Ensembles & Parent Engagement
Hello, my name is Katie Thomas and I am the Music Teacher at Yates Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Hillsborough County. This year I have 5 before/after school ensembles: World Drumming, Chorus, Modern Band, Hand Chimes and an Instruments of Change Band that teaches 5th graders Trumpet & Clarinet!
This year, I have 116 kids in my chorus, 21 World Drummers, 9 Hand Chimers, 13 members of our modern band called the “Eaglet Entourage” and 23 Band Members. How does this all work? It only works with both parent and student engagement.
I believe that our elementary students can achieve great things and make great music, we as educators just need to provide them the opportunities and encouragement to shine! This all begins with building relationships with your students and their families. You truly begin recruiting for your ensembles in kindergarten, when you first meet your students. The skills you build in your general music classes from Kindergarten- 5th grade go beyond just the standards. You are building lifelong music learners! My principal encouraged all of our staff members at the beginning of last school year to make positive phone calls home for students to begin to build relationships with our families. I took this amazing idea and ran with it! Being music teachers, we get the privilege of teaching the entire school! Last year I started making positive phone calls home for students I saw going above and beyond in music class. However, I didn’t just do it for the obvious ones (the ones who get the solos or who are in my ensembles), I looked for the students who are in the middle. The ones who aren’t front and center but not the ones who need a little extra guidance either. I would choose the ones who do their work and try their best but live right there in the middle and tend to get left out. I started calling those families to brag about how amazing their kids were. Wow, the difference these calls made! I watched those students come to life after those few phone calls! I had students who said they had never been told they were good at something or felt seen before now know that I see them and love them. They now feel like they belong in our music class family!
Now I know this sounds like a lot, so let me tell you how I made it all happen.
1. I learned all of my students names, yes all of them. Learning your students’ names is the first key step.
2. Listen to what your students want & need. Make your classroom culture one where they know it’s ok to make mistakes and try again! Let them see you as the teacher be human and make mistakes and try again - it will give them the confidence to try as well!
3. When assessing your students, find the ways your students like to be praised. Some love being called out in front of the class to demonstrate the correct way to play an instrument, others prefer to be given individual praise.
4. Attend your school functions and make music a part of them! STEM night is coming up? Have a grade level or ensemble perform before the event begins, or better yet see if it can become a STEAM night and make your program a core part of the evening!
One of the greatest mentors and influences in my life was my High School Chorus Director, JoLinda Crump. She once told me “a great Elementary music program is the heart of the school”. At my school my principal sees the value of my music program and I have students perform at every school event possible! This helps not only bring more families to the events but also uses the power of music to bring everyone together as a school family!
I hope this post inspires you to continue to make connections with your families at your schools. Have a wonderful year!
Best wishes,
Katie
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