The most important part of a classroom is its atmosphere. It should be safe and welcoming.  Music students should be encouraged to explore, to try and to fail, and to persevere. In my classroom, students learn that failure is not something to fear, but instead the greatest tool learners have. If students are given ownership…

The most important part of a lesson plan is the end goal: what are students supposed to learn?  Planning then continues in reverse order.  From the goal comes the assessment strategy, from the assessment come the activities, and from the activities comes the setup.  In this kind of plan, there is no “busy work”; every…

When managing the classroom, it is important to look through a growth lens, rather than a punitive one. Students always have a reason for poor behavior; they could be distracted, energetic, bored, uncomfortable, seeking attention … the list is endless. The easiest way to avoid discipline problems, then, is to keep students engaged. In a…

The educational uses for technology are endless!  Smart boards allow teachers to project group exercises, which prevents students from sitting around bored while one section works with the teacher (see Classroom Management).  If a potential exercise presents itself mid-lesson, the teacher can even draw the exercise right on the board, which allows for flexibility in…

Music teachers are some of the schools’ best instruments (pun intended) for connecting with the community. While community involvement looks different for teachers of different age levels, they all can play a part in tying schools and families together into a cooperative learning unit. Elementary general music teachers have the benefit of seeing every child…

Herndon HS Supervisor Observation Keene Mill Elementary Supervisor Observation First Aid/CPR/AED Certification Inglesina, performed by the Herndon High School Wind Ensemble: