I caved and bought Tieks

Okay,

So for some background, I injured my back when I was 17.  A decade later, it is still causing problems.  For the past 5-6 years, I've been wearing Naturalizer brand shoes.  They come with really nice padding and support in the shoe and have really helped when I am teaching on my feet all day long.  (When I was intern, I tried wearing kitten heals every day and I about died at the end of those four months.  I was in really bad shape in terms of my back.  Which is when I decided to look for better shoes).

Paying even 80 dollars for the Naturalizer shoes makes me balk.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on things.  I cried when I bought my car!

So I've been researching and reading about Tieks for over a year now.  I have read ALL these reviews written by teachers who swear all their feet and back pain have disappeared since they started wearing Tieks to work.  The thing that held me back from taking the plunge was the expensive price tag.  Currently, the cheapest price tag says $175.  And they go up from there!

But my Naturalizer shoes only ever last about a year.  Paying 80 dollars for a pair of shoes that only last a year is something that makes me go "AAAHHHHH."  I've read so many reviews from teachers who say their Tieks are perfect even after 3 years.

So, after much debate, I decided to go through with it!  I bought myself a pair of Navy Tieks.  I wanted to get a neutral that would go with a lot of things.  I LOVE brown.  But I, personally, just don't like mixing brown and black.  As much as I wanted a brown pair, that was out.  And black was out for the same reason.  I fell in love with the Taupe color...but of course, the ONLY size that is out in Taupe is MY size.  So I settled on the Navy which I can wear with brown AND black!  My mother suggested using these for a few months and if they are as good as all the reviews say, to buy a second pair in another color so I can alternate.

(This image is straight from their website!)

I am excited for them (and sad because my bank account just got much lighter!)

I will post a review of them once they come in and I wear them for a while!

New School and Room Theme Reveal!

I have some news!  At the start of the new school year in August, I will officially be at a different school!  This school is a Title 1 school with a lot of children who really need a lot of love and support.  In addition, it's my understanding that they haven't had a consistent music program in quite a long time so I can do a lot with it!

I am really excited for my new adventure!

Now, as you know, I generally theme my classroom.  2 years ago was Harry Potter.  Last year was How to Train Your Dragon.  This year's room theme is going to be......Star Wars!!!

I have started making the classroom decor to fit my theme and I could not be more excited!

Here is a sneak peak:

These are what my instrument labels are going to look like - I always put a label on the bins that hold each instrument.

These are for my lesson plan binders.  I am crazy and have a binder for EACH grade level.  So each grade level gets a cover.  (Each grade level's is a different color for the space background - this one is blue, first is black, etc.  And each grade level's has a different Star Wars symbol in the corner).

Dynamics Posters.  I am also going to be doing tempo posters as well.  And I think vocabulary posters/cards too.  Each has a different character.

These are the classroom rules!  So excited for these!  Each features a different character as well as a different color scheme.

So excited for these Pentatonic posters I am going to be putting on my wall!

*****If anyone would like a copy of the resources I am making for my classroom for free, comment with your email address and I can send them to you*****

I will post more pictures once I can get into my classroom and begin the process of inventorying what I have at my new school and getting the room ready for the school year.

End of the School Year

As we approach the end of the school year, does anyone else just think "I can get through this, I can get through this!"  I feel like the Little Engine that Could.  Although sometimes I feel like the Little Engine that Can't.

By the end of the year, I let loose the reins a little bit in the class and let them take charge of their learning.  I give them more options on what we can do with a piece and encourage them to make up their own parts to songs that we are doing.  Oftentimes, they add their own contrasting sections as well as intros and codas.

Sometimes it's hard not to just say, "LET'S PLAY GAMES FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS" because I'm so tired.  And they go on SO many field trips and have SO many assemblies that it is hard to stay consistent with each class.  But somehow I make it through.

Does anyone have any favorite end of the year activities they like to do with their students?

2015-2016 Room Reveal

Hello,

It's been a while since I posted on here.

This year, I decided to theme my room with "How to Train Your Dragon."  I am such a nerd at heart and the kids all know this.  Last year was Harry Potter and this year is Dragons which means fire and vikings and dragons, Oh My!

Solfege Bulletin Board

I saw a lot of Sailing Through the Staff boards last year with a nautical theme - chief among them being Lindsey Jervis.  I took that idea but modified it with Vikings.

A curtain made with fire fabric and black fabric that, up close, looks like Toothless scales.  My best friend helped me sew them :)

Fire curtain for my table.

Viking curtain for my other table.

View of my chairs, sit spots, drums, and solfege board.

View of all my drums, piano, rules, etc.

Orff instruments.

View from my door when you enter the room.

Cover for my teacher binder.  I also have binders for each grade level.  And each is a different color with a different character.

Progress

This is my first year teaching in the same school as the year before.  After my first year teaching I ended up moving and getting a job at my current school.  This is now my third year teaching.  And let me just say, there is a big difference when you go back to the same room, instruments, and students.

I can actually see the progress we made last year and we are making even more this year!!  I'm actually quite excited with the progress of some of my students.

I took my Orff Level 1 training this past summer.  One of the things I learned about was letting go and letting the students create.  I'm trying to do this as much as possible now that they have learned the basic foundations last year.  The students get to chose the instruments when we do different songs.  the students get to create "B Sections" to a piece of music we are doing.  The students get to create some movement, choreography to pieces and perform it for their teacher.

I'm having so much fun letting them take control!

New Year!

It's that time of year again!  We are headed back to school tomorrow for pre-planning and the kids come a week later!!  This year I am going to promote reading in my classroom.  In order to do that I decided to theme my room as a harry potter room after seeing a blog post about dividing kids into Harry Potter houses for class discipline,etc.

I kind of went overboard - banners above the instruments:

Cast a spell with Solfege Bulletin Board (with owls!  I got the idea to use records for the eyes on pinterest!)

Music Rules

Alphabet pennant banners!

Instrument Bin Labels

"I solemnly swear...."

"Music Managed"

Orff Level 1 Certification

I just completed Week 1 of my Orff Level 1 certification.  I'm taking it with Sandy and  Gretchen.  I've been to a number of workshops led by them over the years but I never fail to learn something new from them every time I see them.  It's been a really great time getting to know them as well as my classmates.

As a young teacher who just finished her second year teaching, I know I have a lot to learn which is why I am taking this class.  I am very happy to see that I am doing so many things "right" according to the Orff method.  My process for teaching is what they are teaching us in this class which is good to see.

The best thing is that they are helping me learn the little intricate details and rules.  I have composed my own music for the classroom...for my students.  But there are so many things they are telling me that I never knew before and I am so excited to use them in my classroom.  This includes WHEN to use a bordun, what kind of bordun, what voice to put it in, etc.  I'm super excited to go back and refine my lessons and use this information in my class!