New Kid at School

Yesterday was the first day of school for me. I've really enjoyed getting to know my fellow teachers- they are all just a hoot!- but I was ready to meet the kids and start getting down to business. I have been a little intimidated over the idea of teaching junior high and high school choir. I've never wanted to do that. My focus was elementary music. I even was given special permission during my student teaching to complete a middle school rotation to count as my high school.

Needless to say, I've been very surprised the last two days with this group. The teacher who was there last year apparently didn't do anything with these kids. When I voiced them (listened to them sing to see how high and low they could go to see what part they would sing) most of them couldn't remember a song they had ever sung. Some of them sang Sarah MacLachlan's "I Will Remember You." It was a song they sang last year. As a choir song.

With Senior High, I decided I was just going to start very, very simply. I used a round I've used in the past, "Ram Sam Sam," just to see where the kids abilities were. Much to their surprise, they sang the song in its two parts very well. And they followed directions for breaking the song into parts then unison and so on very well. I think I'm going to use another round next week to get their ears ready to move into part singing. On another note, I signed about fifteen drop slips today. It's a little disheartening, but hopefully these are the kids who are the trouble makers and realize that they are not going to be able to slack off in my class!

Junior High is a completely other story. I've got about thirty students, with more boys than girls! Who knew! And the fun part about this group, half the boys are still in the process of their voice changing. And they can't seem to not talk. I'm really amazed at how much classroom control this bunch is going to take. I just have to remember to stand my ground and be tough!

Elementary has been great. There are still a few kids that are testing their boundaries, but they'll learn them again. Anyway, two days down. Only 182 more contract days until summer vacation!

Here are a couple of pictures of my classrooms. They're aren't the best pictures, but they give you an idea of what I'm working with. Oh, and I found out that since I'm a new teacher in the state's Mentor program, I get $800 extra to spend for my classroom. Yeah! Instruments! At least a few...