ClassDojo.com:  The Music Teacher's Best Friend:

I can't say enough about it!  Not only is it great to for managing behavior, but it's an AMAZING communication tool!  You can also send picture using stories, you can even send up to 15 seconds of video to your parents.  Great for sending informances. This week, I sent videos of my kinders playing Wee Willie Winkie from Orff Source.   I also message parents after nearly every class so that their parent can see what we are doing in class. It is a great tool for getting support. I have had many Donorschoose grants funded using this communication tool. Since I message nearly every class they know that the resources are being used. Just this summer I messaged about my grant and was able to get 20 or so Folkmanis puppets to add to our collection.  We now have LOtS!  Also, ClassDojo automatically sends a behavior report to the parents every Friday. So great!   In regards to behavior, I have very few issues.  Students know that they will be help accountable. Any time I take a point, I immediately message the parent why the point was taken. Often times parents message right back which I promptly let their kiddo know. That usually fixes it pretty quickly. My students and I have a great relationship. We have lots of fun and they know when I mean business. 😜 Did you know that ClassDojo is free and you can run it from your cell phone?  Even during line up I project it on my SMARTboard and offer a lineup point if they are quiet. I'm not by any means saying they are angels, but lining up can be chaos and this has helped so much.   You can't get better than that.  If you have any questions feel free to message me.  I'd love to help!  I'm a huge ClassDojo.com advocate!

One last thing, on some of these crazy short schedules that we experience between fall parties and Veteran's Day check out some awesome Piano Guys videos. They are awesome! We were recently studying the percussion family and used their video "What Makes You Beautiful" to show the piano strings and hammers which make it fit into two instrument families.  I'm posting some awesome pix below of a few years ago when a I took my son to see them in OKC. They were so great and came to meet all of their fans at the end of the concert. I had lots of students there too. It was an amazing night!

I'll try to write about my puppet collection and how I use it in the near future. It all started with Freddie the Frog.  Puppets are like magic.  They transform a classroom!  Well better head to bed.   I have an early flight to D.C. with my principal and a few other teachers to recieve an amazing honor for a school.  Can't wait!  Finally get to see the Star-Spangled Banner in person for this history buff from Oklahoma it is a dream!  😄🇺🇸  Can't wait!