“Students with behavior disorders are generally unhappy individuals, and they often make everyone around them unhappy as well,” says NAfME member Alice-Ann Darrow. “They’re generally disliked by their peers, their…
Tired of the same old concert songs year after year? NAfME member Cynthia Brown has some creative ideas to spice up your elementary concert program without spending much time or…
Today’s students are “digital natives,” says NAfME member Kathleen Kerstetter. She uses blogging to give students an audience and an authentic reason to write about music and music experiences, and…
“Music teachers may be prone to workaholism simply because of the nature of their jobs,” says NAfME member Vincent Kantorski. “There’s so much to do, and so little time to…
“Can our students think of ways to solve their problems or fix their mistakes, or are teachers doing most of the critical thinking in our classrooms?” NAfME member Karen Tordera…
Middle school students are full of contrasts. They can think abstractly but are willing to try new things. They yearn for independence but can still find childlike wonder in the…
“I was extremely touched when three former students spoke on behalf of their elementary music education before the school board,” says Erin Berg. “Our best advocates are parents and community…
Times have changed since NAfME member Karin Nolan wrote about using interactive whiteboards (IWBs).* They’re a much more common sight. Nolan notes that today’s students prefer visual communication over speech…
Good relationships with students are the heart of effective teaching. In a survey, teachers shared their suggestions for building great teacher–student relationships: Treat students with respect. Try to work with…
“Have fair rules and be consistent in enforcing them. My students know the rules and understand why they’re important, and because I enforce them consistently, without bias, they work.” Good…
