A Day in the Life of an Elementary Music Teacher

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A Day in the Life of an Elementary Music Teacher
(Tips for Success)

• Presented by
• Dr. Martina Miranda

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Lets begin the day . . .
with Mrs. Lockner at the Elm Street
School

• Arrive at school
• Greet the secretary
• Wait to sign-in
• Playground Duty
• (800-830 am)
• Gather the mail
• Read an announcement for a 300 pm meeting
• Go to the music room and prep for 1st 3 classes

750 am
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Todays Music Schedule

• 850 - 920 K
• 925 - 955 K
• 1000 - 1030 K
• 1045 - 1115 5th
• 1120 - 1150 4th
• (lunch)
• 1225 - 1255 3rd
• 100 - 135 3rd
• 140 - 210 2nd
• 300 Teachers meeting

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Kindergarten Music (3)

• Vocal exploration (puppet)
• Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• Bought Me a Cat (animal visuals)
• Steady beat responses to excerpts from The
  Washington Post March and Four Seasons Winter
  (2 recordings)
• Assessment activity (in class notebook)
• Closing with a beat leader

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5th grade Music

• Instructions on board/books passed out
• Clap a rhythm pattern (written on board) selected
  from Hill an Gully
• Identify pattern repetitions in score (textbook)
• Move to the syncopated pattern while listening to
  Alabama Gal (instrumental recording)
• Discussion of syncopation, timbre, expression

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4th grade Music

• Review of a familiar song Erie Canal
• Tone bell experiment - find 3 bells that sound
  pleasing and through trial error a discovery
  that every other bell works best in combination
  (tone bells mallets)
• Notate a triad on the staff, write C and D triads
  (felt staff/note bags)
• Continued experimentation with triads
• Zum Gali Gali w/dm triad accomp.

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Lunch
Surprise . . .

• Prep. for 3rd grade find materials for 3 special
  needs students (pictures for a new song, pipe
  cleaner pictures with braille text, mallet with
  adaptor grip)
• While fixing instant soup Oh, Mrs. Lockner . . .
  2nd grade has a new unit on China starting TODAY
  . . .

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3rd grade Music

• Echo rhythm patterns
• Review of Make New Friends
• (use materials for special needs students)
• - includes discussion about improving vocal
  technique - list ideas on board try out ideas
  as listed (posture, sirens, breath support)
  discuss results
• Repeat song one last time adding percussion
  instruments (triangle, wood block, tambourine, 2
  hand drums)

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2nd grade Music

• Review singing game Bow. Wow, Wow
• Rhythm puzzle game (song pattern cards)
• Small groups - create a four line composition
  using same rhythms in any combination/order. Add
  melody on glockenspiels xylophones (sets of
  rhythm cards instruments mallets pre-arranged
  in group areas)
• Group performances

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The end of the day . . .

• Clean up put away materials/instruments
• Set-up for lunch choir rehearsal tomorrow
• - choose a new piece
• - review rehearsal notes and write out plan
• - write parent letter
• Faculty meeting

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So what can we learn . . .

• From Mrs. Lockner?
• She knew four primary things
• Her repertoire
• Her job - teach music
• Her students
• Her professional role

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Tips for Success 1) Know your repertoire . . .

• Songs
• - Old MacDonald
• - Bought Me a Cat
• - Hill an Gully
• - Erie Canal
• - Zum Gali Gali
• - Make New Friends
• - Bow, Wow, Wow

• Recordings
• - Washington Post March
• - Winter
• - Alabama Gal

Action plan Collect and learn repertoire now
through a personal song collection
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Tips for Success 2) Know your job - teach music

• Multiple facets music means
• - rhythm
• - melody
• - harmony
• - notation
• - expression
• - form
• - genre/style

• Multiple approaches
• participation means
• - singing
• - playing
• - moving
• - listening
• - reading
• -creating
• - verbalizing

Action plan Focus on specifics as you rehearse a
piece (think about it in detail)
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Tips for Success 3) Know your students

• Perspective
• You teach groups
• (i.e. A profile of what a 2nd grade student
  is generally like.
• . . . and individuals
• - learning styles
• - special needs
• - classroom insights

• Action plan Make connections now through a
  resource portfolio
• 1) coursework
• - Child Development
• Foundations
• music methods courses
• 2) readings
• journals articles
• 3) classroom observations
• - assigned and volunteer

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Tips for Success 4) Know your professional role

• Skilled
• - content
• - delivery
• Prepared
• Organized
• Responsible
• Trustworthy

• Action plan Begin today
• Practice the habits of a professional teacher now
• 1) work on musicianship
• 2) act as if your classes are your future
  classroom (i.e. on time, materials ready, notes
  in order)
• 3) words and actions matter so build a good
  reputation