool!

Here's a picture of my code. I'm going to have these posters hung around my room and outside my door.