This year our music program was cut in half in order for me to fill in on the half-time Teacher Librarian position. My hope is that both will be reinstated as full time positions in the future. It's really just a portable, but some magic sure does happen. On performance days we sometimes call it "The Perkins Center for the Performing Arts". Students, kindergarten through sixth grade, explore music
, dance and theater with me as their guide. I take a constructivist, child-centered approach to teaching. Students explore music through play and improvisation within the structures provided. I am a Orff-Schulwerck trained teacher. We play xylophones, percussion, drums, recorders and ukeleles. I never cease to be amazed by the creativity of children. This job keeps my mind open and flexible to opportunity. As Teacher Librarian, I manage the library and computer lab. In addition to helping students find books for pure reding entertainment, students also learn how to find and use information. I often integrate my two positions: Word skills and keyboard skills are often used to create promotional materials for music activities, great reads might be turned into short musicals. I am truly lucky to have a job that honors the ART of teaching, in that I get to design curriculum that is relevant, and engaging to students. When I do it right, students are driven to learn more, collaborate, create and share.
