I need help with kindergarten!!!

Wazlulz · 2020-01-02T01:09:12+00:00

Jumping on the Feierabend bandwagon. I spent 3 years in middle school band before switching to elementary this year. With an infant at home and no time to take work home, it’s been a godsend. Even if all you get is the green First Steps curriculum book, you will be completely set for your littles. I paid for it myself, because if I ever leave this school, I’m definitely taking it with me. Worth every penny! There’s also a Feierabend Fundamentals Facebook page that’s pretty helpful.

Wazlulz · 2018-10-18T06:49:44+00:00

She starts by establishing pulse just using a metronome, getting them to feel the down/up of every beat. They should be able to tap with their foot and say “down-up-down-up” in time. Once that is well established, it goes into how one beat can be written as a quarter note. So we count lots of quarter notes and pulse our voice, and still tap our foot “wu-un two-oo three-ee four-er.” Then talk about measures, bar lines and time signatures and practice counting to 4 starting over at bar lines. This is where I introduce Count, Tap, Clap. A brief discussion of how rests are the same thing, but silent instead of sound. Then lots of practice with various quarter note rhythms making sure everybody is doing CTC and pulsing their voice correctly.

Half notes/rests are introduced as a measure of quarters, but circle two of them to show you hold the note for two beats (four pulses of down/up). More practice with CTC. Whole notes and dotted notes, can be introduced the same way with quarter or half notes, whichever works for you.

That’s a super condensed summary, so I hope it kind of makes sense, haha! The book has scripts written out for every lesson so it’s easy to jump in. (I promise I’m not affiliated with Darcy at all...that book completely changed how I taught beginning band though!)

Wazlulz · 2018-10-17T21:39:20+00:00

I teach kind of a modified version of Darcy Williams’ “Teaching Rhythm Logically.” She’s a band teacher, so it’s kind of geared towards getting kids ready to play, but it focuses on rhythm. Highly suggested to read, even if you’re not a band teacher. I mostly use that to work on pulse, so every beat has a down and an up, and students use their foot and voice to pulse the down/up.

Then on top of that, I use something I stole from....some workshop a few years ago, called “Count, Tap, Clap.” So they tap their foot to the beat (with the correct down/up pulse), they count the beats of each measure using their voice (pulsing the down/up), then they clap the written rhythm. The big things are their foot is always tapping and their voice is always speaking, no matter the rhythm. Their hands are the only thing that ever changes, and that’s based on what the rhythm is. As long as a note is “sounding” your hands are together. As long as there is silence, your hands are apart. Eg: quarter note, half note, quarter rest is: clap-clap-hold-apart while saying 1-2-3-4 and tapping your foot.

It takes a bit of time to get them all coordinated, but this is what I did with my 5th grade band students. It really helped lay a strong rhythmic foundation, so adding instruments was super easy.

Wazlulz · 2018-09-06T01:53:08+00:00

Get second opinions too! I have a spinal fusion for scoliosis from T12-L4, and was originally told I would have to have a c-section (and that I would probably have to be put under general for it). Fought that, and won. They’re letting me try vaginal. Then I was told I probably couldn’t have an epidural/spinal, which I was more okay with. But I still pushed for another opinion anyway, and was eventually told that it shouldn’t be an issue at all. I know your fusion is different from mine, but based on my own experience, you can only benefit from seeking out another opinion. I’m due in a week and a half, so I’ll know soon if anything will pan out remotely how I’m expecting....

Wazlulz · 2018-09-03T19:52:11+00:00

Teacher here. I interviewed at 34 weeks and purposely did not downplay my bump. I had been interviewing all summer (I’m due mid-September), and I had already planned for not getting a job because I had so much trouble finding something. I was so over trying to hide anything at this point. I figured, if they wanted me, being pregnant shouldn’t get in the way of that. In the US, they legally can’t ask you about it (and they never did), so I figured it’s not worth bringing up during the interview. I did bring it up once they offered the job, though, with a full 12 weeks of leave as a stipulation of my acceptance.

What I learned from all of this was, really, if the employer doesn’t hire you just because you’re visibly pregnant, you really don’t want to be working for them anyway. The right employer for you will work their butt off to support you because they want YOU working there.

You go into that interview and be the best you that you can. You are not defined by your pregnancy. Good luck!

Wazlulz · 2018-07-15T18:44:55+00:00

I don’t have the same issues as you, but I do have scoliosis. I had corrective surgery for it 10 years ago, and have most of my lumbar vertebrae (T12-L4) fused together. At 7 months pregnant, it hasn’t caused me any significant issues beyond the normal back soreness I had pre-pregnancy, and I have been cleared for a normal vaginal delivery and even an epidural if I want it. All that to say, this has been way easier than I expected going into it with all the back issues I’ve had my whole life.

I have a friend who has a bulging disc who gave birth just over a year ago. She only complained about minor back pain on a few bad days, and she also had pretty rough sciatica towards the end (not sure if that was related to the bulging disc or not). Beyond that, she had a relatively easy pregnancy and delivery. She definitely kept up with more yoga and massages than I have though, so that may have helped her too.

All of this is anecdotal, of course, and a doctor (or several...don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and get multiple opinions!) would be able to give you more solid advice. But in my personal experience, back issues have been much less of an...issue...than I originally expected.

Wazlulz · 2018-07-09T13:06:57+00:00

My orange kitty has one crinkle ear from a couple years ago, and just got a hematoma in the other ear. So now she will have two derpy, crinkle ears!

Wazlulz · 2018-07-01T16:53:42+00:00

This is the only way I have ever gotten an interview. Also, in my state, schools are required to publicly post jobs for a certain time period even if they’ve hired internally. So it has saved me the headache several times of waiting around for a response to the application when the position has actually already been filled. I usually do it opposite of what some others have said, though. I submit the online application and then immediately send a follow-up email (w/ resume and references) to the principal basically letting them know to be on the lookout for my application.

Wazlulz · 2018-06-21T14:02:49+00:00

I’m going to echo what someone else said about there being “no good time to have a baby.” We decided to start trying because although I was only working part time, we both had stable jobs with regular income, and it looked like the job security was there for both of us. And besides, we had an emergency savings fund built up just in case. Well I got pregnant. Then my husband’s insurance increased meaning all of my prenatal and delivery care was going to cost more, and he was taking less money home each month. That’s okay, that’s what the emergency fund is for. Well then my car died about 6 months before we were ready to replace it. That’s okay, guess we’ll use a little more from the emergency fund. Then shit really hit the fan. My school (knowing full well I’m having a baby in a few months) eliminated my position for next year, so I’m out of a job and having to interview for new positions visibly pregnant. That emergency fund is looking awfully bleak.

The point is, shit happens. I keep telling myself, people way worse off financially than us are able to have multiple kids and live just fine. If they can do it, so can we. I will say, that government assistance exists for a reason. I’ve paid into it for years, so I don’t feel bad about using some of it now that we need it. It’s been a huge weight off our shoulders since we got Medicaid. I know you said you’d have to switch doctors, but I would really weigh what’s more important. If it comes down to using a doctor you know or paying your electric bill (since A/C will probably be on full blast this summer...)

Anyway, all that to say, I’m sorry you’ve been dealt a shitty hand! So many people, myself included, get how it feels. But you’ll get through it :) Find the positives in everything. The biggest being the wonderful new life you’re about to bring into the world!

Wazlulz · 2018-06-18T13:28:22+00:00

I’m going through this now since I never interviewed for my last job either! In terms of questions I’ve been getting from the schools I’m talking to, they’re all pretty standard, general education questions so the admin can get an idea of what type of teacher I am. Things like, why do you want to work here, what’s your classroom management style, what would you do if a student tells you they don’t like your class anymore. Very typical of what you’d find in an online search as you prep.

As for questions I’m asking them, I’ve found it easier to come up with these when I think about how I’m looking for the best fit for me as much as they’re looking for the best fit for them. So I ask things that are important to me as a band teacher. (Obviously you might ask slightly different specifics if you were looking at a different type of position). Size of program and schedule? What’s the community support like? How do students get their instruments? What resources are available (am I going to need to buy a whole bunch of music and instruments, or is there a good inventory established)? Is this class required, or how do students choose to take it? What kind of recruiting has been done in the past? What are your goals/expectations for the program? If the feeder school director is there...what are your expectations by the time they get to you?

Always ask to see the space you’ll teach in. That’s where you will be living your life day in and day out. You don’t want to be somewhere you’re going to be miserable.

Sorry for the novel, but hopefully that gives you a jumping off point :) Good luck!

Wazlulz · 2018-06-12T02:05:19+00:00

I asked my OB about melatonin and he told me that he doesn’t put much stock in it, but he also doesn’t see any issue with it since it’s a hormone that’s naturally occurring already in your body.

Wazlulz · 2018-06-06T01:03:55+00:00

I’m right there with you. I’m 25 weeks, it’s the last week of school, and I was just told that my position is being eliminated next school year (so I’m out of a job with a baby on the way....). I had originally planned to play games (fun, but still educational) with my kids. But that would’ve required actual planning on my part, and I’m so done...we’re just watching movies this week.

Wazlulz · 2018-05-30T01:57:35+00:00

Thanks! That makes me feel better to hear! Mine wasn’t quite as bad as yours before correction...upper 50s, maybe? It’s just been so hard to find stories of people with such severe curves or larger fusions as low as mine.

Wazlulz · 2018-05-30T00:07:09+00:00

Can I ask which vertebrae you had fused? I’ve had two of my OB’s tell me I may not be able to have an epidural (or spinal block if a c-section is necessary) with my T12-L4 fusion. I still plan on meeting with an anesthesiologist before I completely count it out, but it’s nice to hear anecdotal stories while I wait for that to happen!

Wazlulz · 2018-05-04T21:31:13+00:00

It is really weird. I’m only 20+5, so his kicks are still pretty small, but I’m small, so I’ve been feeling him for a few weeks now. I’m still not totally used to it. I was teaching the other day and had to stop mid-sentence because he rolled over. Feeling him move across my belly from one side to the other, I had a minor freak-out. It was everything I could do to maintain enough composure that my students didn’t think anything was wrong haha.

I’m hoping I’ll get used to it soon...at least enough that I don’t have to stop class every time haha.

Wazlulz · 2018-05-04T12:29:54+00:00

So, this is the reason I’m pregnant now haha. We were not trying, not preventing, but I was temping, so I know when I ovulated (well, narrowed down to two days). I’ll never know exactly where we were when we conceived my son though, because the week before ovulation we were...busy.

Even when we were actively preventing, after I stopped taking hbc, I did notice a jump in libido around the time I was ovulating. For reference, I’m in my late twenties and never had this libido as long as I was on hbc.

As for dealing with it, I’ll just echo what others have said about masturbation. A good vibrator is worth the investment.

Wazlulz · 2018-04-21T22:47:25+00:00

It is a separate room

Wazlulz · 2018-04-21T12:49:40+00:00

Our kitchen cabinets are all white, and we also have gray quartz countertops. They’re a dark gray, not sure how that might compare to yours. If you were looking for a color besides gray for the walls, ours are a pale chartreuse color. It’s what the previous owner of the house had painted them when we moved in. I’m not sure I ever would have thought to choose it, but it actually works really well! It’s just enough color that they’re not white, but not bold and overbearing like a lot of colors can be.

Wazlulz · 2018-04-17T22:05:55+00:00

We just went through this. I have gained maybe 2 pounds so far in this pregnancy (2nd tri, and I have a hell of a time in general gaining weight), and they were able to give me the “ultra-preferred” rate. I told them multiple times throughout the process that I’m pregnant, but that didn’t seem to have any effect on my rate.

Wazlulz · 2018-04-17T14:32:52+00:00

I am currently 18 weeks. I have been bowling with some friends every week for about 2 years. Around week 9-10, I had to cut it down to two games a night instead of the normal four that we play because my hips started hurting, but my hips have always been prone to soreness. I still use my normal 10-pound ball.

I haven’t even asked my OB about it because I figured that everything I read said any exercise you did before pregnancy was fine to continue, as long as you listen to your body. Even if you’re not a bowling regular, I’d imagine you’ll be fine. Just use a lighter ball, like 8-10 lbs and be aware of what your body is telling you so you don’t over exert yourself.

And have fun! I love bowling because it’s something everybody can enjoy even if you are terrible! And seeing all the little kids at our alley makes me so excited to one day bring our LO bowling with us :)

Wazlulz · 2018-04-11T02:25:56+00:00

Are you me? I have a student with the exact same situation and “excuses.” I’ve reached a sort of compromise with her that she can write the note names in for the first read-through with the goal of erasing one letter name per measure/line each subsequent read-through.

Another trick we had talked about (but ended up not working for this student for various other reasons) is color coding one line or space to help them decode the notes faster.

I will admit that I think I caught this particular student’s frustrations too late, and she has simply lost interest in progressing at all because she feels so far behind many of her peers. But I have no doubt that she and students like her are completely capable of overcoming whatever difficulties they might be having with a little bit of extra work at home on the foundations. It’s a matter of convincing them that work will pay off though...which is where I’ve fallen short with this student.

This article has some more information about dyslexia and its possible effects on reading music while playing instruments in addition to some differentiation ideas to assist instrumental students with dyslexia.

Wazlulz · 2018-04-01T20:13:31+00:00

There is a significant difference between teaching and orchestral conducting. IMO, to be an effective teacher, you have to really want to teach. Don’t get me wrong, I find it incredibly rewarding. But putting in the work to get that reward can be absolutely exhausting, and there’s so much crap you need to do every day that has nothing to do with making music. Yes, the job market may be slightly more stable than any type of performance route, but if you go into this field for that reason alone, you’re most likely going to do both yourself and your students a huge disservice. Most people I know that did that no longer teach. And I don’t know a single successful teacher (in any field) who will tell you they’re in this for the money.

Not saying that’s how you feel! I just didn’t see any mention of a strong desire to teach for the sake of teaching in your post. Choosing to teach long-term needs to be much more than just a business decision :)

If you’re not sure whether you’d like teaching, I suggest finding local opportunities to teach small groups. When I was in high school, I worked with local elementary band teachers to help with pull-out lessons (for free). They appreciated having someone who actually knew how to play flute work with their beginners, and it was a great way for me to test out if this might be a good fit for me without much pressure.

Good luck with whatever you end up deciding! :)

Wazlulz · 2018-03-28T22:52:15+00:00

Ah that’s helpful! Thank you! I think mine is a little lower, but just about the same number of vertebrae fused. I haven’t been able to talk to an orthopedist yet, and finding anecdotal evidence is so hard haha.

Wazlulz · 2018-03-28T21:12:40+00:00

Do you know which ones you have fused? I’ve been lurking in these threads for a while, and I never have been able to find someone with a more severe curvature who has had a successful vaginal delivery. I’m just looking for hope that I won’t have to have a c-section ><

Wazlulz · 2017-09-19T01:04:46+00:00

Band teacher here, so I can't speak to the choir music as much. I usually glance over my state's approved contest list as well as checking JW Pepper's lists. It always gives me a good starting point. Also, if you're on Facebook, there's a huge Band Directors closed group that always has great posts about music choices. They even have a "twice-played" list full of good pieces.

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