Busy, Busy, Busy

Slowly making my way through my to-do checklist for back to school stuff.  Finished recording all of my chorus accompaniment files for my winter concert.  I also recorded part I/part II melodies for my website so my students can practice at home.  I might have to push for them to really practice at home this year since our concert is a month earlier than usual.  You might ask why I spent 2 full days recording accompaniment files -- well my district doesn't supply an accompanist and well I could find someone to play for me and pay for it out of my own pocket, but I'd rather not.  The other option is play myself.  I did that for one concert and I hated not being in front of the kids -- I think its a big help to be there. Actually the other option is student accompanists and that I have done that as well -- a lot.  I have had a bunch of talented pianists in my 4th/5th grades over the years, however it always gives me an anxiety attack to know if they are going to get through it -- and sometimes I focus more on them playing then the kids singing.  I was actually happy that no one volunteered at all last year -- less stressful.  This year, however, I have 2 pieces planned that will rely heavily on student accompaniment.  For my winter concert I have planned the piece: "Peace on Earth... And Lots of Little Crickets" for my 5th graders and I am super excite about it -- however its all aux percussion (mainly cricket clicker, guiro, shaker) and 1 bass marimba part (or in my case keyboard and alto xylo).  If the students get off that could get scary, but I am sure they will be fine.  In the spring, I programmed my own arrangement of The Beatles' "Blackbird for my 5th graders as well.  It will feature one of my students on guitar.  He is a very talented student, but still a lot of pressure.

Wow that was a lot more long-winded than I expected it would be.  What else have I done this week?  Today, I completed 2, yes only 2 SMART Board files for 2 different kindergarten lessons.  I forgot how long it takes to create just one file.  First you have to figure out what you want to do, then find/make all the graphic files, etc.  Four hours and 2 files and one of them was just picture/lyrics to a long kindergarten song.  

Oh well, this weekend my plan is to make some more SMART Board files.  Then on Monday I want to head down to my classroom and finish setting up (they did construction that just finished, so I can finally get in).  Then all I have left is to completely re-do my 1st grade curriculum (as soon as I get my MusicPlay 1st grade!), then update my 3rd grade curriculum slightly (already did K, 2, and 4).  Then, well just do the usual stuff -- make a new incentive poster, make up my first week lessons, make some grading/seating charts, and just relax.  Not bad -- still got a week and a half!

So yeah ... not so much

So the plan today was to start working on some new great SMARTBoard lessons for the 09-10 school year.  What did I do instead? Go shopping!  Well... new clothes are important for the school year too!  Isn't that more important anyways, looking good?  Well having a varied wardrobe is.  Last year one of my 4th grade beginning sax students noticed that I liked wearing this one black sweater-vest thingy.  Now, I never wore it with the same shirt 2x in the same month and I tried to wear it once every 2 weeks -- but either way, my not so fashionable, quite immature 4th grader noticed.  So today I solved that problem -- I bought a grey sweater-vest.

Okay if you are still reading this, I applaud you since this has nothing to do with teaching or music or SMARTBoard lessons.  Well, school starts in about 2 weeks and my plan for the rest of my vacation is to record all of the chorus acompaniments for my winter concert (which is 1 day before the holiday break this year, expect many a vent about that coming up), make some SMARTBoard lessons for kindergarten and fourth grade, make up the materials for the new 4th grade units I created, revamp my whole 1st grade curriculum (whenever my MusicPlay 1st grade actually comes in), update the class website, and maybe relax.

Let's see what happens.  Tomorrow is hang out with hubby day, then Tuesday begins recording.  Should be fun -- it always an interesting experience!

And so it begins...

Not sure why I caved, not sure why I gave in, not sure why I decided to actually start a blog. Maybe the movie "Julie & Julia" inspired me, maybe I actually felt like sharing some of my experiences with whomever might stumble upon this, or maybe I was just bored. Who knows, could be any of those 3...

Anywhos... this blog will probably be as the title suggests, random mindless ramblings. I plan on posting about school related things, lesson planning, how lessons went or just whatever I feel like it. So stay tuned to see what this blog might actually turn into to... if anything...