Toward the end
of student teaching one of my first graders turned to me and
said, ìI wish we have music more during the week.î
Another student chimed in and said, ìWish that we had music a
million times in a row.î Their statements made me
chuckle, but it also made me very happy that while I was
teaching the students wanted to be in music class. In my
teaching, I create lessons that are fun and exciting so that
students excited about making music.
The students at Royerton
were well behaved for the most part. Sure there were
moments and classes that had behavior issues, but for the most
part students usually did what they were told to do. I
also established from the very beginning the behavioral
expectations that I had for them. Mrs. Morris uses a
check system. I would put the same kind of check system
in my own classroom. I think that student behavior
worksheet is a way of letting students reflect on what they
have done and what they need to change about their behavior
for next time.
Classroom
Management Plan Check System
If a particular student was acting out
during class sometimes it would help just to walk to that
students and whisper, ìI really need you to be paying
attention right nowî or ìI need to you get it under
control.î At times I would have to send students
back to their seats if they were unable to behave
appropriately with the activity that they were doing.
Occasionally I would have a short conference with a student
after class to discuss their attitude and remind them that I
better see a better attitude the next time that they walk in
the door. While recording the CD I had to send three
Kindergarteners back to class because they were intentionally
singing the song faster than the rest of the
group.
Journal Reflection from making the
CD
Waiting for students
to get completely quiet was a struggle at the beginning.
Pacing is one of my strongest teacher traits. I like to keep
class moving at a quick pace because there is always so much
to get done in 30 minutes. I would wait for them to be mostly
quiet and then they would start chattering again. I had to
learn the importance of taking time for it to be completely
silent. I used the phrases, ìExcuse youî or ìDonít be rudeî
when there was excessive chattering. While these phrases are
good to use once in a while, I must be careful not to use one
phrase too often. Often to stop talking I have them echo a
rhythm pattern, which is a nonverbal cue to remind them that
they need to listen for instructions. The music classroom at
Royerton is filled with colorful posters and instruments
everywhere.
Bulletin board for Ludwig van
Beethoven | 
