Friday Reflection: Lost and Found

September set records for the hottest and driest month in over 80 years. But, fall has finally arrived and we are experiencing a cool down. With changing temps comes layers, and children love to shed layers while we are moving and dancing in music class. But, they don't always remember to take their jackets and hoodies with them when they leave. Last year, I came up with a solution.

I call this the Stuff Bucket. Anything the students bring to class that they don't need with them during the lesson goes into this plastic bin. Before I had the Stuff Bucket, I would often find random clothing, hair bows, books, and eye glasses that students would place on any nearby surface. They would sneak them on shelves, tables, my desk, or even the marker tray at the board. Often I would not notice these things until the end of the day, or even the following day, and with many classes visiting my room, it was difficult to track down owners of the lost items.

My Stuff Bucket sits right by the door so we can make sure it is empty before each class leaves. I have seen a significant reduction in unclaimed items and I rarely have to take items to the school's Lost and Found. If you have a problem with abandoned jackets and lost items, you should create try creating your own Stuff Bucket. Let me know if it helps or if you have any other suggests to prevent the accumulation of lost items.

Friday Reflection: Orff Bar Storage

I am very fortunate to have a large collection of Orff instruments. I am also very fortunate to have a large space to allow most of the instruments to remain out at all times and still have open space for movement. Here is a glance of my Orff set-up. You can view a full tour of my room on this post.

I feel like I have a pretty good system for my instruments ... except for my accidentals. For years, I have kept the accidentals separated in Ziploc bags in a basket on the shelf. When we needed F# or Bb I would have to pass the bags out. Matching the correct bag to the correct instrument was very time consuming. I knew I needed a new system and kept trying to brainstorm solutions. 

Last May, I started saving empty containers of disinfectant wipes. I removed the labels and then used zip ties to attach them to the instruments. I have a few instruments on rolling stands.  These containers were attached to the legs of the stand and the weight rested on the bottom brace. I used 2 zip ties on the top and 2 zip ties on the bottom. 

Most of my instruments sit flat on the floor. I first measured the height of the instrument so the container could sit right below the edge of the top piece of wood. I cut the container easily with a box cutter. The instrument pictured below is Sonor Primary line. There are threaded holes already in these instruments to attach legs which are purchased separately.  I used these holes to feed the zip ties through. It took 3 zip ties to secure these containers through the holes.

The Sonor alto metallophones sit a little taller and didn't need as much trimming. 

I have a couple older Sonor instruments that have pressed wood boxes. These instruments were taller and the containers did not need trimmed at all. They also had metal threads for legs, but there was not a hole going through the wood box. I used a drill to create a small hole through the wood inside the threaded hole. 

I'm so pleased with this new system. I was afraid there may be rattling from the bars vibrating against each other, but we have been playing with them a few weeks and I haven't noticed any noises. My older students have done a great job switching the bars and returning the naturals back when they were finished. The students have also used the containers for extra mallet storage. Since I used zip ties, these containers can be easily removed and then replaced if needed.

The best thing about this system is that it was practically free! I bought some zip ties at a discount store for just $2. In May, I also asked the classroom teachers to send me their empty wipe containers. Since they were cleaning for summer, I quickly accumulated enough for my instruments. 

How do you store your accidentals? Share below if you have a great idea that others may want to copy.

Paper Organizer

Papers! Papers! Papers!  I hate having stacks of papers lying around waiting to be returned. Sometimes, it can be as many as 8 school days before I see a particular class again. Sometimes, I admit, papers linger in my room because I simply forget to pass them out. I knew I had a problem but wasn't sure how to fix it ... until now!

A fellow teacher was getting rid of this pocket chart and I decided I could use it to tame my paper problem. I created labels for each class. I color coded them according to grade levels. I have organized them according to the day I see them in our rotation. When we complete a paper, the stack goes in the appropriate pocket. This chart is hanging on the back of the door. There are 2-3 people in each class who will check the door before we leave and remind me to return their papers before we line up. Placing this by the door means I will notice it more often.

There were even some empty pockets at the bottom that I labeled "EXTRA" for each grade level. When I copy papers for the entire grade, I place them in these pockets and leave the extras hanging until everyone that was absent has made up the assignment.

I'm very happy with this new system. Getting rid of the paper piles on my desk and table has brought me so much joy! How do you tame your paper problem?

Hand Drum Labels

I am very fortune to have several sets of hand drums. They come in sets with 5 different sizes that nest together. As I have acquired more drums, I realized I needed an easy system to group the drums back in their families.

I have one set of hand drums from Periopole which are color coded by size. I liked this system and thought for one moment what it would take to paint the drums. But, I opted for color-coded labels. Each size is assigned a color and number.

8" drum = #1 Purple

10" drum = #2 Blue

12" drum = #3 Green

14" drum = #4 Yellow

16" drum = #5 Red

Each family was assigned a letter which precedes the number. So, a drum labeled D3 would be a 12" drum with a green label and nest with the other D drums.

The labels are printed on standard mailing labels measuring 1" by 2 5/8". I borrowed some clear book tape from my librarian to add an extra layer of protection from peeling.

I'm very happy with this project and the kids were excited to see the fancy labels. No one has dared try to peel the tape off yet! They saw my face and knew I was serious about losing their drum if I saw them destroying my new labels! If you would like to use these labels in your classroom, I have the file uploaded to my Teachers Pay Teachers store. The link is below. Happy drumming!

Download Hand Drum Labels

Desk Tour 2016

Hello! I am linking up with some fellow music bloggers to provide a desk tour! In this video, I show you how I stay organized with schedules, lesson plans, and what I find essential to have at hands-reach on my desk. I hope you enjoy touring my desk! Don't forget to check out the linky at the bottom of this post and tour more music desks. Maybe something will inspire you!

There are a few things visible in the tour that I have written about in the past. Follow the links below for the details posts:

Canvas Quote

Sheet Music Lamp

Sheet Music Pinwheels

You can view my full classroom tour at this link:

Tour My Music Room

An InLinkz Link-up

Classroom Tour 2016

I have finally finished all my projects for my room (at least until another idea grabs my attention)! My last classroom tour was four years ago in 2012! If you missed this post, follow this link. I have included a few of the pics below. Lots of things have changed to improve function and aesthetics.

2012 Flashback

 2016 Update

This is the view from the doorway. Last year, I got a new carpet! I chose a solid because I wanted the biggest size possible. I chose purple because it is one of our school colors.

Two years ago, our PTO raised funds for 12 Wenger Flip Forms to serve as a portable stage. (Our stage got demolished during a remodel in order to make a larger lunchroom and kitchen.) I never thought I would want risers in my room, but I love how easy these are to move. At first, I stored the risers down the hall in an extra classroom that houses extra desks and furniture. I had some students roll them down to my room for the 2 days of choir rehearsal. I got tired of moving them and decided to reconfigure my room to make a permanent space for them. I had to move my keyboard and desk area. The Flip Forms are so convenient and portable. If I want my open space again, I can move them very quickly to the side of the room.

My floor staff is on the floor with gym tape. When I first decided to keep the risers in my room, they covered 2 lines of my floor staff. I moved the carpet a little closer to the board this year in order to squeeze it in that open space. Click here to learn more about how I use my floor staff.

My desk is now parallel to my computer workstation instead of perpendicular. I love this set-up now! I'm able to spin my chair instead of rolling back and forth in order to switch between work surfaces. I have also tried to improve the aesthetics of my workspace. Check out my previous posts on my painted canvas,  sheet music pinwheels and sheet music lamp.

My keyboard is in now front of my desk. A cord is hidden along the wall to connect the sound to my ceiling speakers. Two large file cabinets are behind my keyboard, but it is easy to move the rolling chair to access those drawers when needed.  Those cabinets contain sheet music and such that isn't accessed on a daily basis.

My Orff set up is very similar, but it has expanded. A local middle school offered to loan me some instruments that weren't being used. The teacher used them to teach general music classes, but she was only teaching ensembles in recent years. She hated to see them collect dust, so we are definitely showing them some love!

I made new color coded labels for my Orff instruments. I also made this poster to show the relative pitch of each instrument. I also integrated color theory. The warm colors have wooden bars and the cool colors have metal bars!

While creating the instrument labels, I also made some posters to help remind students of proper technique and procedures while at the instruments. The labels and rules posters are available for download on my TpT store. Follow this link!

The glockenspiels got new baskets last year, but now they have new labels and an extra shelf. Three of these glocks are borrowed from the middle school. All last year, their baskets set on the top of the shelf and I always hated how cluttered it looked. I stole the shelf divider from another bookcase to make 3 shelves for my glocks. Click this link to see how my glock storage has evolved over the years.

Last year, I created a new space on my white board for my student learning objectives. I divided the spaces using purple glitter washi tape. It is very easy to wipe off and write new objectives. The tape hasn't peeled. I write my objectives using "I can..." statements.

I haven't really done much to update this corner. I use my magnetic hand signs on a daily basis. They are available as a free download on my TpT store. I also use my Orff visual on a daily basis. It is getting in rough shape. It may not last the entire school year. I need to start working on a replacement soon. Click here to learn more about how I made mine.

I have reconfigured my cabinet storage and made new labels for the instruments. I will save the inside of the cabinets for another post in the future! I love how these labels help with clean up time. Even kindergartners can find the picture of their instrument and place it back in its home! If you are curious and want a peak inside, you can view this post from 2012.

This is the last corner of my room behind my door. It may become my favorite teaching space. I have acquired more Boomwhackers and needed more storage. This short bookcase is missing its shelf. I stole it for the glockenspiel shelf. The baskets on the wall behind the door are really grocery bag holders from IKEA and cost only $2 each! You can read more about my Boomwhacker storage at this link.

My ukulele and guitar are now wall mounted for quick and easy access. I'm on the lookout for a funky stool I can paint and reupholster. I'm calling this my jam session corner. When I moved my desk area around, I had this one lonely cabinet that would not fit. So, I stuck it beside the wall cabinets and placed a lamp and my scented wax warmer on top. It is so cozy now. Plus, the scents are closer to the door and more noticeable when the students walk in. I am currently using a Scentsy bar called "Skinny Dippin'" because I'm not ready to give up summer quite yet!

So, was it worth the wait? If there is anything you saw in a picture that I did not address, I'd be glad to answer questions and take more pictures. Feel free to leave some comments below!

Just for fun, here is a 360 photo of my classroom. Click the picture for the Facebook link. Click and drag or tilt your phone to explore my room! Don't forget to follow my Facebook blog page while you're there!

Boomwhacker Storage Upgrade

In the past, I have posted about my Boomwhacker storage, but have acquire many more sets since then. Here is a look at my previous Boomwhacker Storage.

I created these dividers out of hand drum boxes. I would slide the box right into my wall of cabinets.

Since I have purchased more diatonic, bass, and chromatic sets, I needed a new storage system.

For the diatonic treble sets, I took an adjustable shelf off my short metal bookcase. I went to Big Lots armed with a post-it with measurements of the height, width, and depth of my shelf and the width of one Boomwhacker or 2 side by side. I took some measuring tape with me to the store. After much deliberation, I purchased 8 vertical file holders which cost $2.50 each. At first, I was going to spray paint them to match the Boomwhackers, but getting custom colors would be expensive very quickly. So, I decided to make some labels.

This shelf used to store textbooks which I rarely ever use. Those books are now in my wooden cabinet and are available if needed. These Boomwhackers are now easily accessible and visually pleasing.

To store the bass and chromatic sets, I used grocery bag holders from IKEA. These were only $1.99 each! They are mounted with 3M Velcro strips. I have left room to grow my collection and plan on purchasing some more bass and chromatic sets this year.

I love how this useless space behind the door now serves a purpose! My custodian has sent a work order for maintenance to install a doorstop on the tile to prevent the door from squishing the Boomwhackers. I'll add a picture when it is installed.

If you would like a copy of my Boomwhacker labels, I have added them to my store on Teachers Pay Teachers. They include labels for treble, bass, and chromatic sets. There is an option for labels with solfa hand signs or with staff notation. There are bass labels with single notes, or with combinations of notes like you see above in my picture. This set has lots of options for you to customize for your own Boomwhacker collection!

Click To Download

Glockenspiel Storage

I use baskets to store my glockenspiels and the basket becomes a table to raise the instruments to a more comfortable playing position. At first, it was difficult to find a cheap basket that would be flat when flipped upside down. I found these baskets at the Dollar General for about $2 each and have used them for over 7 years.

I recently acquired some extra glockenspiels from another school, so I needed to purchase some new baskets. I could not find baskets identical to the these, so I needed to replace the entire set.  I found these baskets at the Dollar Tree for only $1 each! I also took this opportunity to color code my altos and sopranos.

They are not as deep as my original red baskets, but they are wider and will provide more surface area when flipped upside down. 

I used to store my accidental bars in Ziploc bags in the baskets. But, they would often need replacing because they would get ripped easily. I recently found these plastic snap cases on clearance at Walgreens. The index card cases were only 67 cents each and are the perfect size for the soprano glockenspiel bars. The pencil cases were only 32 cents each and are the perfect size for the alto glockenspiel bars.

I love my new baskets and storage cases. Now, I'm on a hunt for the perfect shelf to store all these glockenspiels. My glocks runneth over!



Sheet Music Pinwheels

I am patiently awaiting the arrival of a new carpet before sharing updated pics of my classroom. But, I couldn't wait to give you another sneak peak.

 I have this large space above my filing cabinets. I used to hang content posters there, but the words were too small to read from across the room and I didn't want students coming closer to the posters and invading my desk area. So. last year, I moved the posters and left this space blank.

This year, I have been very picky about what goes on my walls, in hopes to create a space more aesthetically pleasing. I knew this blank space needed to be filled.

 I found a very simple tutorial explaining how to create Sheet Music Pinwheels by Jessie Marie on instructables.com. Here is a pic included in Jesse's tutorial.

www.instructables.com

I fell in love with this project as soon as I saw it. I decided to create several pinwheels and repurpose a large treble clef I had cut out of black foam board for a past project. 

To create one pinwheel, you need: 8 sheets of music, tape, scissors, hot glue gun, and a small cardboard circle. A full tutorial can be found at this link.

www.instructables.com

Here are some more close-ups of the pinwheels. I printed just the title page eight times so there would be a sense of symmetry in each pinwheel. I also used corrugated cardboard to make a backing, instead of a tissue box, to give the pinwheel more stability. I used a hand-held hold punch to put a small hole in the cardboard near one edge. I tied some string in a loop through the hole to make it easier to hang. I used small Command hooks to hang the pinwheels.

 I chose a few pieces of music that were sentimental to me, including our state song, "My Old Kentucky Home" and an arrangement of our national anthem for trumpet and piccolo which was performed by myself and a former student teacher at our field day one year.

I'm hoping this addition also prevents me from piling papers and books on top of my filing cabinets. I don't want clutter to distract from their beauty.

If you would like to create your own music pinwheel, follow this easy tutorial.

If you would like to see more picture of my updated classroom, stay tuned! Follow me on Facebook to receive notifications of recent posts.

This post is also featured on the September Music Education Blog Carnival! http://musicwithmrsdennis.blogspot.com/2015/09/music-education-blog-carnival-september.html