Emily Anderson Karst
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • FREEBIES
  • All My Links
  • My Courses

My First Month

9/1/2016

5 Comments

 
Picture
​Well it’s Labor Day weekend and I have officially made it through my first month of teaching. Teaching elementary music is simultaneously exactly what I imagined and nothing like I expected. There have been so many happy surprises. I love the kids more than I ever thought I could in such a short time and the relationships I am building with my staff are my lifeline throughout the crazy days. There have also been unexpected challenges; like figuring out how in the world to approach your first experience with SLO’s and what kind magic it takes to make the laminator work.
 
During these first few weeks, I’ve come upon a few practices that make it all a little bit easier. They say every teacher has her own secret strategies for getting thorough the day while also planning for a successful year. I know I will develop so many more as I live and learn along with my students, but these are my first few.
 
  1. HYDRATE
I hate drinking water. Like really, I do. I have been known to not have a sip of water for a whole day just to realize that I’m dehydrated and dizzy right before bed. This bad habit did not serve me well the first week. As an elementary music teacher, you are singing or speaking loudly almost all day everyday. After my first week, my voice was so tired and strained. A fellow music teacher in the districted told me that my problem was not drinking enough water. So I started drinking water like it was my job and having warm tea at lunchtime. “Transformed” is not a strong enough word to describe how much more stamina I have now. I know this is kind of common sense, but woah, is it important.
 
  1. NAMES
I am a traveling teacher, so I travel back and forth between two elementary schools every day. Throughout the week I see a total of 800 kids. I have been trying SO hard to learn their names quickly because I want them to know that they matter to me and because I’m sick of using up class time refreshing my memory and relearning their names. Finally, this week, I got fed up with the constant cycle of learning, forgetting, reasking, retaining a few, forgetting, etc. So I lined them up in alphabetical order to match their roster order and took a picture. I quiz myself the night before I’ll have a new batch of classes to refresh my memory. Both my kids and I definitely recommend this before week 3 J
 
  1. Teach What You Love
I have always connected certain songs to certain musical concepts and deemed them essentially mandatory teaching tools for Kodaly music teaching. For example, when I’m teaching sixteenth notes, I feel like I need to use “Dance Josey” at some point. So for two weeks I included that song in the plans. But guys, I HATE THAT SONG.
 
Actually that’s not true, I like the song just fine. It’s the game that’s the problem. The kids absolutely love it for the same reasons I hate it. There’s running and racing and always a touch of chaos. The noise level is so difficult to manage with my population of kids that it stresses me out and I dread teaching it. So guess what? I stopped. Now, I’m using tools and songs that work for me (like Dinah <3) and leaving out the ones I hate. This makes me a more engaged and joyful teacher.
 
I had the good fortune to learn how to teach music from the very best of the best. But now, I have to start making my teaching my own. It has been crazy, and messy, and wonderful so far.
 
Have any new teacher tips? Share them with me in the comments!
5 Comments
MawMaw
9/1/2016 07:50:57 pm


I so enjoy reading every word of your blogs and hearing about your life. I am so happy you are happy and figuring our what works for you. No wonder you are in love with your kids. Love the pics. They are Adorable. Hope to see you over the holiday. Love you

Reply
Aileen Miracle link
9/1/2016 09:01:36 pm

Yay! I loved reading this. Such great tips for new teachers. AND I agree about not teaching songs/ games you don't love. That's why you never saw me teach "Snail, Snail"! ;) Thanks for writing, I loved reading it!

Reply
Devon Handler
9/2/2016 06:57:33 pm

It's so great to see your first month is going so well! All those kids probably already love you and can't wait to have you for many more months!

Reply
Cindy Beirne
9/4/2016 01:36:06 pm

Agreed. I teach the song Snail but don't do the wind up game. You do what works for you. Certain populations would not be appropriate for 20 Robbers but I can do it at the school I'm teaching at now. When you get to know your kids, you are the best judge of what's appropriate and what they can or cannot handle. Also, I teach using a small headset microphone and it saves my voice. My voice therapist said to use amplification BEFORE you get hoarse or sick and that will make all the difference. Have a great year!

Reply
Sage
9/4/2016 01:57:57 pm

Thank you for these notes! I am a first-year teacher as well, 3 days a week in 3 different school systems (ugh). I'll definitely be using your name technique! And drinking more water. Always more water.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    About me
    Welcome! I'm a wife, mama-to-be, foster mom, fourth year music teacher, and Jesus follower, and am chronically curious about just about everything. Join me as I explore the calling God has for my family's story.

    "I am the Vine, you are the Branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

    ​

    March 2024
    February 2022
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    FALL
    Weekly Round Ups
    Weekly Round-ups

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • FREEBIES
  • All My Links
  • My Courses