Episode #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First

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Upcoming workshop: Northern California Association of Kodály Educators (NCAKE)

Saturday, August 17, 2024

9:00-1:00 pm

Burlingame United Methodist Church

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Main Theme: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First

As we head back into the school year, we are considering Habit #3 from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Habit #3 is to "Put first things first." We are considering our "big rocks," or priorities, and making sure to put the most time and energy into those before moving into medium and small rocks. Here are our priorities. Yours might be different depending on your teaching situation.

Big Rocks (High Priority)

• Set goals and consider new challenges
• Long-term/Yearly Planning for each grade
• Planning activities and strategies to build community with your students
• Creating, planning, and teaching routines and procedures for a positive classroom environment within the first couple of weeks of school. Here is an editable checklist Carrie created for routines/procedures to consider.

Medium Rocks/Pebbles (Lower Priority)

• Setting up your classroom for active music making. Focus on organization and function (not just decorations)
• Writing excellent first day or week lesson plans
• Create seating charts
• Establish classroom management framework (norms, expectations, rules, etc)

Little Rocks/Sand (Lowest Priorities-these are the things that get us distracted!)

• Making your room cute 
• Finding fun activities rather than establishing curricular goals
• Social media scrolling and playing the comparison game

We have many past episodes that are also helpful for back to school time that you might want to check out!

#139: Back to School: Tried and True vs. Mixing It Up

#118: Setting Students Up for Success in the Music Room

#117: Setting Up the Music Room

#95: Back to School: What's Working and What We're Working On

#47: Building Relationships

#46: Planning for the First Weeks of School

#45: Back to School Planning for the Year

#22: Songs, Games, and Activities for the First Days of School

#21: Back to School Planning

Know Better, Do Better

Tanya recommends the movie "American Fiction." 

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Carrie shared a visual/hand cue that could be helpful for students to understand their brain. Check out this video for more info!

Coda

Tanya recommends the book "The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio

Carrie recommends the book "The Paris Apartment" by Lucy Foley

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