In my post, "What We Become," I discussed the importance of students taking responsibility for their behaviors as part of a set of strategies for improving the learning environment. In this article, I will discuss one strategy for teaching this responsibility. It is essentially the "Think time strategy" (Nelson & Carr, 1996). It is a … Continue reading Student Self-Reflection as a Tool for Teaching Social Behavior in the Classroom
Classroom Management
What We Become
If you have children, you have no doubt at some point saw or heard them do something that was exactly something you do, and which the child has picked up and begun doing themselves. Or, perhaps you have caught yourself doing something and then realized it was just like what your Mom or Dad do. … Continue reading What We Become
Music Is Becoming More Relevant Than Ever
I'm fairly certain we can agree that music conveys, expresses or evokes feelings and emotions. We've all experienced mood and emotional change while listening to music, and the relaxing or exciting effect music has not only on our emotions, but our bodies too as our heart rate increases, and we physically respond to music to … Continue reading Music Is Becoming More Relevant Than Ever
Managing Parent Contact for Music Teachers
As teachers, we all know that good communication with the parents of our students is important. Parents are interested in their child's education, and want to be informed on how thier child is doing in your class. They want to hear the good as well as the problems, and they want to do what's best … Continue reading Managing Parent Contact for Music Teachers
Working the Scheduling Kinks Out
Every year as I prepared to return to school, the foremost thing on my mind was what my schedule was going to look like. A schedule can make or break and entire year. I've had schedules in which for one or two days, I've taught seven classes straight through with only a lunch break, I've … Continue reading Working the Scheduling Kinks Out
An Approach to Lesson Planning
Some districts have a template all teachers must follow in writing their lesson plans, while others leave the form to the teacher, perhaps only requiring that certain specified elements be included. My purpose here is not to prescribe what should be included in a lesson plan, but instead to suggest an overriding outline or approach … Continue reading An Approach to Lesson Planning
Using Music Vocabulary in the Music Classroom
Teaching music vocabulary is not something that comes naturally for me. It is all too easy for me to teach lesson after lesson without naming things. That really is what vocabulary building is: giving a name to things you refer to or do. For example, I might ask a kindergarten class to sing the refrain … Continue reading Using Music Vocabulary in the Music Classroom
Starting Out In A New School
Recently, I offered suggestions for Preparing to interview for a Teaching Position. If you are looking for a teaching job, you can follow the link to read that article. Today I would like to follow up on that post and discuss how best to proceed once you are hired. When you begin in your new … Continue reading Starting Out In A New School
Getting Your Classes Off To A Good Start at Year’s Beginning
The beginning of a new school year is always a hopeful and exciting time. Students by then are happy to return to school and be reunited with friends they haven't seen all summer, and then there is the fresh start feel of a new grade, new teachers, and new classes. It is also a time … Continue reading Getting Your Classes Off To A Good Start at Year’s Beginning
Preparing to interview for a Teaching Position
If you're looking for a music teaching position this summer, you're probably at least starting to go on interviews. Because of the sometimes uncertain way in which American public schools are funded, districts often are not at liberty to move on filling a position until fairly late in the summer. This post will go over … Continue reading Preparing to interview for a Teaching Position
mister a music place 
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