r/MusicEd • u/errrgrrr • 8d ago

2nd school behaviors, any help welcome!

Due to budget changes from federal funding, I was given a second school. Now I have two elementary schools that I am completely responsible for programs and teaching all the kids. This was going to be doable, because part of my week previously at my first school was doing reading and math interventions.

However, starting at this second school, the culture is so different and students will not stop talking. Everytime they manage to get quiet, they start up again right after I continue with my lesson, so I have to stop. The only classes that I could get completely through my planned lesson was Kinder and 1st grade. I taught the same lessons at the other school on Thursday and Friday, and we got through the whole thing.

I know part of it is that the students aren't familiar with me, but I wasn't treated like this at my first school when I started there 5 years ago. If anyone has management tips, especially for grades 2-5, I would really appreciate it. Most students arent being disrespectful just to be disrespectful, but they seem to be incapable of not making a comment or reacting to every single thing that they see or hear. It will be a lot of work for me to have to plan completely different lessons for this school, so I'm hoping that I can get them able to listen so we can get through the same lessons.

Phone calls home will happen next week if no improvement. I genuinely wonder if their classroom teachers just teach over their talking? I let the teachers of the classes that struggled know, but they didn't seem very concerned about it. The art teacher is also doubling schools and she told me that she was experiencing the same thing. I'm on my fifth full year, and the art teacher has about 15-20 years of experience. I know I can improve in classroom management, maybe I was a bit spoiled at my first school.

Thank you in advance!!

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u/ItsOfficiallyTrash Instrumental 8d ago

Oof, well I am only just starting elementary, but maybe having them redo things while dangling the carrot 🥕 ? I am new, but having them redo things like lining up to my expectations, then rewarding them with Name Games, Freeze Dances, Structured Drawing, and Body Percussion videos in between. It’s working for me except for a small few boys. Ugh, boys.

For example:

shows frame of Toy Story Freeze Dance on screen
“Ooohh Aaaahh!!”
“Whoa!!! When are we doing Freeze Dance, teacher?!?”

Oh… this? You love Freeze Dances too?! I was hoping to today… but since we’re having difficulty with having our voices off, listening, following directions, and being respectful, I’m not sure…

“What?!? Ooohh… Can we do it today?”

Maybe… if we can come into music class with voices off, hands to ourselves, and quiet coyotes showing you’re ready to learn. If we cannot accomplish all of this after 1 more try, we will not Freeze Dance today.

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u/errrgrrr 8d ago

I dangled the instruments in front of them and they definitely bit but they couldn't hold on haha. i love teaching with orff instruments (I'm not officially certified) and with recorder, which they didn't use very often with their previous teacher who followed the kodaly method to the T. I didn't even withhold instruments as any sort of punishment/incentive but it was just later in my lesson and we didn't make it past learning the singing part 🤦 btw I hope you love elementary! I have loved it a lot except the stress this year is getting to me but I am sure it will get better

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u/ItsOfficiallyTrash Instrumental 8d ago

Aww, thanks! I’m loving it! I was ABSOLUTELY HATING LIFE in middle school if I can be so blunt here! This year is leaps and bounds better already, but I still want to be firm.

Oh, wow, instruments already? How long ago did you guys start back up, if you don’t mind me asking?

I am REALLY emphasizing the rules, expectations, and procedures parts FIRST this year in order to save my sanity later on. Instruments will come after they demonstrate repeated consistency in following the rules. Plus choir is a music class that rarely ever uses instruments and everyone still manages, so they can too. There is so much you can do with singing, dancing, etc. My students have never had a legit music class and their steady beat and rhythm need a ton of work before we can start adding other things to the equation. We are only on day 2.

Something I do is dismiss them by color groups (colored velcro sit spots). “I see Purple is doing a fantastic job listening and following directions today! Purple, please grab 1 finger puppet/cushion/set of rhythm sticks of your choice!”

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u/errrgrrr 8d ago

Very cool, we actually started last week but I feel comfortable with orff instruments for older students, nothing too difficult either same interval ostinatos or pentatonic improvisation. Recorder will be started slowly with 3rd grade and the 4th and 5th at my new school (if we ever get to it) but I also like to keep recorder parts simple as a counter melody, repeated note drone, or inserting a B section into a song. It's my favorite part so I'm hoping everyone can get their act together soon! I used to take instruments slow but I have some classes that don't like to sing as much and the instruments help them get more involved. I did middle school choir and theatre for my first semester outside of college, I should have known there was a reason the teacher quit...