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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
     

31 comments:

  1. I think the hardest part for me is the last class at the end of the day. I'm just so drained by then and the kids are too! I tried really hard to push for a schedule that had specials ending a half hour before the end of the day so the students weren't packing up (and mentally checking out) before coming to us at the end of the day, but I couldn't make it happen :(

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    1. I can relate. I used to have conference/prep at the end of the day (LOVED!) And then it was moved to the beginning of the day. I am rather exhausted toward the end of the day. Throw in a staff development/meeting, then I'm totally DONE.

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  2. I'm with Elizabeth on this one. The last class at the end of the day was always the hardest. The kids were exhausted (rightly so), and it took tons of energy and movement on my part to keep them engaged. It was mentally exhausting.

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    1. True. If I had 5th and 6th grade at the end of the day it wouldn't work out so well for me. Currently I have 4th then 3rd. It's not so bad.

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  3. A few years ago, I would agree with Elizabeth. 5th grade was last and they were just done. But, we flip flopped 5th and 3rd. 5th is first and 3rd is last. 3rd is my absolute favorite, so it's easy for me to get excited and draw them in. Kindergarten, however, is next to last, and has been for several years. They have snack immediately following specials and have the earliest lunch. So, when we see them, their sugar is low and they are buck wild. I have to cleverly plan short acivities with lots of movement for my K classes.

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    1. With you on 3rd. Ugh on Kinder. I'll have Kinder for the 1st time this year. Not so excited about it.

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  4. Here's a food tip--I make a smoothie out of easily digested ingredients and keep it handy versus water so that my blood sugar doesn't dive...My least favorite is the last class of the day-which is always 3rd grade. I don't feel like we can ever really go anywhere musically because they are DONE! I stick to games-dances and interactive activities which helps..but I'm tired too!

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    1. I love smoothies. Usually I drink them on the way to work as my breakfast. This year I think I'll need something with more substance.

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  5. For me, the hardest part of the teaching day is MEETINGS! (C'mon, you know it's the truth!) I love, love, love my kids but I could go a lifetime without meetings UGH! Before school, lunch and after school meetings. I would teach for free if I never had to go to another meeting!

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    1. Having just come from my second after-school meeting in two days with another assigned for tomorrow during lunch, I totally agree!

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    2. Girl, you know it's true! I HATE meetings. 90% of the time it has nothing to do with me or my subject area. Not only that, but I'm lost as a goose. BORING.

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  6. My least favorite part of the teaching day is 5th grade. Our kids have rough lives and it often comes out in anger and negativity, especially in 5th grade. They offer the most challenge to me.

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    1. Agree. Usually I like 5th grade, but don't enjoy 6th. Last year my 5th grade group was awful! Not looking forward to them moving up this year.

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  7. I love my older kids .... the lessons just flow throughout a unit and time to clean up and line up are often a surprise to us all. My least favorite group is my kindergartners. Ugh.... they come to me right after my lunch and keeping them busy and on task is a challenge. If they could just find their places and sit down instead of coming up to me to tell me their 100 million stories that have nothing to do with music. They are sweet but SHEESH its like herding cats.

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    1. Not looking forward to teaching Kinder this year. Herding cats....YES!

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  8. The hardest part of my day is my RTI time where I have to teach reading and math :( Not the job I signed up for :(

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    1. Can I just say.... EWWWWW...

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    2. Been there! Last year they took that away from specials though!! Yay!!!! But I still have to teach art. :( I actually enjoy it, but I just feel like I'm inadequate and I wish we had a full time art teacher. :(

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    3. I haven't been asked to do RTI yet. I know it's coming. I can feel it in the air. Our school just hasn't quite gotten there.

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  9. Replies
    1. We don't have buses so I can't relate. I do morning crosswalk on a 5 weeks rotation. I kind of like it because the kids are happy and I get to see the parents. But buses...no thank you.

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  10. My least part of the day would be the last class before school lets out...and for the past few years that has been Kindergarten! Yes, at the very end of the day, for 45 min...when they are tired...and man you have to dig deep down and find energy for them!

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  11. When student after student comes unprepared. It can be draining.

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    1. Yes. This is a daily struggle with my 5th/6th graders.

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  12. The hardest part for me can be the paperwork! Doing it for three schools can sometimes be exhausting!

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    1. That's terrible. Are you talking about grading papers?

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  13. I think the hardest part of the day is the time required to stay after school. I am a morning person. I like to do and complete everything job/school-related in the morning. After school and teaching, I'm done with school. I do not want to do any other thing related to school unless I have to (like calling a parent, grading assessments, or setting up for a performance). I want to move on to the "being a mom", cook, chauffeur, and all the other responsibilities I have elsewhere. That 45 required minutes every day just about kills me!

    Malinda
    My Musical Menagerie: Kodaly and Orff Classroom

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    1. I agree. When the bell rings, I'm ready to set up for tomorrow and get out of there. We only stay 10 minutes after the kids unless we have a meeting (which seems to be more often than not.) Sometimes I just have to quietly dismiss myself to take care of my own kids' needs.

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  14. I hate the drama that comes from working in a school full of women. We have zero male teachers or aides.

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    1. Congratulations, Lauren! You are the winner of the gift basket :)

      I agree with the drama. My school has 2 male teachers. Everyone uses them as a "shoulder" to cry on and/or the heavy lifters in the building. Women can be tough for sure.

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