There are days that I love being a teacher and then there are days that make me want to curl up in a ball in the corner and hide. There are also those moments that you just have to shake your head and laugh because whatever just was said or done is funny or you are trying to keep from crying. 

As my second year of teaching is quickly coming to an end, I am realizing that I should have been writing down some of the things that have happened during my day. For right now, we will focus on today.

I saw my high school choir today and we are one week away from a three day trip and a little under two weeks away from our spring concert. Add to that that we are all feeling the spring bug and a third of my class is seniors makes for an interesting mix this time of year. Overall, my students were doing a nice job of focusing and following direction with minimal talking during transitions. While I was working with my ladies on their song, my guys decided they would join in. I don’t know what was the best part: the dance moves, the fact that the guys chose to sing in their falsetto voice, the fact that they were completely serious about what they were singing or a combination of all of the above. I somehow kept conducting and somehow we made it through the song. My favorite part of this is that my guys often are disengaged on their own part and I find a hard balance between encouraging them and correcting them. Too much correction and they stop singing. 

After lunch I saw my second section of 5th grade. Tuesday they had a case of “let’s ask Ms. Smith questions about herself” in the middle of the lesson. I told them that if they kept all five stars up in music on Thursday (today) I would answer five questions. They did not keep five stars up today but I did concede to two questions. After a quick huddle to decide on the two questions they were ready to go. The first one was my age and they were very clear that I could not lie. Being a teacher I had to make them work for it so I only told them the year I was born. A few quick thinkers asked what month and they quickly figured out my age. The second question I knew was coming because they had already tried to ask it Tuesday. It was: “have you ever or do you currently have a boyfriend.” My answer of “no” had them in an uproar. As fifth graders, they could not imagine that I had never had a boyfriend! Oh the horror! It was an interesting way to finish our music class but a fun twist. 

A proud moment today was seeing my 3rd graders perform with their recorders today as an introduction to their play “My Father’s Dragon”. They performed “Entrance of the Dragon Riders” and it was a perfect addition to their program. They did a great job and I am so happy that they got a chance to perform before the elementary students and their parents! You can find the music through MusicK8 .

On Thursday’s I teach the co-op special education students (PIP class). Most of the students stay in the classroom for the entire day but there are a few that that only go to the room for certain resources or when they need to get away from their main stream classroom. My fifth grade class that I talked about earlier has seen me getting ready for the PIP students at the end of their music class and several of them started asking who I was getting ready for and if they could help. AFter spring break I set it up with their grade level teacher so that a few of them could stay behind and help out. I love teaching the PIP students and seeing the lightbulb turn on for them with something we have done for weeks or see them connect or respond to music in a new way. Seeing my students interact with them and the joy that they get from that interaction has made me extremely proud of my students. The fifth grade student especially really want to help and want to know how to help the students. They don’t just sit close to the students, they are willing to take instruction, work with the student, talk with he student, etc. The last few times they have helped, one of their first questions when we are done is: “When can I come back?” I hope they never lose that joy of helping and I hope that working with the PIP students might light a fire for some of them to work with students with special needs as they grow older. 

A few last random thoughts.

I loved having one of my accompanists at school today for three of my choirs. It was nice to be able to walk around and actually conduct!

I saw on of my PIP students this morning and said good morning like I usually do but his eyes lit up when he saw me and I know that it was because he knew today was a music day. He might not be able to express his thoughts and feelings with words but the look on his face was pure joy!

I like coffee and try as I may, cutting back to chai or tea in the morning is not going to work anytime soon

Where did the summer go and how is it the end of August already?!?

I have had a crazy start to the school year but I will update you about that later. For now I want to share with you my choir room. 

One of the things I love the most about my choir room is the Baby Grand Piano! Unfortunately, the piano is stuck in the room and can only be taken out for concerts if the piano tuner comes, takes off the legs and tunes it after each move. One of these days I would like to use it in a concert but for now it makes a wonderful practice piano The risers are great for choir as well as show choir rehearsals that occur in this room after school. The big mirror that you see in the picture was heavy and awkward. The legs have been taken off and it works nicely back stage during the Singsation show (Singsation is the title of the show choir at my school and everyone knows show choir as Singsation). The large wooden cabinet you see in the top right picture has also been removed and replaced with more filing shelves. I was running out of room for my sheet music. The bottom left picture was taken from the center of the room on the risers. You can see the white board, random hallway, and my office. I loved that I had some flexibility in the room and freedom to create whatever atmosphere I wanted. The biggest thing that I did not like about the room was that the history of the choir department was not present and in addition to looking cold it usually was cold. 

Drumroll please…..

Here is a peak inside my choir room a year later! This room finally is a happy place to create music! The mural was an idea I had last fall. Instead of traditional note-heads, I used paw prints since we are the Bulldogs! The racks you see in the top left picture are used for show choir costumes when we start fitting the students. Behind the racks are double hanging rods. They used to be there and then were moved up to the attic above the stage and choir room (nightmare!) and now they are back in the choir room. I am still trying to figure out how to hang a curtain in front of the costumes. I found some of the old Singsation posters and put those under the clock in the room to add a little history. Above the filing cabinets are three photo collages made by students with pictures I found in the choir room, vintage musical posters from an old calendar, and the Singsation XVI sign that was above the stage. The signs you see in the bottom two pictures are chromatic solfege signs that I made last year to help my students. I have also added hand signs to one of my office doors. 

The room may not look drastically different but to me there is life and memories and history! Plus, if I am going to spend hours in this room I want it to feel comfortable and welcoming

Quick view into my choir office in 2011

Let’s not dwell on the lack of color, personality, cat hair covered office chair that is at least two sizes too big for me, and the overall blandness. 

And a happier view in 2012!

Spray painted wood chair in place of the oversized chair that did not fit me. Small fridge and microwave for all the long days and I am loving the piano on this side of the office. Bookshelves all in a row and music storage in my office. The milk crates have honor choir music and current music for the choirs. The shelves have pulled music for all performing ensembles and the mini milk crate holds my copies of music for all the classes. The binder is something new I am trying this year. I have a monthly calendar for each grade level with all the performances throughout the year. For my elementary classes, I used sticky notes to map out how many times I would see each class, what lessons I wanted to cover, and when I wanted to start working on music for elementary performances. I love the pops of color and the organization. If I don’t at least fake being organized I think I would lose my mind teaching K-12!

Next up: Elementary Music Room!

What do you do to add life to a bland room?