My first Donors Choose Project

Here is the link for my first Donors Choose project! We really need a new stereo and this one is not too expensive and will work splendidly for the classes. It was not that hard (about an hour of my time) to put it together and there have already been two donations. Genial! (Awesome!)

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=550442

Sensational Strings

In addition to the Orff and Kodaly music curriculum I am using to teach the students beginner music theory, the past two months I've been teaching about les instuments à cordes It has been a slow unit (with snow days as major interruptions) but we're wrapping up the unit next week.  One incredibly unique opportunity our school has is a beginner strings program! A wonderful instructor named Mariana has started giving lessons this semester and UMSL donated several 1/4 and 1/8 size violins for our students. As of now, there are about 12 students taking private lessons!
It is a goal of mine to enroll more students in string lessons with "Madame Mariana" Many of our students come from non-classical backgrounds and it would be such a wonderful experience for them to begin an instrument at this age. 
A high point in my 1st grade classes yesterday was showing youtube videos demonstrating different string instruments. I showed them a couple videos of my brother-in-law Joshua Roman who is a cellist. After his Popper #28 video, the 1st grade students were all smiles and amazement. They even applauded! Inspiring young children to not only enjoy music but want to play musical instruments-this is why I do what I do.

POPPER PROJECT #28: Joshua Roman plays Etude no. 28 for cello by David P...

Flippin' Flip Forms

Before I began my position I observed another music teacher in the area. She is brilliant in many ways and I decided to emulate her teaching as much as possible. Through her encouragement I am using the Orff approach and I decided to redo the music classroom. Thankfully our school has dozens of "flip forms" which are kid-sized plastic risers in bright colors. So, instead of having the students sit in little black chairs along the wall (like the former teacher and current Spanish music teacher) every week, my assistant and I stack up the black chairs and roll out the flip forms. I am very grateful for his help and bring him coffee to show my gratitude.
I have a love/hate relationship with these flip forms. I like the performance mind-set it gives the students. I do not like that some students (about 3 per class) think of the flip forms as trampolines. I like the way they brighten up the room but I do not like moving them! They are a bit heavy until you "flip" them onto the side with wheels. I guess it is a little weight lifting training I won't have to do at the gym.
So in order to make my flip form class run smoothly, I have set in place some strict procedures.
1. I assign the children their spot on the flip forms.
2. They have to sit with their feet against the grey. When we stand up, they have to stay in the same spot.
3. If they jump off, slide their feet around, lay down, etc. they have to sit on a red line on the floor as a warning. 2nd infraction they move to a black chair with immediate supervision by my assistant Monsieur Abdou.
I have come to learn that with children of this age, I have to focus on being very consistent and repetitive. Even now, 4 months after introducing flip forms some students still can't handle them. As we say in French, Dommage! Too bad! Sit down on the red line.
Today, one of my most difficult 1st grade classes was amazing at sitting on the flip forms and keeping their musical instruments (tambourines and finger cymbals) on their knees when we weren't playing. It was very encouraging! Constant repetition does work.
I had another encouraging experience yesterday with a student who had been misbehaving with his finger cymbals (he put sat on them and scraped them on the flip form) I was able to keep him for a couple of minutes after class and I had him practice how to properly play his finger cymbals. He not only performed the 7 part rondo perfectly, he also sat with his feet against the grey and back straight as a rod. I'll wager that next time he comes to music class, I won't have as many issues with him! He left with a proud quiet smile. This is why I do what I do.

Un, deux, trois, Bonjour!

Bonjour!
I have never done a blog before and who knows if this will help anyone but I thought "Pourquoi pas?" Why not?
A bit of introduction:
I am an elementary music teacher. In a very unique school. A French Immersion school, where (in theory) 100% of instruction is in French. So, my position is just like any other music teacher except I teach the lessons in French and instead of singing "Let it snow" at the Winter Concert my students sing "Mon bonhomme de neige"
However, I'll be the first to admit that I am not highly qualified. At best, I am slightly qualified. I am a musician (flute) but I've never taken music theory or music education classes. But God is gracious and my parents-in-law are actually music professors! They have been helping me immensely and my violinist husband is a huge encouragement.
My goal is to become highly qualified before the next school year begins. This will mean hopefully attending some summer workshops on music education and taking the Music Content Praxis exam. I just got the study guide. Maybe this blog will help me stay on track for this intense certification process! I not only have to teach myself music theory, I need to know all the extra concepts that a four year music education degree would have given me. I do have my French K-12 certification so that is très bien!
Wow, long introduction!

Before I let you go, (thanks for reading so far!) I'll share a triumph moment from last weeks teaching. I'll try to always leave you with a positive anecdote. It is very easy for us teachers to complain and despair. I don't want to do that here.

Last week, I had the students color different string instruments to decorate our classroom. While they were working (only 2 classes were super calm) I played a youtube video of a Mozart concerto. One rowdy kindergarten boy just dropped his crayons and scooted up closer to see and listen to the string quartet. He was mesmerized, undoubtedly this music was very different from the rap he hears on the radio. This is one of the reasons why I do what I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n8BZT_1H8M