These are pictures from my last classroom. At the time I took these, I wasn’t planning on sharing them on my blog (I didn’t even have a blog!), so things aren’t quite as tidy as they could be. Still, I think there are some really cool features to the room.
Here’s a picture standing by the doorway. You might notice that my room didn’t have risers. They are so darn expensive! Chairs in the music room can definitely be a pain, especially for younger students. To help students keep their chairs still and in neat rows, I bought yellow floor tape and taped it on the ground in front of each chair. At the end of each class, students line up the front two legs with the tape, and the chairs look great for the next class! Here’s a link to the tape in case you need some.
Below is a closer view of the front corner of the room. I found free xylophone labels here. I didn’t know what to do with the chalkboard as I HATE writing with chalk (the sound gives me the heeby-geebies), so I had my husband spray-paint a picture of a guitar on it. I thought it turned out pretty cool! I love inserting different rhythms into the blue pocket chart on the wall and playing rhythm games with my students. You can download free rhythm cards here (pages 20 & 21).
Here’s a picture of my “Instrument Corner.” I made the letters by cutting them out of colored card stock, punching a hole in the top using a hole puncher, and tying fish wire to each one. I then hung the wire by gently pushing up the ceiling panels and sliding each wire underneath. The bins are all from Dollar General and the Dollar Tree.
Below is my guitar/reading corner. My husband made the guitar holder out of 2 two-by-fours. He screwed garden tool hangers into the two-by-fours by hand and then drilled each one into the wall using masonry screws. They work perfectly!
Thanks so much for taking a peak into my classroom!
Do you sell listening CD’s to coordinate with lesson plans?
No, I don’t! I’m so sorry! Most of the lessons reference songs found in Music K-8 or the Share the Music textbook series. So you would need to find the songs in those sources. Any songs that are public domain include notation for the melody of the song (if you buy the Music Resources product that goes with the lesson plans). Let me know if you have any other questions. Feel free to shoot me an email too if you think of anything else!
What types of books do you have in your reading corner? Are they more for whole group or for students to read and discover? I’m trying to build up a library and would love to add to my wish list!
Hi Shannon! I used my books mostly for whole group instruction, however, I did provide students with independent reading time on occasion. My books are in storage at the moment, but off the top of my head, I had some of the following books:
The Freddie the Frog series
M is for Music
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapina
Chicka Chicka Boom (Played a fun music game with the book)
There are so many more that I can’t seem to think of at the moment. Maybe I should get out my books and do a blog post on the topic!
Hi Emily and Shannon,
I love these books for my library:
MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT – https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tFP1zc0SsqzSCkyizdg9BLPzS9OLVZIzwcSJfkKiQrJ-XnJqUUlAO_GDMs&q=moses+goes+to+a+concert&rlz=1CAJFEX_enUS1043&oq=Moses+Goes&aqs=chrome.1.0i355i512j46i512j0i512j46i512j0i512l2j69i57j0i512l3.12073j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:523f0050,vid:PTp0OQkp0Uw
KETZEL, THE CAT WHO COMPOSED – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H27_CVGcKU8
RAY CHARLES – Find Another Way – https://www.getepic.com/book/56079949/ray-charles-find-another-way
Hi! I find your site very inspiring. I received a bachelor of fine arts degree with music certification K-12 vocal and instrumental in 1975.. I did some substitute teaching in many different subjects for a number of years, raised 5 children, and then found myself as a secretary for the next 25 years. I have been giving private lessons through all of these years to a number of students, many of whom are homeschooled. After I retired, I was given the opportunity to teach music classes K4-8th grade at our local Catholic School. It is what I have always felt I was called to do and I am mostly enjoying it. Discipline is quite a challenge at times, but I have great support from the staff. Due to our small size, it is a challenge to come up with a curriculum since i have two classes at a time. and this year I have 5ith through 8th graders all at the same time. Class sizes are 12 to 18 students.. This is my second year teaching here and this year has been a little easier than last year. I also have two choir groups. 3rd and 4th grade and 5th thru 8th grade and I now have 9 piano students that I give private lessons to during the school day. I go there two days a week and those days are pretty filled. I have been working at handing things over to God and constantly tell Him how grateful I am to have this opportunity..
I’m so glad you like it Kathy! Wow, what a schedule. You class sizes are small which is good, but what a challenge to have to teach so many different grades at one time. I’ve never experienced that particular challenge. How do you structure general music classes (the ones for 5th-8th graders)?
That sounds like an opportunity to be overwhelmed, so I am glad to hear that you are trying to hand things over to God and are focusing on thankfulness rather than on the challenges. It reminds me of the bible verse that talks about praying and begging God when in need but doing it with thankfulness (and receiving the peace of God in return).
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I’m so proud of you for doing what God has told you to do!
Hi Emily:
Thank you for sharing with me. This year with the virus, it is making it harder to teach. I was hired as a music teacher this year (which I do not have a degree in) and I am trying my best to teach elementary students music without the use of instruments and singing. If you have any suggestions that would be great.
Thank you and God Bless, Nancy
Hi Nancy. What a tough situation. Have have to teach music without actually making music. You can’t even use instruments? In that case, I would focus on activities that don’t require students to share supplies or touch much. This might include bucket drumming rhythm lessons where students have their own sticks the whole lesson, listening lessons where students listen to various pieces of music and write/draw their thoughts, PowerPoint lessons that teach kids about various concepts like music history or famous composers, and PowerPoint or Smart Board lessons on rhythm where students learn the names of various notes and rhythms and practice clapping the rhythms. You could also do composing lessons where students spread out around the room or at desks with their own note and rest cards and practice moving them around to create rhythms. They could then clap and say the rhythm syllable names as they clap. Feel free to email me at emilyconroy4@gmail.com if you would like to see a list of TPT resources for each of these ideas.