My fourth grade students at one of my schools performed their show last night. I was really happy with how it went. It was shorter than in the past, with fewer speaking parts, and was pretty much just singing and introducing the songs, plus a recorder group. The students sang in five different languages, music they really enjoyed singing. Today when I saw some of them they told me their show was great! and I agreed. A big difference for this year was that one of the teachers, who usually did a lot with the show, had retired, so I was really in charge. I think I'll try to keep the show the same kind of thing for next year, with maybe more instruments.
I have been having issues with a very presumptuous teacher. This is the first year working with her, and she teaches one of my fourth grade classes. She's the teacher who I had an issue with in this post. Thursday I received an email from her, CC'd to the principal. She was informing me that she wanted me to teach her students a railroad recorder song, plus a Gold Rush one if I had time. Then she reiterated that she doesn't want her students to take recorders home. I was mad. So I responded that her students weren't quite at that level (they're able to repeat notes after me, but I don't know what kind of railroad song I'd teach them before they know "Hot Crossed Buns"). Then I said that I have my own set of standards I need to teach and so it's difficult to take requests from other teachers. She responded well to this so I thought maybe she understood now to treat me as a colleague and not a servant.
Then today she informed me that she'd told her students that everyone who came to the show last night automatically receives the highest grade possible in music. What do I do so that she'll let me do my own job, the way it should be done??? At this point I'm wondering if I need to involve the principal.
3 Super Simple Systems for Stress- Free Music Teaching
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It doesn’t matter what area of music we’re teaching- instruments, theory,
curriculum or something new- there is a non-negotiable that is essential
and help...
3 years ago
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Let me tell you something... some people tend to think of school music programs as service organizations. This happens at all levels (even college). They think OUR job is to provide THEM with whatever musical product suits THEIR purposes, regardless of how practical it is for us to accommodate such requests. And of course, their requests take precedence over whatever educational standards we've been trying to adhere to.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so the ID in me hears that story and wants to say to that teacher "Excuse me, but the kids have been having trouble counting in my music class. Could you alter your math lessons so that they would reinforce the students rhythmic skills?"
The professional in me is saying: Find a time to try and talk with that teacher and lay it out: You are not a teaching assistant, you are a full time teacher with your own curriculum. But also keep in mind that you still may have to go to the principal. If you do, however, you can at least say that you tried to resolve the issue without administrative intervention.
The only problem is, some principals might actually side with the classroom teacher on this (if they are prone to the kind of idiocy that I described above.)
I don't know if that helps, but good luck. I SO know your pain.
Haha I thought about what her reaction might be if I asked her to have them divide fractions in math so that they would get the quarter/half/whole note thing. Actually I pointed out to her that I have my own standards and she echoed that back to me. So I hope she got the point. But today when she picked up her class she squinted at my objectives for a while so I'm wondering what that was about. Anyway, I appreciate hearing your take on the situation.
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