EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Camp Hill, PA
Spring 2019
PLANNING & PREPARATION
DEMONSTRATING KNOWLEDGE OF CONTENT & PEDAGOGY
In order to demonstrate content knowledge to inform my instruction & planning, I analyzed scores of music that I was working on with the instrumental ensembles. Click on the PDF to the right to see an example!
"Song for Peace" SHMRG Analysis
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
MANAGING STUDENT BEHAVIOR
In order to help students take responsibility, for learning & behavior, I established a marble jar system. If students came to their band lesson on time, with their instrument and their music, they got to put a marble in the jar for their section. Students were also given practice assignments, and if completed, could place another marble in the jar. A few weeks before the concert, we counted the marbles to find the winning section. As a reward, they got to play a song by themselves at the concert!
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF RESPECT & RAPPORT
To establish a positive learning for all, I changed the seating of one of my ensembles half-way through the semester. While doing so, I consider the strongest players in the ensemble and placed them near struggling players. I also considered which students distracted one another and separated them. The new seats created a much more respectful learning environment, as students were more focused during rehearsal.
INSTRUCTION
USING QUESTIONING & DISCUSSION TECHNIQUES
One way I engaged students in discussion was through ticket-out-the-door worksheets,in which I asked students to consider how their band music could connect to their daily lives.
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN LEARNING
One of my favorite lessons I did with my kindergarten class involved engaging them through literature, call & response chants, & boomwhackers! Throughout the course of a few lessons, students watched a video of the story of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." I used this story & the characters to engage students with the concept of high, middle, & low sounds. Students responded to rhythmic chants about the story, using high, middle, or low voices based on the character. I then added boomwhackers to the chants, reinforcing high, middle, & low sounds, as well as steady beat.
4/16 & 4/17 Kindergarten Lesson Plan
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMUNICATING WITH FAMILIES
In order to establish communication with families, I created an introductory newsletter that was emailed to students parents & guardians. Check out my newsletter in the PDF to the right.