The first thing I have learned in my three weeks of student teaching? Keeping up with a blog on the side is difficult when you’re teaching full-time! My apologies for taking so long to get the first true edition of the Student Teachers’ Notebook up on the site, but between a trip to Cincinnati for the TI:ME Conference, a bad head cold as my body refused to adjust to my new sleep schedule, and a LOT of observing, planning, and teaching, I am finally ready to reflect a bit!
The First Week
Weeks Two and Three
By the end of the third week, I was fully in charge of two keyboard classes and the symphonic band. I also worked a bit with the jazz band (they just finished their district festival), and am currently working with the wind ensemble as they prepare for their district evaluation. As a matter of fact, I was asked during week three by my CT (Cooperating Teacher) if I would be interesting in conducting the march that they will be playing at their assessment (Sousa’s “Fairest of the Fair”)! I am very excited to make my conducting debut at their pre-festival this coming Saturday, followed by the assessment performance a week from Friday. Keyboard has been a bit of a challenge, as it is something I am not very familiar with. I did, however, start a composition project with the classes in which I have been teaching them the concepts of AABA form, and we are using Noteflight to digitize our compositions.
Week Four
Last week, I began to take over Jazz Band. My biggest concern of the week, though, was what to do with the Symphonic Band. The skill levels in the ensemble are very widely ranging – some students are almost good enough to play in wind ensemble, while others are complete beginners. This creates a problem when it comes to choosing repertoire, as some students will always be bored with how easy the music is while others will be clueless because they don’t have the necessary skills to play the music. I have been working on a solution to this problem… more to come in the next edition of STN!
Reflections
I couldn’t count on all my fingers and toes the number of lessons I have learned in my first few weeks student teaching. However, here are a few “big picture” concepts I am learning as I go:
- Differentiation: With that wide array of skill levels in the symphonic band, I need to find a better way to engage ALL the students in the ensemble, despite their different ability levels. I have done a bit of experimenting this week along those lines; look out for more reflection on this as the week draws to a close.
- Shifts in Demeanor: My two keyboard classes could not be any more opposite in their class attitudes. While one period is very subdued and quiet (to the point of feeling as though I have to pull teeth to get them to answer questions!), the other is very energetic and rambunctious. While I am a very energetic teacher, sometimes my energy is not even enough to engage the quieter class! However, with the energetic class, I am realizing quickly that I need to tone down my energy, or they will feed off of it. It is incredible how drastically different two lessons with the exact same lesson plan can be!
- Rapport with Students: I always took this as a given, but I am noticing it more now. It is vital to have a positive and professional rapport with the students. I can tell that the students with whom I have already established this rapport – thankfully it is most of them – are much more responsive in class, and will work their best to succeed at the task at hand. On the other hand, those students who still are not comfortable around me tend to slip through the cracks. I am trying to find ways to interact individually with each student, so they can see that I care about each of their successes.
- The Juggling Act: Another one I always took for granted, I am seeing first hand how many different hats the band director has to wear! My CT is thankful to have me around sometimes, because my taking over classes has given him the opportunity to catch up on everything else (paperwork, advocacy with administration, observing individual students during class, etc.). He stays after school almost every day to allow the students to use the music area for practice, as they don’t have the opportunity to practice at home.
Final Thoughts
It is hard to believe it has been almost a month since I began my internship! I am absolutely loving my time in the high school band setting (this is the setting I would like to find myself in down the road). I have a great relationship with my CT, and I could not have asked for better behaved and more passionate students (with a few exceptions, of course!). I am already getting nervous, however, for my elementary general music internship after spring break. This is a setting I am much less comfortable in… we’ll see how that goes! Anyway, I will try to get one of these up at least every week for the rest of the semester, although I hold no promises!
As an aside, Elizabeth Heist (a senior Music Ed Major at Grove City College in Grove City, PA), has been doing a fantastic job reflecting on her student teaching experiences on her blog! Check out her blog today, and leave her some feedback, as well!
Until next time!
About Andy Zweibel
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