Yesterday...
My morning began with the strangest occurrence of my life. I sneezed and SNAP!... blew my back out. After twenty minutes on the floor with a heating pad, I had to start getting ready for work because we had orientation at 7:30. I couldn't twist, bend, or lift--- just stand straight up or lie flat on my back. So, needless to say, my hair looked goooooood when I finally rolled in to work. Did I mention they took our pictures for our ID's? Yeah, so I get to look at that for the next few years.
Anywho, after yet another mingle and Ra-Ra speech with my new coworkers, we headed to our individual schools for some more PD. Today's challenge? Get with other middle school teachers in your content area to design a common curriculum and common assessments. The curriculum must be written out in "I CAN" statements... For example, "I can count a rhythm aloud involving quarter notes and half notes." The "I CAN" statements must be specific, and you have to be able to assess every single one of them. They should get sequentially harder and be organized into units. Perform an item-analysis on each assessment that you will give for the year to make sure that questions are fair, effective, and balanced.
Hmmm.... what could possibly go wrong? The other choir teacher in our district is also responsible for teaching computers, drama, and arts/humanities at his school. He was also asked to revise program evaluation documents for the district. So guess who was left all by herself to do the choir stuff? Yep, the new girl. I had a general idea of what I wanted to teach over the course of the year, but I didn't have an updated curriculum from the state of Kentucky to reference. I also didn't have my assessments from last year to dissect as I wasn't a teacher last year. To me, this assignment sounded like, "Plan your entire year and make all the tests in the next four hours. Go."
A few of my colleagues approached me and said, "You know, you're different as an elective. You really don't have to do this. I mean, what is there to assess? They just sing and dance, right?" I swear, there must have been smoke coming out of my ears. I had to do this. I let myself panic for ten seconds and then just started typing. Four hours later, I had an entire curriculum written and outlines of my assessments... didn't have time to make the actual tests but I was all alone... what did they expect? This project isn't so bad if you have twelve math teachers that can each tackle a unit. Overall, I'm pleased with what I came up with. I am integrating more music theory and history into the curriculum that what has been done in the past (so I've been told). I'm also doing an additional concert and adding an after-school group. Call me naive or crazy-- I very well may be-- but I just think that kids need a well-rounded musical education.
SOAPBOX: I am already sick and tired of being told that all I do in choir with the kids is sing. I am "just" an elective (hate the word elective), and my class is essentially just to give the kids a break from the "real" classes. I have been told that all this community wants from the choral program is a couple of good concerts a year. Who cares if the kids can read music or not-- you should just teach everything by rote. You won't have enough time to teach them anything other than their three or four pieces per semester anyway. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Dear fine arts educators across the country,
Do you want to know the reason why your programs get cut? It's because you buy into this crap. It's because you don't stand up to people when they label you as "just an elective"... a glorified babysitter! If you want to be a valued part of the school's curriculum, you need to show them that you are teaching the kids so much more than just how to put on a good Christmas concert or paint a pretty picture for the Open House. When they try to excuse you from creating a detailed curriculum or from designing assessments, politely refuse and create a curriculum that puts the "core" subjects to shame. In music, show that you are teaching history, theory, logic, writing, reading, creativity, speech, professionalism, presentation, expression, and so much more. If you treat your subject are as a "core" subject and hold yourself to the same level of accountability as a "core" teacher, your students and your school will start to view you as a "core" subject. If you treat your subject area as an elective... just something extra for funzies on the side... then don't be surprised when your program is the first to go.
That's my soapbox. And this is my mission: I want to make music a valued part of the curriculum, not only at my school but also across the district. It may not happen this first year, but I plan on hanging around. :-) After all, when have I ever gone anywhere and NOT stirred things up?
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I'm an Eagle, and I am LOST!!!
After two long weeks of cleaning, organizing, and decorating my classroom, it is finally time to start thinking about actually teaching. I've been attending professional development meetings and orientations to become better acquainted with the school corporation's policies, procedures, resources, and technology. Most of the sessions have been a bore, but others have been really fun! I loved learning to use the smart boards (even though the choir room is the ONLY room without one), and I've enjoyed getting to spend some time with my fellow teachers... all of whom are fabulously supportive and all-around great people. The administration is great... my principal used to teach English and vocal music K-6.... she feels my pain and always keeps her door open for my 1,500 million bazillion questions. The secretaries are as sweet as Kentucky pecan pie~ haha! And the custodians helped me carry eight jumbo bags of trash out of my room without even batting an eye. Awesome! The staff is a good mix of younger people and seasoned veterans. Regardless of age, everyone I have met has expressed their love for the school and their job. This makes me feel really good about where I am. Is it possible that I may have landed my dream job as my first job?
Today I was in the middle of a session about co-teaching when two little girls knocked on the door. "We can't find the choir teacher!" I turned around in my seat and said, "Um... that's me!" I went out into the hall to see what they needed. I was greeted by twelve terrified-looking sixth graders with schedules in hand. "It's fourth period. We're supposed to be in choir right now."
I was totally confused as school doesn't start until August 4th. Another teacher came down the hall and explained that the students from one of the feeder elementary schools were getting to walk through their schedules. As I am not a sixth grade homeroom teacher, they forgot to notify me. Oh. I unlocked my door and the kids filed inside. They all sat in the very back row, and I coaxed them to come down to the front of the room. My mind was racing. I have fifteen whole minutes with these kids. What should I say? Mer.
"Hey, guys! Um.... welcome to choir! We're going to do a lot of fun stuff this year.... We're gonna sing a lot..." DUH! What was I thinking? So dumb. I was so nervous. The kids just stared back with their giant saucer eyes.
"Has anybody ever been in a choir before?" No hands went up. "Okay, that's alright! Has anybody had music class before?" A few hands went up. "Alright, then... Well, this year you'll learn to read music and we'll learn about music history (You know, the dead old guys all the way up through rock n' roll hopefully). We'll talk about musicals and maybe some operas...." More staring.
A hand went up. Thank God. "Yes?"
"My mom said we get to dance. Do we get to dance?"
"Sure!" I noticed the one guy in the classroom get a panicked look on his face. "But it won't be the hard stuff and there will always be a guy part!" He relaxed.
"Well, I guess I could start learning your names...." We went down the row and I tried to remember their names. I told them I'd probably forget them because I'm bad with names, but it's a start! I reassured the one boy that he wouldn't be the only guy in the class (there's five of them actually... haha). Apparently his mom made him take the class. I really hope he sticks with it. I told him that the ladies love guys that can sing like Justin Beiber.
"I don't like Justin Beiber," he challenged.
"Selena Gomez likes Justin Beiber... Do you like Selena Gomez?" I answered.
"Yeah!" His face lit up. Great... now I just have to find some way to get Selena Gomez to my choir concerts.
After some more chatting about concerts and what kind of music we might sing, the bell rang for the kids to head to their next class. A little girl from the front row came up and threw her arms around my waist. "You are already my favorite teacher! You are so happy!" I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or cry more. Haha!
On our way out the door, the one boy in the class came up to me--- that deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes all over again. "I'm an Eagle and I am LOST!!!"
Mer? Then I realized that the kids are put in learning groups: Eagles, Constellations... and some other crazy names I can't remember. He didn't know where his group was supposed to go next. "Let me see your schedule." Social studies. I was pretty sure that was upstairs. "Come on bud, I'll walk with you. You won't be late, don't worry!" We passed some custodians and I heard them joke about how it was like the blind leading the blind. Yep. I had no idea where this room was. Soon, we ran into the teacher designated as the Eagle leader and she took him to social studies. Phew. I went back to my professional development session and eagerly awaited the next group of 6th graders headed to choir.
When I worked at Washington, I hated the sixth graders. They seemed so elementary-- like they needed to be babysat constantly. But these sixth graders are different somehow. I love them already, and that makes me really excited. They are just so. darn. cute. Seriously. For the first time in years, I am pumped to go back to school. I can't wait to meet my students. Thank you, sixth grade. Thank you, Eagles. :-)
Today I was in the middle of a session about co-teaching when two little girls knocked on the door. "We can't find the choir teacher!" I turned around in my seat and said, "Um... that's me!" I went out into the hall to see what they needed. I was greeted by twelve terrified-looking sixth graders with schedules in hand. "It's fourth period. We're supposed to be in choir right now."
I was totally confused as school doesn't start until August 4th. Another teacher came down the hall and explained that the students from one of the feeder elementary schools were getting to walk through their schedules. As I am not a sixth grade homeroom teacher, they forgot to notify me. Oh. I unlocked my door and the kids filed inside. They all sat in the very back row, and I coaxed them to come down to the front of the room. My mind was racing. I have fifteen whole minutes with these kids. What should I say? Mer.
"Hey, guys! Um.... welcome to choir! We're going to do a lot of fun stuff this year.... We're gonna sing a lot..." DUH! What was I thinking? So dumb. I was so nervous. The kids just stared back with their giant saucer eyes.
"Has anybody ever been in a choir before?" No hands went up. "Okay, that's alright! Has anybody had music class before?" A few hands went up. "Alright, then... Well, this year you'll learn to read music and we'll learn about music history (You know, the dead old guys all the way up through rock n' roll hopefully). We'll talk about musicals and maybe some operas...." More staring.
A hand went up. Thank God. "Yes?"
"My mom said we get to dance. Do we get to dance?"
"Sure!" I noticed the one guy in the classroom get a panicked look on his face. "But it won't be the hard stuff and there will always be a guy part!" He relaxed.
"Well, I guess I could start learning your names...." We went down the row and I tried to remember their names. I told them I'd probably forget them because I'm bad with names, but it's a start! I reassured the one boy that he wouldn't be the only guy in the class (there's five of them actually... haha). Apparently his mom made him take the class. I really hope he sticks with it. I told him that the ladies love guys that can sing like Justin Beiber.
"I don't like Justin Beiber," he challenged.
"Selena Gomez likes Justin Beiber... Do you like Selena Gomez?" I answered.
"Yeah!" His face lit up. Great... now I just have to find some way to get Selena Gomez to my choir concerts.
After some more chatting about concerts and what kind of music we might sing, the bell rang for the kids to head to their next class. A little girl from the front row came up and threw her arms around my waist. "You are already my favorite teacher! You are so happy!" I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or cry more. Haha!
On our way out the door, the one boy in the class came up to me--- that deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes all over again. "I'm an Eagle and I am LOST!!!"
Mer? Then I realized that the kids are put in learning groups: Eagles, Constellations... and some other crazy names I can't remember. He didn't know where his group was supposed to go next. "Let me see your schedule." Social studies. I was pretty sure that was upstairs. "Come on bud, I'll walk with you. You won't be late, don't worry!" We passed some custodians and I heard them joke about how it was like the blind leading the blind. Yep. I had no idea where this room was. Soon, we ran into the teacher designated as the Eagle leader and she took him to social studies. Phew. I went back to my professional development session and eagerly awaited the next group of 6th graders headed to choir.
When I worked at Washington, I hated the sixth graders. They seemed so elementary-- like they needed to be babysat constantly. But these sixth graders are different somehow. I love them already, and that makes me really excited. They are just so. darn. cute. Seriously. For the first time in years, I am pumped to go back to school. I can't wait to meet my students. Thank you, sixth grade. Thank you, Eagles. :-)
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