New Music Staff Member

I'd like to introduce you to a new music staff member. Kristen Baus will be teaching General Music K-5 at Gordon Willson and North Freedom Schools. Pictured left to right are Nate Honore, Kristen Baus and Susan Lappin. Ms. Baus will be blogging too so between the two of us we hope to keep everyone up-to-date on music happenings here in the Baraboo Schools.

The Music Man on You Tube

This evening I have been busy adding videos from You Tube to my video page on my website. It is amazing what is available if you look for it! There are many clips from the original Music Man movie with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. It took me most of the evening to remember how to add them as a "Navigation Level 2" so when you hold your mouse over the left hand side bar, all the links to the video clips I added are highlighted. It's practically like having the DVD on your computer. But not quite. You Tube videos are limited to about 5 minutes.

Friday

I am at the JYMS showing my website to other music teachers.

Let's Ask the Students!

What is the most exciting thing you ever learned in music?
What was your biggest accomplishment in music?
What would you suggest we do in music class?
What would you like to learn in music class?
Choose 3 things you would like to do in music class:
Learn about composers
Learn about instruments
Sing
Practice a musical and perform it
Go to a concert
Play instruments
Write original music
Read books about music and musicians

PBIS

http://www.pbis.org/swpbs_videos/pbs_video-creating_the_culture.aspx
Today we learned about PBIS. This is a systems approach to preventing and responding to classroom and school discipline problems. PBIS creates and maintains safe learning environments where teachers can teach and students can learn. East Elementary School will implement this on the first day of school, September 1, 2009. We start by teaching "hallway" and "dismissal" and will continue with "cafeteria" and bathroom." Sounds like fun!

My birthday was August 1.

Can you guess what tune is on my cake?!

First day of school 2009

Teachers go back to school today! I started by taking my Macbook to the HS for reimaging. Our entire day was devoted to time spent in our classrooms. Many teachers had been there for days, weeks or the entire month preparing their room. I was pretty much starting from scratch. My first task was to decide how to arrange the room. Quite a challenge because I was one of the lucky receipients of a Smartboard (an interactive white board) with a projector mounted from the ceiling.

It was great to see and talk with staff members I had not seen since school dismissed in June. That took a lot of time-talking to everyone. I also took a trip to West to meet briefly with the new principal, Jim Ruder. Back to East. I needed to hurry up and at least make my room presentable because open house was from 5-7.

Lots of students and parents came by. The most fun part is seeing the faces of the Kindergarteners (now First Graders) from West School when they recognize me and realize I will again be there music teacher. I put on "The Music Man" movie which we will be studying in the fall. The Baraboo Theater Guild will be presenting the musical in November. I found out several staff members will be in the show including the Art Teacher and her son and a Second Grade Teacher.

I'm looking forward to the yearly breakfast tomorrow (cross your fingers for eggs!) and then for staff meetings. Friday will be devoted to music staff meetings where people will be reading this blog. I hope to have an easier place to find it on my website. I'm going to try right NOW!

School will be starting later this month. I'd best start posting something on this!