It’s almost that time! If you are a Canadian teacher, we are getting ready to head back to school in September. It can be overwhelming, especially as a music teacher. You are starting with a fresh slate and can create new or adjust old routines. You can completely change what you do, if you truly so desired. But where to start? A blank page can also be intimidating because you can LITERALLY do anything. Here are some tips, in no particular order.
Tip #1: The Students
This can be a year-long process. With every new kindergarten group (or other similar transitions) comes a new batch of names and faces. The first thing to do is get your rosters in order. Look through the students you have previously taught and refresh your mind with their names. If you have the previous years’ yearbook handy, take a look at their pictures. Make note of which students you need to remind yourself of and also how they spell their names.
This will also allow you to communicate with the previous years’ teachers and provide the opportunity to inquire about student behaviour, academic success or adaptations, and even parent engagement. Some teachers avoid doing this as to not set a bias for the new year, but for other students, the more info, the better. Select a few to be curious about.
While you are familiarizing yourself with the class lists, prepare any “name stuff” that you may require throughout the year. Some teachers label EVERYTHING with student names or assigned numbers. Personally, my music room has a name tag for each student who then have the responsiblity a few times throughout the year to be the “Conductor of the Day”, a.k.a, my special helper. Check this blog post for more details on that.
Tip #2: The Systems
Systems will help your classroom life run smoothly. They will help you keep your sanity as you deal with noise makers; both human and non-human. Decide how you want your students to be ready to learn. I once had a mentor explain that routines begin BEFORE you get into the music room. For example, how do you expect students to walk in the hallway? Do they know where to go when they are coming in? Will they have assigned spots? What are your classroom expectations? Similarly to entering, how should the students exit? Do they line up? Do the classroom teachers have a line order? What about fire drills? Do you take them to wash their hands before lunch? How do you want them to be excused to go to the bathroom during class???
Have protocols in place for everything. Students learn from repetition so do what you preach. Walk the walk while you talk the talk. Demonstrate the proper way to move and put away instruments, how to participate in games, where to get writing utensils from, etc. If you are very strict the first few weeks, this will set the precedent for the whole year. It will also encourage students to be leaders in your music room.
Tip #3: Parental Involvement
It is so important to develop relationships with the parents of your students. Not only does it keep you informed about the students, it develops trust from the parents. This will come in handy when students have poor behaviour, when Christmas Concerts are happening, or literally any other reason. It’ll prevent any suprises during those awkard parent-teacher conferences. However, this can be difficult. Personally, my school has about 300 students from K-3. It is a huge feat to “meet” every special adult.
One way to combat this is to send home a brief “meet the teacher letter”. Provide some facts about yourself, have contact info and even include a photo of yourself. This can provide clarity and security for parents to see who is in contact with their children. Click here to get your own EDITABLE copies.
Another way to have parents engaged is through technology. It can be quite daunting but rest assured, IT’S WORTH IT. If we’re being honest, most work from music class doesn’t make it home or if it does, it doesn’t make sense (especially if we’re considering composition or expressionism). Have interviews with your students about their work and send it to the parents. Have your students perform a song and record it! Both of these things are curricular and also advocate for music education. My favorite tool for this is an app called “SeeSaw”. It is a little tedious to set up at first but it is INTEGRAL in my program. Your school may have an app they require or you can experiment with some others:
- ClassDojo
- Edmodo
- Google Classroom
- SchoolMessenger
- Parentsquare
- SeeSaw
Tip #4: Sub Tub/Binder
As much as we don’t like to admit it, life can happen at the most inconvenient times in the craziest of ways. It can be totally unpredicatble. In saying that, most divisions/districts run short on music-capable substitutes. You can be rest assured that there are ways around this which will help you focus on the reason that you are absent for.
Firstly, have all of the basic information that helps run the school (Mr. ____________ in the principal and the best way to reach him is by ____________). This should include contact info for important people such as administration, resource and custodial staff. Make sure you highlight emergency protocols such as fire drill line ups and inclement weather procedures. Also point out the expectations for the music room. Have enough explanation that there is absolutely no ambiguity. Click here for posters!
Secondly, have timetables and student rosters. A brief “class profile” and “crowd control” section has been key in my years as a sub. It gave me a heads up on certain behaviours and things to do for several circumstances.
Finally, and some would argue most importantly, have some sub plans all ready to go. For a sub that has no experience of music, have a list of books to read, apps to play, or shows to watch. Here is a list of music-themed shows. For subs that are comfortable with music education, have detailed lesson plans with times and photocopies. For example, listen to a song for the first five minutes then have students complete a journal entry. Include activities for the different grade levels. ALWAYS leave a section for notes and encourage the sub to keep inventory of the days’ events.
Don’t stress!
I will be working away on these throughout my summer as well. But don’t feel guilty if you rest for full days or weeks. You are a hard worker and deserve the time off!