Author: stompnchat

 

“Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free,

‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.”

As another chapter of this school year closes, the words of Joseph Brackett’s song, “Simple Gifts”, comes to mind. This school year has been filled with many amazing gifts. However, there is one “simple gift” that I find myself thinking of on this last school day of 2015- the gift of friendship.

Over the years, I have been blessed to have the friendship and encouragement of the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Woodlake Elementary School. I have also had the incredible support of the St. Tammany Parish School System. Not only have you helped me grow as a teacher, you have filled my days with song, laughter, and inspiration.

This year has also brought so many new friends into my life. From Dream Teachers to all of those at the Louisiana Department of Education, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to get to know each and every one of you. With your friendship, I now find myself growing as an advocate and as a leader.

Although friendship may seem like such a “simple gift”, it is a powerful gift that keeps on giving. I will forever cherish the gift of our friendship. Together, we can make a difference.

“Ring-a-ling… Hear them ring… Soon it will be (Winter Break).” – Silver Bells

It is the last week before our Winter Break, and I am proudly continuing a Woodlake Elementary School tradition of “Bell Caroling”. This time honored tradition began many years before I arrived at Woodlake. During each music class, I take my students to perform with the handbells for another class. Last week, I had placed a sign-up sheet in the office for teachers to select the best time for a class to perform. It’s amazing how quickly the spots were filled.

When each class arrives to music, we review the procedures for playing the bells. As I inform the students the name of the class for which they will be performing, the kids get really excited. The older kids especially love it when they get to perform for a previous teacher. I also let the students vote on the two songs they would like to perform. The selections include a variety of tunes from Christmas carols to songs from musicals like The Sound of Music.

There are many reasons why I have continued this great tradition. The first is that performing makes the lesson more meaningful for the students. They pay particular attention to the techniques for playing the handbells because they know they will have an audience watching. It also gives the students an opportunity to perform in a safe environment. This leads to more confidence for future performances. Before each performance, we review etiquette for performing like posture and bowing. The more practice the students get at performing the more the performance etiquette will become a habit.

The second reason this tradition endures is that it allows each class the opportunity to be in the “audience”. Before our bell caroling week, we review proper audience behaviors like “eyes on the musicians” and “clapping after each song”. These are skills that can be transferred to any musical performance.

Lastly, the students and teachers love it! From the songs to seeing friends perform, the kids have many reasons for eagerly looking forward to this week. Although each performance is meaningful, I have to admit that the performance of Ms. Beckham’s kindergarten class has been my favorite so far this year. I took her class to play in the cafeteria during the third grade lunch. At first the kindergarteners were a little shy, but the third graders were so supportive and encouraging. As the third graders loudly sang along to “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”, I could see the kindergartners’ confidence grow. They were beaming as we left to a chorus of “Great jobs!”

Although the idea of bell caroling is very simple, the lessons the students are learning this week will last a lifetime.

 

On December 10, 2015, Woodlake Elementary School held its Winter Concert for Suzuki Strings. In St. Tammany Parish, we are fortunate that students have the opportunity to learn how to play the violin, viola, cello, or string bass through the Suzuki Strings Program. At my school, we had close to 100 students register for the program this year, and all of the students chose to play the violin.

The strings program is based on the Suzuki Method where Dr. Suzuki believed the process for learning to play an instrument is similar to the process for language development. In the method, parental involvement is a key ingredient where the teacher, parent, and the child work as one to help the child’s musical ability grow. At the beginning of the school year, the students have the opportunity to register for the program. Then, students attend small group lessons based on ability levels once a week for thirty minutes.

As the students began to arrive for the concert, I loved seeing the kids dressed in their concert attire. From getting instruments tuned to setting up the music stands, there was a great flurry of activity as everyone got ready for the concert to begin. Our program for the concert began with the more advanced students playing. As the concert progressed, more children began to play with everyone playing by the end. Although I enjoyed all of the songs, “Jingle Bells” was my favorite. The students played the song twice, and we asked the audience to sing along during the second time. As I saw the happy expressions of the audience and the violinists, I knew we were “making spirits bright”.

While we wanted to celebrate the students’ progress, our main goal for the concert was to provide a positive experience for performing in front of an audience. With each performance, the children become more comfortable and gain confidence in their abilities. Thank you to all of those at Woodlake Elementary School and the families of our students for helping to make this a wonderful experience for our little pelicans!

As I drove to New Orleans on December 5, 2015, I thought of the song, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”, by Rodgers and Hammerstein. I was on my way to a meeting of the Tulane University Alumni Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi. Kappa Delta Pi is an International Honor Society in Education that is devoted to improving educational practices by advancing fellowship among educators.

I was delighted to join this chapter last year, and I am proud to say that I am currently serving as their Recording Secretary. For this meeting, the chapter’s Counselor, Dr. Tammie Brown, asked me to also be a guest speaker. During my presentation, I spoke about my journey towards being the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. I also shared the lessons that I learned while embarking on this journey.

Another fellow Kadelpian, Brenden Simoneaux, was also asked to speak during the meeting. In 2013, Brenden won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. He was asked to speak about the application procedures for this incredible honor. One of the things I was amazed to hear was that the process for this award took 2 ½ years.

Following our presentations, the chapter’s Vice-President, Annette Accomando, pointed out the parallels in our speeches. She noticed that both of us believed in the importance of professional development and arts integration.

During the meeting, I also had the opportunity to talk with other fellow members that represent all levels of education. In addition, some of the attendees were first year teachers while others are now retired. I was especially interested to meet a member that recently published a children’s book. I would love to have her come speak to my students one day.

After spending a beautiful day with such dedicated educators, I can’t help but have “a wonderful feeling” about the future of education in Louisiana.

In the movie Elf, Will Ferrell states, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” The third grade students of Woodlake Elementary School will certainly be doing their best to “spread Christmas cheer” as they perform for St. Tammany Parish’s “Holiday of Lights” celebration this evening.

For this performance, the students will be speaking poems, playing hand bells, and singing holiday tunes. While some of the songs will be familiar Christmas carols, others will be new. The students are definitely excited about performing their funky, new favorite, “Turn Off That Nose”.

Since my students attend music once a week for forty minutes, Christmas arrived very early as I began teaching the music for this performance in October. While many may scoff at beginning to sing Christmas tunes before Halloween, I don’t mind. I love the music just as much as my students. Each time the students sing, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”, I recall singing it when I was in the fourth grade on the stage of the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, Al.

As we have been putting the finishing touches on our songs this week, I have been anticipating the effect this performance will have on my students. Just like my childhood experience, I know that it will leave a lasting impression on their hearts and minds. The students will forever remember the excitement and joy of singing to “spread Christmas cheer”. They will also be able to witness the incredible impact our songs will have on the community. In his beloved tune, Meredith Willson wrote, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; soon the bells will start.” As my little carolers sing and ring their bells, I know that we will touch the hearts of the people of St. Tammany Parish.

Although the Jackson 5 sang that “ABC” is as “easy as one, two, three,” meeting the educational needs of the students in Louisiana is much more complex. On December 1, 2015, I had the opportunity to learn more about how Louisiana’s educational policies are molded while serving on the Educator Effectiveness Committee for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

 In the week prior to the meeting, I received a copy of the agenda that included reports for each item that was to be discussed. Although the meetings are conducted in a fast pace, I have been fascinated by the information in my agenda. For this meeting, the agenda included a report on the Teacher Exit Interview System and a report regarding certifications in critical shortage areas. For this meeting, we were asked to consider a program that would allow teachers to add on to their teaching certificates special education certifications through the Relay Graduate School of Education. In my agenda, there was a detailed explanation of the curriculum and courses for this add-on certificate. During the meeting, a representative from the Relay Graduate School of Education was asked to speak and the program was approved.

 Following my meeting, I was able to observe the Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement Committee meeting. The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss procedures regarding scoring for schools where students opted to not take part in standardized testing. In his presentation, Superintendent John White stated that the proposed measures were the result of discussions amongst local school district’s superintendents. During the meeting, members of the public also had the opportunity to speak.

 While attending the BESE meetings, I also had the chance to speak with Joni Lacy, my coordinator with the Louisiana Department of Education. As we looked ahead to my activities for the spring, I was reminded of the fact that I still have so many wonderful events to come. I am especially looking forward to attending the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Conference in January. There, I will get to meet each state’s Teacher of the Year while taking part in activities that will benefit the education profession.

 Even though education isn’t “as simple as do, re, mi”, the knowledge I am gaining about the shaping of educational policies will certainly help my students achieve.

 

The Professional Development Conference by the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) began on November 19, 2015. Although there were clinics for every level of music education, my primary focus was on the workshops provided for elementary music. From clinics on integrating math in music to developing singing voices, there was a plethora of activities for elementary music teachers.

I especially enjoyed the workshops by Bryan Burton and Anna McFarland as they focused on music from around the world. As a music educator, my goal is to expose my students to world music as authentically as possible. Along with demonstrating many children’s games from various countries, they spoke about the cultural beliefs and history of each area.

I was also extremely excited to see Dr. John Feierabend present. Along with sharing research regarding music and the brain, Dr. Feieraband shared strategies for curriculum development in early childhood music education. I am looking forward to teaching my students several of Dr. Feieraband’s activities including his “Arioso” which develops musicality through improvising simple songs.

On Saturday, I was honored to be invited to attend the luncheon for the Executive Committee and the members of the “Hall of Fame”. It was a privilege to be amongst such dedicated music educators and to learn more about the history of LMEA. I was also delighted to speak with Dr. Frank Wickes, former Director of Bands for Louisiana State University.

While I was attending the professional development activities, the halls and conference rooms of the Crowne Plaza Executive Center were filled with the sounds of music. High school students from all over the state were participating in various All-State Ensembles including jazz band, choir, orchestra, and band. I had been asked to attend an awards ceremony before the Louisiana All-State Mixed Choir performance on Saturday. During this ceremony, John W. Stafford, a band director from Lafourche Parish, was inducted into the “Hall of Fame”. LMEA also presented four educators with their “Outstanding Young Music Educators” Award. Among them was Nathan Sumrall from St. Tammany Parish. Next, Ben Heroman, Chairman of Dream Teachers, spoke to the audience about my selection as the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Mr. Heroman then presented me with a plaque on behalf of LMEA and Dream Teachers. My supervisor, Ms. Margaret Sharpe, was also in attendace. I couldn’t help noticing that St. Tammany Parish was well represented during the awards ceremony as presiding over the awards ceremony was Sharon McNamara-Horne. Sharon is a vocal music teacher from St. Tammany Parish and is also currently serving as the president of LMEA.

Following the awards ceremony, we were then treated to a lovely performance by the All-State Mixed Choir. Under the direction of Dr. Roland Carter, the students gave a moving performance of a wide repertoire of choral works. Although each song was fantastic, my favorite was their finale piece, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson. As the words, “Sing a song full of hope” rang out, I thought of LMEA, Dream Teachers, and St. Tammany Parish. Each is singing a song full of hope for the future of children in Louisiana.

As part of their Education Day on November 18, 2015, the 2016 Leadership Northshore Class attended a presentation by the St. Tammany Parish School Board. The meeting began with Superintendent Trey Folse speaking to the budding leaders of our community. He gave the attendees a “pop quiz” where they were tested on their knowledge of our school system. Questions included identifying the number of schools in our parish and the definition of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Then, Mr. Folse, Mr. Peter Jabbia, Mr. Michael Cosse, and Dr. Regina Sanford each took turns sharing important information about the school system. This ranged from the hiring process for personnel to the number of students with special needs.

Next, the attendees were divided into groups which rotated between four stations. One of the stations was presented by Tracy Hoffman, the district High School Teacher of the Year. Along with some of her students, Tracy did a demonstration on the robotics program at her school.

I had been asked to give a presentation on how I integrate technology into my music classes. For my activity, I shared a lesson that I had done recently with my first grade students that incorporated the use of a promethean board. A promethean board is an interactive whiteboard that connects to your computer. Although the promethean board can be utilized in a classroom in a variety of ways, I explained how I used a “flipchart” on the promethean board to enhance my lesson on rhythm. Flipcharts may seem at first like PowerPoints. However, the students are able to manipulate and interact with the information in the flipcharts. I demonstrated moving visuals for rhythmic notation with a pen in order to model composing. I also showed how teachers can use a pen to write on PDF files that have been imported into the flipchart. Following my presentation, many of the guests expressed their amazement at the advancement of the technology being used in schools.

Mr. Folse spoke again when the guests reconvened. In his closing words, he shared the influence that a great school system has on the businesses in its community. At the same time, he said that the businesses have a significant impact on the schools.

Before leaving to visit various schools in the parish, the guest viewed a video that highlighted students throughout St. Tammany Parish. I loved seeing several of my own students in the video. Along with the images, we heard “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The first line of this song is “You, who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by.” In the end, the future business and community leaders left with the understanding that the St. Tammany Parish School System lives by the code, “Every Child, Every Day.”

 

Callin’ Baton Rouge

It’s very rare in life that you get a second chance. As I woke on November 14, 2015, I knew that I would embrace every moment of my second chance to be recognized on the field of Death Valley. This honor had originally been scheduled for September 5, 2015. However, the weather had other plans for that day. Although that game had turned into a grand adventure, I was extremely grateful when I was notified that I would have the opportunity to be recognized during the LSU vs. Arkansas game.

The day had a sense of déjà vu as it once again started with observing the Tiger Band practice at the Indoor Football Facility. This time, however, I had the chance to visit with Frank Wickes, the former Director of LSU Bands. While watching the Tiger Band perfect their half time show, I was flooded with memories of my own experiences in the band.

Thanks to the Dream Teachers organization, my family and I were again able to attend the “Ultimate Tiger Tailgate” following the band practice.  As we enjoyed the festivities, I reveled in the beautiful weather for the day. I even had the chance to watch a portion of the Tiger Band performing in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Next, we made our way to meet with Ben Heroman and Denny Bond, members of the Board of Directors for Dream Teachers, along with our liaisons from the LSU Athletic Department, Liz and Ty. Just as my family and I were escorted us onto the field, Garth Brooks’ song, “Callin’ Baton Rouge”, resonated throughout the stadium. Goose bumps covered my arms as I was shown to the opposing team’s area to wait. As the clock counted down to the time I would take the field, Ty and I pointed out the LSU football players to my niece, Kate. At one point, Leornard Fournette was standing just ten yards away from me.

Before I had even realized that time had passed, Ty was leading me to the edge of the field by the 45 yard line. I looked out across the field and saw several photographers and a cameraman waiting. As I took my first step onto the field, I couldn’t help but think of the many times I had made this crossing while in the Tiger Band. The big difference was that I didn’t have my fellow 364 band members marching out onto the field with me.

It felt surreal as I stood on the “Eye of the Tiger” and heard my biography echoing throughout the stadium. As it was announced that I was a former member of the Tiger Band, I could hear a loud cheer come from the end zone where the Tiger Band was lined up for the pregame show.  Since many of my students and faculty members from Woodlake Elementary School were attending the game, I pivoted to face all areas of the stadium as I had promised each one that I would wave to them.  My eyes started to water while I turned once again to the camera. I took a deep breath and willed the tears away. At the end of the announcement, the stadium was filled with thunderous applause.  It seemed like I was flying as I made my way to the sideline.  While walking to our seats, my family and I were awed by the number of people that spoke words of congratulations and appreciation.

I must admit that I had a hard time going to sleep on Saturday evening. My head was filled with visions of standing on the “Eye of the Tiger” while my heart was bursting with joy. Overall, my feelings could best be summed up by Garth Brooks, “Operator, won’t you put me on through. I gotta’ send my love (and gratitude) down to Baton Rouge.” Thank you to the LSU Athletic Department and the Dream Teachers organization for a day that I will cherish forever!

 

On November 11, 2015, I had the honor of directing Woodlake Elementary School’s tribute to our nation’s veterans.  For our program, we had over sixty veterans in attendance.  We began with the entire school singing “America”. This was followed by our principal, Ms. Lelia Parker, speaking words of welcome to our special guests. Next, our third grade students explained what it means to be a veteran. Then, the audience listened to the “Salute to the Armed Forces”. Our honored visitors stood when the anthem for their branch of the military was played. At the same time, third grade students displayed the military flags. Following the salute, first grade students shared a poem about our nation’s veterans, and they sang “On Veterans Day”. I saw many audience members, wiping away tears as the students sang the words, “Because of you we have our freedom. We honor you on Veterans Day.”

Ms. Parker then expressed her gratitude to veterans, and she introduced each of our esteemed guests. These American heroes were also the fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, and grandfathers, grandmothers, and great-grandfathers of our little Pelicans. Ms. Parker asked the students to also stand as we recognized their family members for their service. The most touching moments occurred when we acknowledged the students that have family members that are currently deployed.

We ended the program with everyone singing Lee Greenwood’s, “God Bless the U.S.A”. As we sang, I knew the Veterans could feel Woodlake Elementary School’s pride and gratitude for their great service.

The song, “On Veterans Day”, can be found on the following website: http://www.musick8.com/