Welcome to the final stop in the GTKY blog hop! If you haven't had a chance to see all of the other posts, make sure you follow the link at the end of this post to go back to the beginning and hop through all the wonderful blogs! I am collaborating with several other music teacher bloggers to have a little online mixer! :) We are each answering some questions to introduce ourselves, and we're asking you, the reader, to answer the questions as well. We want to both give you some insight into us as teachers/bloggers (and hopefully introduce you to some awesome blogs you hadn't discovered yet), and also get to know you as colleagues. We truly want our blogs to be places to share ideas and collaborate- we get so few chances to talk to others in our profession when we are often the only music teacher in our building(s)!
OK, so I'm going to answer three questions to introduce myself, and then ask you to answer the final question (highlighted) in the comments below. The best part is, if you answer the questions on each of the blog posts in the hop, you can enter to win a basket full of teacher goodies (see picture below- tons of awesome stuff to make Back to School a little easier!), You'll need to leave your email address in the giveaway box below before August 4, and then go through the hop and answer each of the questions on the other blogs (if you haven't already). Ready?
1. What state/region you are in?
I am currently in Connecticut. My school is a Title 1 school in an area that is somewhere between urban and suburban. I have only been here for 3 years though- I grew up mostly in Japan (with some time in Scotland, Nashville, TN, and St. Louis, MO thrown in for good measure) and spent the first 7 years of my teaching career in Seoul, South Korea. This is my first time teaching in the U.S. and it is very different but very fun! :)
2. What is your background education/experience?
I have a Bachelors in Music Education from Wheaton College in IL, and a Masters in Music Education from Boston University in MA. I am certified K-12 in all music areas, but I have taught elementary general music for most of my teaching career. Most of my jobs have included a choir or two, one job included an orchestra, and in my current position I also teach a drumming ensemble and a step group, and while I enjoy my ensembles, my heart is in general music class. I love encouraging children to explore all aspects of music and helping them find their strengths and passions!
3. What is your favorite part of the teaching day?
It will come as no surprise to many of you that the earlier in the morning it is, the more I like it ') But yes, my favorite part of the school day is my morning duty- my job is to stand in the front lobby, just inside the one entrance to the building, and greet students as they come in. Being a morning person, I am happiest at that time of day, and I love being able to talk to students as they come in! Because we're all so busy during the school day, if I ever need to talk to a specific student about something, I usually try to catch them in the morning. I often bring down a sticky note with names of students I need to catch and what I need to talk to them about. I also like having my small ensembles perform every now and then before school in the lobby. The teachers and students love it when they come in hearing upbeat music! It's a great way to start the day :)
OK, that's it for me! Now it's your turn: What is YOUR favorite part of the teaching day? Make sure to leave your email address in the giveaway entry below, or we'll have no way of contacting you when you win! :)
Once you've left your comment on this post and entered the giveaway with your name and email, make sure you head back to the beginning of the blog hop if you haven't been through all of the posts yet. Your giveaway entry won't count unless you've commented on all of the posts, and there are a lot of other awesome teachers to meet! Click on the picture below to start back at The Yellow Brick Road and get to know Jennifer! :)
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My favorite part of the day is 3rd grade. They have been my favorite grade to teach. They are old enough to perform some really complex music, but haven't developed that peer awareness where they are worried to show their enthusiasm if this is "uncool". I started allowing third graders to audition for choir and Orff a couple years ago and it has really helped the attitude of the ensembles.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely one of the best things about 3rd grade. I could never pick a favorite grade because I like different things about each grade I teach, but 3rd graders are unique in there social in-between-ness for sure :)
DeleteMy favorite part of the day is First Grade. They are my favorite-I love laughing with them and playing too. They sooooo want to learn and do their best!
ReplyDeleteThat age is so fun to be silly with!! :D
DeleteMy favorite part of the day is dismissal duty! I like greeting the kids as our walkers and car riders come into the gym at the end of the day for dismissal. I like to hear about the best part of their day and their favorite activities. Then even better, I get to load them into their cars and share a kind word with their parent about their day. It's such a silly thing, but as a parent, I love knowing how my son's day went and I love being able to provide to my parents as well.
ReplyDeleteOh good, I'm glad someone else thinks duties can be fun :) We get so little time to have those individual conversations during the school day.
DeleteMy favorite part of the day is definitely kindergarten. They are so wiggly, but so is the music curriculum. We love to move and flow and sing and dance!
ReplyDeleteYour kindergarten music class sounds like so much fun! Can I join?? :) I love dancing and moving with my kindergarten kiddos too :)
DeleteCan I say LUNCH?? ha ha I think my favorite part of the day is fourth grade. They are eager to please. They still like their teachers and haven't started down that slippery hormone slope that many fifth graders slide down.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, there always has to be one person that says lunch... ;) 4th graders learn so much- they are a great age.
DeleteMy favorite part of the day is 4th grade. They are sweet and yet old enough to "get it" :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, I love teaching 4th grade!
DeleteMy favorite part of the teaching day is the morning. I'm wide awake and ready to go.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only weirdo who loves mornings!! :) I am definitely at my best in the morning.
DeleteMy favorite part of the teaching day was usually 2nd grade classes. I absolutely adored that age group. They were more independent than the younger grades, but still completely willing to be ridiculous and have fun with me. We entertained each other, and it was great :)
ReplyDeleteI love 2nd grade! They are like little sponges :)
DeleteMy favorite part of the day is kindergarten. They are so tiny and so excited to come to music. Love their little faces and their hugs. They love everything - singing, moving, instruments and aren't afraid to try anything.
ReplyDeleteI could never pick a favorite grade- every time I start to tell myself that a certain grade is my favorite, I think of another grade that I like for some other reason... Haha, that said, I have always said "the younger the better" and overall, that's true for me- I'd much rather teach, say, Preschool through 2nd grade than 5th through 8th (and don't even think about asking me to teach high school!).
DeleteI don't know that I have a favorite time of day. I'm on a 3 day rotation and usually there ends up being that one day where you have the most frustrating classes...I like the other 2 days:)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy how that always happens? I'm on a 5-day rotation and there is always one day that has difficult classes back-to-back.
DeleteMy favorite time of the day is definitely morning. I wish all my lessons could be in the morning. I'm just my best earlier in the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only morning person! Most of my friends look at me like I have three heads when I tell them that I love mornings :)
DeleteMy favorite part? I think it is those moments where something really clicks for the kids.
ReplyDeleteOoooh I like your answer! ;) I agree, those moments are the reason we teach!!
DeleteMy favorite part of the teaching day is a bit difficult to peg as it's different for every class I teach. I think if I had to narrow it down to classes/grade levels overall, I'd go with my 2nd through 4th grade classes. There's just something special about that age group where they are really starting to get what you are teaching them, they are ready and willing to try anything and not afraid of what others think, and they are just fun and funny. :-)
ReplyDeleteMalinda
My Musical Menagerie: Kodaly and Orff Classroom
I'd love to have your morning duty! My favorite part in general is the early morning, because that's when I'm at my best. I let students into my room 3 days a week to practice recorders and band and orchestra, and even though it's chaotic, I love seeing 40 students come to my room every day because they love music that much and find my room a safe and fun place to be before school.
ReplyDelete