Creative Clutter and Music

I am so excited to share my 2019-2020 Music Room with you!  I went with a chalkboard/mason jar/farm theme. I have a door to the main hallway and a door to the stage hallway, which will be very helpful for program set up and prep.  I didn't want to be hidden in the end of my long rectangular room so I put a corner desk between the two so I still feel connected to the building!   How did anyone ever decorate classrooms without Hobby Lobby?? the two signs above and the clock below were found there. There was a white bag with emergency supplies, but I have been telling kids to grab the red bag for so long that I had to replace it.  I made the little chalkboard with hooks to hold my hall pass and bathroom pass. Class Points!   Check out my new system for tracking class points. The goal is to reach 80 points to earn a privilege or choice day.  Right now the choice day list includes, dance day, karaoke day, outside game day, sock day, silly son...

Moving into a new building was a whole different adventure.  Thank goodness for KIDS!  My oldest brought in the heavy stuff for me, playing Tetris with the dolly.   My daughter, Ashtyn, and her friend, Riley helped with set up.  Although it took them 2+ hours to put together my stool from IKEA.  The hung things, gave advice, sorted and moved stuff around.  As they were working at my desk, Ashtyn decided to change my name 😂.  Don't worry, she did come back and change it before school starts! We have been working so hard to make my music room functional, comfortable, friendly and fun!  Come back soon to see my classroom reveal!!

Ok...15 years, 12 in the music room, 3 in an office, I couldn't have that  much to move out of the building.  WRONG  When I switched jobs from music to admin I brought home about 8 tubs of stuff, and left a lot of things that were mine for the 'new' music teacher to use.  I also antiqued a small roll top desk for my office.  So, you know a few chairs, the rocking chair I nursed my youngest in, a desk, some filing cabinets, refrigerator.  Then the music supplies that were on loan to the school.  Then there are books, books, books and some more books.  Thank goodness for my 18 year old daughter, I don't think I could have done it without her!! How many things can one media cart hold? I was pushing another cart and she decided she could get the cart and the chair out in one trip if she rode it and pulled! (It worked until we were outside!) Stay tuned for the move into the new building, which will happen after I go through the additional ...

     I began this blog in 2013 when I was teaching in the music classroom.  Since 2015 I have had adventures in administration, I served as the Dean of Students for my school.  While I enjoyed working with students in a different role, it is time to get back to my roots, my passion.  I have continued to perform on flute and vocals with the Pueblo Municipal Band.  I am so honored to play with this amazing group of musicians.  This professional concert band rehearses one night each week and plays a concert of new music each Sunday.   We also perform one Christmas Concert.  The concerts are free to the public, the band is funded by donations and sponsors. This fall I will be back to teaching K through 5th Grade music at Cedar Ridge Elementary.  I am so excited to bring out all of my old favorite activities and work towards new ones!  Sharing music with kids is my passion!!     On the note of FREE public concerts, I wis...

I love using children's books as part of my curriculum.  I use them for teaching concepts, but some days I just want to sing with them!  The students of the John Denver and Kids series.  There are 5 total and my students asked if they would make more!!   http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Shoulders-Audio-Musical-Score/dp/1584690488/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ByIGyf7UL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR138%2C160_&refRID=0W1FJNCH7Y6K25ZAJ6KW

I've always wanted to be a princess!! My staff decided to all be Disney characters this year, so I jumped at the chance to be Cinderella!!

I try to change my hallway display once per month so I thought I would post so far this year. This is always a go to board for the beginning of the year and I added pics with the description for the younger students. I have been incorporating art into the music room this year, as the students do not get an art class.  I started with a bang in September.  September 15 is International Dot Day, based on the book, The Dot by Peter H Reynolds.  This display was later accompanied by artwork from every child in the school!!  Each grade used a different medium and they loved the experience and discussions about leaving their mark on the world.  I was able to expand on the concept, discussing how musicians who have left their mark.  (Somehow I don't have a pic of the final wall.) http://www.thedotclub.org I love this one and the explanations (zoom in) but next time I will add pics for the little kiddos!!