Today I have some new teacher tips for you! These teacher tips are NOT just for first year music teachers. Any time you move to a new school or start a new role, there are certain things that will be new to you.
Starting off new is exciting, but it can also be a little scary. Don’t worry! These new teacher tips will help you make a smooth transition teaching music in any setting.
Getting to Know the School
Meet the Staff
If you haven’t heard this tip before – tuck this one away. The first person you should get acquainted with after your principal is your SECRETARY. The secretary is really the key to the kingdom at any elementary school. They will be able to help you with all the new procedures and possible red tape you need to go through in your new position. Make them an ally! NEVER get on their bad side!
Other important staff you will want to get to know and befriend include:
- Custodial staff
- Tech support (or at my school – the Media Specialist)
- Your team of specialists (art, pe, etc)
This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good starting point.
Find Out What Resources You Have
Find out what sources of funding you have (if any). Also take a look in your music classroom and get a sense of what space and instruments you have available to you.
You can get some ideas on how to build your supply of instruments in my article Elementary Music Instruments: Build Your Instrument Inventory on A Budget.
Find Out What Is Expected of You
Hopefully you asked about some of this in the job interview. That can help you have a good sense of what you are walking into when you take a new job. But here are some of the things you will want to know:
- Were there any before or after school clubs (such as a choir or ukulele group) that have traditionally existed? Is there an expectation that they continue?
- What performances are you expected to prepare? And what amount of rehearsal time and resources are provided? (For example, are you able to use the stage to rehearse for an upcoming grade level performance?)
- Do you have any extra duties you will be expected to perform such as lunch duty or carpool duty?
My general suggestion is to not rock the boat too much. If there are performances that are part of the culture of the school, try participating in them with an open mind and absorb the school’s culture before suggesting to make any changes.
On the other hand, if there are things you really don’t want to continue, your first year is probably the best time to try and make those changes happen. See if there is a different thing you could offer instead. Or another staff member who could take over that responsibility. At the very least, have a well thought out reason for why you are not continuing the previous club or performance event.
Building Positive Relationships In Your Classroom
I already mentioned building positive relationships with your building staff. But of course, you’re going to want to build positive relationships with your students as well. In fact, I think it is one of the most important things you will do when starting off at a new school.
Here are a couple ways you can learn about students and build some connections to get you started at a new building.
- Ask the students what they liked best about music class in the past. Value this input and try to add these things into your lessons. You will get SO MUCH more buy in if you show you value their opinions.
- Share about yourself. Let the students get to know a little about you! Help your students see you as a person they can connect with instead of just a teacher.
- Find out about student interests outside of music. When you are in line, or starting off class, find times to let students share about what is going on in their lives.
Planning for a Successful Future
Now that we’ve talked about the most important thing – relationships – we can dedicate a little time to the other stuff that will make your music program strong and vibrant.
Curriculum
You will want to look at the curriculum documents for your state and district to know what you are expected to teach at each grade level. You may also want to quiz students on what they remember from last year and find out what rhythm syllables they are used to. This will give you a baseline of what you are working with and where you want to go.
You can get more details on how I plan my lesson (and a free lesson planning template) in my blog post on Quick and Simple Lesson Planning.
Performances
Make sure to set the dates for performances you will do throughout the year. Planning a performance is such a big undertaking and the sooner you can start planning for them, the better. Click here for a whole article about planning a great music performance.
Classroom Management
You will definitely want to go into day one knowing how you want to handle your classroom management and routines. So put a little thought into how you want to run your classroom. And hey! I have an article about that too! Check out 10 Easy Elementary Music Classroom Management Tips That Work for some help in getting your classroom management just how you want it.
New Teacher Tips Wrap Up
So there are the things I would focus on as a teacher at a new school in a nutshell. In summary, my new teacher tips are:
- Prioritize building positive relationships first
- Respect the culture of the school
- Get you classroom management plan in place
- Then plan for building and amazing future at your new school
Other Teacher Tips You Might Enjoy
How To Have a Successful First Day of Music Class
3 Responses
Building positive relationships with students and staff stands out most, as that really shapes the music program. The reminder to respect the school’s culture before making changes is also appreciable, as it sets a strong base for future success.