Afternoon Ti

S1:B2 Returning Refreshed and Rejuvenated after the Holidays As we enter the 2019 year, here are 9 tips for returning back to school more relaxed and rejuvenated than you left in December.  Happy (almost) New Year! Tip One:   Let Work Stay at Work Don't bring work home with you over the break, if possible.  If you do need to get some work done, designate a day or two to do it. Tip Two:  Tell Yourself You Can Do It Before returning to school, I often find myself cranky or nervous.  Even after many years of teaching!  Remind yourself that you know how to do this and that everything doesn't need to be tackled immediately or all at once.  Focus on the first 30 minutes of your day when you return. Tip Three:   Plan Ahead Before you leave for break, think about what you need when you return and try to do those things before leaving.  Examples:  Making copies, create files for your Smartboard, clean your desk. Tip Four: ...

In Episode Two, I share about  how time can be used, found and managed so that we can give our very best to our students, our families, our personal interests and ourselves.  We are each given the same amount of time in our day and using it well makes it go further. HOW TO USE YOUR TIME DURING BREAKS 5-15 minute breaks Do something practical a. Go to the bathroom.  No, I mean it! That is often what those 5-minute breaks are for between classes. Many times a teacher comes with their class early while you are waiting with your class for their teacher to pick them up. Be considerate of the classroom teachers while also making sure you have a chance to take care of business. b. Get a drink or a snack. Consider stocking up on some healthy options and keeping them in your desk or a basket. c. Stretch a bit! Take deep breaths. Stretch your arms. It's quick, refreshing and sometimes just what you need to wake up and get energized! d. Take notes about the ...

There are many factors to consider when thinking through the storage and space in your classroom.  In Episode One, I talk about how to use the space in your classroom as a tool for movement, instrument set-up and storage, and organization ideas. Music Classrooms Consider the shape of your room so that you can determine the optimal set-up that will allow for transitioning between using instruments, singing, movement and storage.  There are many types of classroom layouts.  The classroom spaces I have taught in include: Portable My classroom was completely separate from the rest of the building and included a bathroom, sink and hangers for coats.  It also shook like crazy whenever students marched to music, but it was a classroom and I didn't have to worry about the sound from instruments traveling to other rooms around me. The Box This is the classroom that is literally a square, or slightly rectangular, box shape.  There are usually several closets...

Season One Episode 0 Let's Start at the Very Beginning The Afternoon Ti podcast is live!  I sent it to iTunes for approval yesterday and within a few hours, it was approved and out there for all to hear.  To be honest, I'd anticipated it taking at least 3-5 days and was surprised to see it had gone live so soon.  I'm incredibly excited and also a bit nervous that it's all out there.  After all, it's one thing to talk and plan about taking a risk.  It's another thing to put yourself out there. Episode Zero provides a little insight into who I am, how I became a music teacher and why I love what I get to do every day. My favorite things about being a music teacher Each day is a new day - and each class is a new class We get a fresh opportunity to start over multiple times during a day as a result of teaching many class periods.  We have the chance to start fresh with each class period.  Refresh yourself throughout the day so that yo...

(Blogpost only - no podcast episode) I'm always looking for ways to use song material in fresh, new ways.  One of the songs I enjoy using around Thanksgiving time is "Over the River and Through the Wood."  Not only is the meter in 6/8, which is a nice change from typical duple meters, it offers an opportunity to create new sections based off of small building blocks of rhythms within that meter.  Additionally, the song only uses 4 chords so it can be used easily with bass xylophone accompaniment or ukulele! Over the River and Through the Wood A brief history of the song: The song originated as a poem called "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day" by Lydia Maria Child and was first published in 1844 in the book Flowers for Children, Vol. 2 .  There were originally twelve verses in total.  We often sing it at Christmastime, but the original versions of the first two verses are: Over the river and through the wood To Grandfather's house we go The ho...

We are inching steadily closer to Halloween and at our school, it's a big deal!  We have the annual Halloween Parade with the entire school around the track outside followed by the entire school dancing the Monster Mash.  Our science department plans a creative Halloween Spectacular for all of middle school and students rotate into the lab to watch amazing scientific feats - one year a pumpkin exploded!  They LOVE it! Since I have students for a trimester, our first trimester Music Sharing is two days after Halloween this year.  Students are only two weeks away from this event and we are in the midst of solidifying everything for the sharing while balancing the continuation of learning new musical concepts. To make it engaging, here are a few ideas I am trying out with students over the next two weeks.   SINGING BOOK TEXTS  I originally looked for the book recommended by Lindsay Jervis here:  The Halloween House .  Instead I found t...

For a few years now I've enjoyed listening to podcasts.  There are several that are my regular favorites that I've subscribed to and I often listen to them as I'm walking my dog or going for a run in the neighborhood.  The topics in these podcasts are wide ranging based on my favorite hobbies and interests.   At the moment there are only a few music education podcasts currently on iTunes and I'm incredibly excited that the Afternoon Ti Podcast is currently in the works to be up and running this January, 2019! I'd love to hear what topics and guests you would love to hear on the podcast.  Email me at highafternoonti@gmail.com and share your thoughts!  Or you can follow me on Instagram: @highafternoonti.  Looking forward to sharing Season 1 of Afternoon Ti with you!

Welcome to Afternoon Ti!  Each week I will discuss the ins and outs of music teacher life. Everything from what we do as music educators in the classroom to how we spend our time outside of the classroom.  Whether you choose to listen while enjoying a cup of tea, coffee or whatever suits your fancy, I hope you'll find this a great resource as you go through your year as a music educator. For questions, comments or ideas:  email me at:  highafternoonti@gmail.com Find me on Instagram at:  @highafternoonti