How long are your elementary music classes? Any transition time in between?

[nafmeadmin]

My job teaching general music for grades 2,3, and 4 has been cut to part time after 16 years, but even worse, the classes have been cut from 45 minutes once a week to around 35 minutes or less. There’s no time in between classes now, so one class is waiting in the hall when one is lining up to leave. Some classes even start when the kids are still eating lunch, and some end when the buses arrive or recess is beginning, so class is cut short to get coats and backpacks together.
I would like to hear what schedules are like at other schools. How often do your classes meet and for how long? Any time between classes?

[nafmeadmin]

This is my schedule for this year.

9:00-9:40 Kindergarten (Once every 10 days)
9:45-10:25 3rd Grade (Once every 9 days)
10:30-11:10 4th Grade (Once every 7 days)
11:15-11:55 5th Grade (once every 7 days)
12:35-1:15 1st Grade (once every 9 days)
1:20-2:00 2nd Grade (once every 9 days)

My choir meets on Thursdays mornings before school for 45 min.

[nafmeadmin]

I see 49 classes per week. They are all 30 minutes in length with 5 minutes between each class. I have a choir that meets twice a week for 30 minutes before school begins.

[nafmeadmin]

Currently, most elementary Music teachers in my district have 10-11 30 minute classes per day, depending on travel to other buildings. Next year, however, we are changing to 45 minute classes on a 3-day rotation. We are told that a full-time position will be 6 45- minute classes per day. Most of us do not have time between classes. I usually have 6 or 7 in a row in the morning, then lunch, then between 3 and 5 in a row in the afternoon, depending on when I travel.

[nafmeadmin]

Wayne, do your students have music twice a week? I assume they must.

[nafmeadmin]

I have the following schedule:

MWF: five 30-min classes in the morning; 30-min lunch; 30-min plan; four 30-min classes in the afternoon (total of 9 classes)

TTh: four 30-min classes in the morning; 30-min lunch/recess duty; 30-min lunch; 30-min plan; four 30-min classes in the afternoon (total of 8 classes)

The MWF and TTh schedules switch days at the semester. For example, some classes have PE 3x per week and music 2x per week during first semester, and then it’s switched second semester.

So I have a total load of 17 classes that I see twice or three times per week, depending on what semester it is. Total, I teach 43 classes each week.

I have 5 minutes in between each class for the first time in four years. It’s a godsend to have a few minutes to re-set supplies, go to the bathroom, review the plan for the upcoming class, take care of discipline problems from the previous class (such as have a discussion with a student, fill out referrals/detentions), etc. In previous years (and on our bimonthly early dismissal professional development days) I didn’t have any time between classes. Our school day was extended by 30 minutes this year, which is how I’m able to have the gaps now.

[nafmeadmin]

Here is my crazy schedule… sometimes I get to use the restroom. I am supposed to have 5 minutes between classes but lets me honest kids get dropped off early or picked up late.

Monday:
9:30-10:30 Plan
10:30-11:20 RTI
11:25-12:15 1st Grade
12:20-12:25 Lunch Duty
1-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:20 1st grade
2:25-3:15 – Honors Class
3:15-4:10 Band
4:10-4:30 Bus Dismisal

Tuedays:
9:30-10:30 Plan
10:30-11:20 2nd grade
11:25-12:15 2nd Grade
12:20-12:25 Lunch Duty
1-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:20 1st grade
2:25-3:15 – 4th Grade Music
3:15-4:10 Strings
4:10-4:30 Bus Dismisal

Wednesday
9:30-10:30 Plan
10:30-11:20 RTI
11:25-12:15 3rd Grade
12:20-12:25 Lunch Duty
1-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:20 1st grade
2:25-3:15 – Honors Class
3:15-4:10 Band
4:10-4:30 Bus Dismisal

Thursday:
9:30-10:30 PLC’s
10:30-11:20 KG
11:25-12:15 3rd Grade
12:20-12:25 Lunch Duty
1-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:20 Preschool
2:25-3:15 – 5th grade music
3:15-4:10 Strings
4:10-4:30 Bus Dismisal

Friday
9:30-10:30 Plan
10:30-11:20 RTI
11:25-12:15 3rd Grade
12:20-12:25 Lunch Duty
1-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:20 KG
2:25-3:15 – Honors Class
3:15-4:10 Band
4:10-4:30 Bus Dismisal
4:30-6 HAPPY HOUR!!!

[nafmeadmin]

kramkowskic993 what do you do during your RTI time?

[nafmeadmin]

RTI or Responce to Intervention is when we work with some of our lowest students on reading. I work with 3 students all 4th graders (2 of them are on a 2nd grade reading level). The classroom teacher provides me with work for them to help them out. Our state passed a law that said if students are 2 or more reading levels behind by the time they hit 4th grade they are required to be held back. Before we could recommend students be retained but a parent could override us.

[nafmeadmin]

Ours are 30 minutes with 3-5 minutes in between. But of course, teachers are late/early so I end up with no transition time at all…

[nafmeadmin]

I see all my general music classes twice a week:

K 2x 25min
1st 2x 25min
2nd 40min + 25min
3rd 40min + 25min
4th 2x 45min

I usually have 5 min in between classes, although a common recess mid-morning gives me an extra 20 minutes to re-arrange the room and pull out materials as needed.

This thread is making me thank my lucky stars – I’m not sure how some of you do it! Wow, 49 classes per week or 11 classes per day, you all are working very hard. I hope your students appreciate how lucky they are to have such dedicated teachers!

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