Ah, overheard in a high school. This, apparently, is how my students describe me - and I have to admit they're right!  I am a high school band teacher with a love of history and a hatred of socks.

 

I started this blog after years of writing lessons, units, bulletin boards, and worksheets for fellow teachers who knew nothing about music or history (or they were so overloaded with work that they didn't have time to write a brand new program year after year). They often hated the subjects but were being forced to teach it anyway. It made my skin crawl and conjured up this image of a teacher who was stressed out of his/ her mind, unable to answer questions or plan or captivate as creatively as in their other classes, and ultimately in an awkward situation with a parent at interview time. Yuck.

I would write the program they needed and they would teach it... and then come back and tell me that

for the first time they loved that subject.

 

 

 

Today, I teach:

• instrumental music (band) to all grades (high school)

• AP Music Theory online (online, asynchronously)

• world history

 

 

 

 

I am also Head of the Fine Arts Department and am certified to teach all subjects in French (though I haven't taught anything in French yet!). I have a B. Music, B. Education (specialization in music: K-12), with a minor in European History. I am a registered teacher with the Royal Conservatory of Music, and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Music Education Award when I graduated from university. As I write this, I have 16 years of teaching experience and I am just getting started!

 

 

My students:

read the music they are playing

cry when the music they make moves them

get angry and joyful about the events of the past and their meaning today

see all sides of every argument (and every newspaper article)

understand the power and importance of their own voice

grow into independent learners

but most of all - my students experience learning.

 

 

I am so excited to share my journey with you and to meet

the teachers that make our schools great!

 

Welcome to TeachingWise.