STW1: Becoming "Miss S"

Classes

2nd Grade Violin Class
Two separate 2nd grade classes back-to-back
Once a week
3rd Grade General Music / Recorder Class
Once a week
4th Grade Orchestra
Three times a week
5th Grade Orchestra
Twice a week
MYP Beginning Orchestra
Every day
MYP Intermediate Orchestra
Every day
MYP Advanced Orchestra
Every day
CORE KARES Class
Twice a month / every other Wednesdays
“Our student support system for community building and teaching how to be an IB student”
Like home room, but teaches morals, conflict resolution, and problem solving

MYP = Middle Years Program = Middle School 6th – 8th Grades

Situations During Week 1

No band teacher was hired and band substitute teacher was not given any lesson plans
CORE KARES schedule happened the entire week but was not known or followed by all teachers, so some classes overlapped and some classes had to wait in the halls to be picked up by a teacher for over 10 minutes
During second semester some of the classes were allowed to change instruments to play whatever string instrument they wanted leading to inventory and seating confusion

My Involvement This Week:

5th Grade Orchestra and Beginning Orchestra the D major scale, the beginning of a piece, and staccato and legato bowing
5th Grade Orchestra group music questions such as “which of these composers was from the Baroque era?” or “how many beats is a whole note worth?”
Switched between violin, viola, cello, and bass depending on the day, the group, and what section needed help
Tuning all groups, basic instrument maintenance, classroom set up, answering basic questions, basic classroom management things

About Safford

Is an engineering and technology magnet school, meaning that although the school is public, students outside of the school’s zone are able to enroll for special interest in the IB program or magnet program
Hosts Korean students for several weeks, students are elected to become ambassadors and host a Korean student in their home and to show them around the school and befriend them

Next on the Menu for Me

Advanced Orchestra: Work on Canon in D, introduce 2 octave scales, introduce shifting
Beginning Orchestra: Work on Essential Elements excerpts and a piece
Intermediate Orchestra: Introduce dynamics, music theory worksheet
4th Grade Orchestra: Hot Cross Buns, Book excerpts
5th Grade Orchestra: Book excerpts and a piece