Image Map

Friday, July 31, 2015

TEXAS Size Link-up {Finger Plays In Music}

http://www.thelittleladybugshop.com/2015/07/texas-size-link-up-superhero-teacher_30.html
 Howdy y'all!  I'm joining in this Texas-Size link-up to bring a little love from the DFW area.  Though I typically discuss music products, I have a an #Idea for the general ed classroom too.  For the younger students, music is an integral part of their daily learning.  Why not incorporate some musical elements into their core curriculum? 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Finger-Plays-In-Music-1935391
 Finger Plays in Music offers the opportunity for students to learn simple poetry while adding movements, learning about syllables/beat, practicing different sounds with their voices, and more.

Included in this file are 40+ pages with 6 songs/poems, movement instructions, and an activity sheet for each.  For more information and previews, go to Finger Plays In Music.  Follow The Bates Clef on Facebook and TpT for latest news and updates.  Share with a Music Teacher friend for music related products and more.

Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win Finger Plays in Music.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Getting To Know You Blog Hop

Have you ever followed a blog hop? I've done several on Facebook, but haven't really been involved with blogs.   Today, I've teamed up with some fellow music bloggers to collaborate and bring you music education ideas using a variety of methodologies and approaches. However, before diving into music education topics, we thought it would be fun to organize a blog hop!

What is the benefit of going on this blog hop?

#1. Getting to Know You

  • We want a chance to get to know you! Understanding our current and past experiences helps us to form stronger professional learning communities, and we'd love for you to be a part of it!

#2. Giveaway (Now Closed.  Congrats to Lauren Danloe!)

  • After you're finished with the hop, you can enter a giveaway for your chance to WIN a basket full of goodies. Simply leave a comment on this post with an answer to the highlighted question at the bottom. Do the same at each blog hop stop. When you reach the end of the blog hop, you'll be able to enter the giveaway for your chance to win! 

    All about Stacie...
     
    Where do I hang my hat?

    Over the past 20-something years, I have lived in several different locations along the southern region. Starting in the great state of TEXAS, from there I've resided in Georgia, Florida, and New Mexico.  Coming full circle, I've been back in Texas for four years, living just south of the DFW area. 

    So, what makes me experienced?

    My degree is a Bachelor of Music w/ K-12 certification.  Though my student teaching involved elementary, middle, and high school, I've only taught K-6.  This age group, especially the younger, falls nicely within my comfort zone since I enjoy being on the floor with the kids and making games out of lessons.  I have a school choir comprised of 4th-6th grade students who steal my heart.  A "choir class" is actually set-up within my schedule, so I see them every other day.  It's quite wonderful.   This year will be my 9th year of teaching.  Like some others, I started out teaching until children came along.  I was blessed to participate in the "stay-at-home-mom" club for 12 years.  These were the best days of my life and I was still able to be musically active through kids' choirs at church.  As my own children began school, I involved myself in subbing once or twice a week.  I enjoyed the flexibility of the job, and getting a peak into the general ed classes was fun.   When child #3 made her way to 2nd grade, I found my place, once again, in public music education. 

    What part of the teaching day makes me want to take my ball and run home?

    For me, the hardest part of the teaching day is the class right before lunch.  First of all, I usually "eat-on-the-drive" while traveling to school early in the morning.  Having a 1:00 lunch time is not ideal as I can feel the floor dropping out from below me as my blood-sugar takes a plunge.  Sometimes I'll grab a couple of crackers or a cheese stick in between classes to stave off the hunger, but often I don't have a minute to spare.  Secondly, I teach 6th grade before lunch (ugh.)  Don't get me wrong, I love my sixth graders (on most days), but when I'm hungry and they're moody, what is already a challenging grade for me, turns into a recipe for disaster.  Often times, the students are hungry too, since we have the same lunch schedule.  The focus level and desire to participate is far less than expected when everyone is distracted by the ongoing tummy rumbles.

    What is YOUR least favorite part of the teaching day?
    Comment with your answer, then click the pic below to continue on the blog hop!
    http://caldwellorganizedchaos.blogspot.com/2015/07/teacher-tuesday-getting-to-know-you.html
     

Monday, July 13, 2015

July Small Goals

Join me, and others, as we link up with Jennifer @ The Yellow Brick Road this month to reveal our small goals.
  
Taking a look back at June, I wrote about 4 goals I had for the month.  The outcome wasn't surprising....check it out.

1.  Blogging, blogging, blogging.  Breaking News!  This just in....I blogged a grand total of 5 times in June.  Most were small and related to a giveaway, but I did it.  Yay!
2.  Lose Weight, Feel Better.  Ummm.  Well...this may need to roll over to July.  Not much to say about that.
3. Get creative.  I have done quite a bit of creating for TpT this summer.  I added several products to my store, and have even cleaned up a few old ones. 
4.  De-clutter and organize.  Kids' rooms cleaned?  CHECK!  Closets organized?  CHECK!  Elimination of unwanted stuff?  CHECK!  All in all, it's been a good month for this one.
 
Now for JULY goals!
 
1.  Lose Weight, Feel Better.  I might as well drop this one down and carry it over.  Though I didn't lose any weight last month, I did begin a walk/run routine with my middle child.  We got up early, before the day was too hot, and did our thing.  It was good for both of us to get our bodies moving and our mouths talking.
 
 2. Vaca with the Hubs.  In June the hubs and I celebrated our 20th year anniversary.  We had planned to take a trip to Mexico, but it just didn't pan out.  Now, we've got a date planned in Orange Beach, Alabama.  No.  It's not Mexico, but it is time away from our daily schedules.  The best part.....wait for it..... NO CHILDREN!!  Technically, this isn't really a goal, but to me, if we make it there and back with no roadblocks (i.e. emergencies or last minute schedule changes) then it's a huge accomplishment.
 
3.  Begin working on my classroom.  I don't want to begin this too early in July, but definitely toward the end.  The past few years, I've waited until our teacher workdays.  It was too stressful on me trying to get everything done in the short amount of time.  If I spend a few hours at school, here and there, before actually reporting in, I think I won't be so rushed.
 
4.  More family time = less technology time.  This is such a challenge, for not only me, but many of us out there.   I love my technology.  My kids are addicted to technology.  I'll miss something important and fall out of the loop if I'm not plugged into technology.  Ugh.  I made a change in the house recently.  Hang with me for a minute while I give some back story.  Three years ago, my family of 5 moved into a small duplex with great plans to purchase a house within a year.  Without going into details, we are still here, and getting more cramped by the minute.  Our little children have grown big.  Our living room seating can accommodate 4, and our kitchen table can as well (no space for the leaf insert to make table larger.)  So, as a result, the three kids ate at the table every night, while hubs and I ate on the couch with t.v. blaring.  HATED IT!  Fast forward to July 1st...with the kids on their phones constantly, I felt we were missing out on a huge part of their lives, and momma wasn't happy.   So....we added the leaf in the table (yes, our space is more crowded), turned off the tv and phones, brought the food to the table, served around the table asking "please pass the..." and "thank you", and we've actually had some quality, lengthy dinner-time conversations.  Hallelujah!  With hectic school/activity schedules on the horizon, my hope is to unplug more and cherish our family times around the table as much as possible.
 
Stay tuned for an update on meeting my goals.  
I would invite you over for dinner, but with my happy family now in place, you'll just have to wait :)
 
 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

July Steals and Deals


Help me celebrate July with 4 days of deals on TpT.  Get in on the excitement and catch it while available.  There's no better time than now to stock up for Fall.  Here's the details:
July 1st - FREEBIES ("July1stmusicfreedomfreebie")
July 2nd - $4 Deals ("$4MusicFlashSale")
July 3rd-4th - Discounted stores
Find more on social media with #MusicTeachersFabulousFourth