It's that time of year when the world falls in love. Every song you hear seems to say Merry Christmas, may your New Year dreams come true. And then you realize that you have 5 concerts in three weeks, lessons to plan, students to keep calm before Santa's visit, shopping to do, food items to make/bake, the house to decorate and soon your blood pressure is skyrocketing and you wonder how on earth are you going to survive this month of merry making and celebrating. Ahhh the life of music teachers everywhere! Fun ain't it??
I'm joining several awesome music education bloggers from around the internet to share ideas of how you might Increase sanity and peace and reduce blood pressure spikes during this high-stress time of year.
I'm joining several awesome music education bloggers from around the internet to share ideas of how you might Increase sanity and peace and reduce blood pressure spikes during this high-stress time of year.
1. Build multiple options into your lesson plans.
This gives you a way to move on when something is not working with Mrs. Jones' class even though it went great yesterday with Mrs. Smith's class. Many of us have tons of resources at hand or in our file cabinets that are great holiday lessons. Pull them out and have them handy! This also is a good idea when your original lesson is dependent on technology! We all know how great it can be as well as how fickle it can be! Have a plan B, C, D and E lined up on your cabinet, table, bookcase... wherever.
2. SING!
This is one season where there is an abundance of music that EVERYONE knows. USE THEM! I have a class set of folders with carols and holiday songs. We could go through that for an entire 50 minute block period and still not sing all the songs inside. Even if you haven't mentioned time signature or quarter note or crescendo/decrescendo.... You did the most important thing you can ever do. You had them SING!
3. Give yourself permission.
To relax!
4. Have a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
When things get stressful at school, heat up a cup of water and make yourself some warm tea or hot chocolate to help bring your smile back. Even if you don't have time for more than a sip or two those couple of sips and the smell will help raise your spirits.
This gives you a way to move on when something is not working with Mrs. Jones' class even though it went great yesterday with Mrs. Smith's class. Many of us have tons of resources at hand or in our file cabinets that are great holiday lessons. Pull them out and have them handy! This also is a good idea when your original lesson is dependent on technology! We all know how great it can be as well as how fickle it can be! Have a plan B, C, D and E lined up on your cabinet, table, bookcase... wherever.
2. SING!
This is one season where there is an abundance of music that EVERYONE knows. USE THEM! I have a class set of folders with carols and holiday songs. We could go through that for an entire 50 minute block period and still not sing all the songs inside. Even if you haven't mentioned time signature or quarter note or crescendo/decrescendo.... You did the most important thing you can ever do. You had them SING!
3. Give yourself permission.
To relax!
4. Have a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
When things get stressful at school, heat up a cup of water and make yourself some warm tea or hot chocolate to help bring your smile back. Even if you don't have time for more than a sip or two those couple of sips and the smell will help raise your spirits.