Friday, June 26, 2009

You're gonna be on a cart next year...SURPRISE!!!!

Yeah...well at least you were told directly...I wasn't.  It was assumed that I knew (well I did but it still would have been nice to have been told fact to face).  But enough from me...Regardless of what subject you teach it can be a scary thing to be told that.  After being upset about it, stomping your feet, screaming, or even crying/whining to colleagues here's what you do.  PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.  Not that you have to spend your entire summer revamping your class routine, you just have to think a lot...think about what your class is like without the walls.  How can you make it portable?  How do you want to take your show on the road?  For me it involved making a cart that contained things I regularly use in class (photo copier, TV, DVD/VCR player, over head projector, instruments....).
If your district is nice enough to give your funds for a cart GREAT FOR YOU!  Really!  But those of use who were not given anything but a crappy janitor cart (that really wouldn't have worked) had to fend for ourselves, as only teachers can.  Thankfully my husband is a real craftsman. (Pictures to come I SWEAR!)  
Some other things you want to think about if your show will go on the "Rhode"...unless you want to haul around two carts, be ready to make lots of photo copies.  And I have found that an I-pod is a great way for me to carry lots of music in a teeny space (and the kids think you're really neat for doing it too.)  As you go through your first year you will learn more than your ever expected.  But remember....as miserable as you are and as angry as you are about being put in such a crappy situation, don't take it out on the kids because most of them really like music class.  The last thing you need is them being miserable too!
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 26, 2009 at 9:26 PM

    I can empathize with the "not being told". Well....I guess the memo on the last day of school when I wasn't there might count. And then finding my desk down in the opposite end of the building the next day was a sign!

    I'm not sure if it's worse to be on a cart or to have a "room" which you have sometimes and some days you don't. And you never know until you show up that day and find out if they're using your "room" for testing.

    The worst part about not having a room is that you lose a lot of the spontaneity you have in a classroom. If you choose to add an instrument or pull out an "unplanned" song to explore a teachable moment, most likely you can't because you didn't bring those things with you on the cart with you that day.

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  2. AnonymousJune 27, 2009 at 7:21 AM

    Oh...and I have to add that the ipod is a fabulous idea. I got the school to purchase two years ago (it came out of the "technology budget" so there was money available!). Not only do you not have to lug all your CDs around, but you can make playlists of the songs you want to use for each class and everything is right there. It's also great for putting together listening activities and quizzes, because the students can't see what CD you're using. And, should you misplaced a CD (as I often do) you know it's also on the ipod.

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