After many hours of working in my room, I'm FINALLY ready to reveal my music room for this year! Here is a view of my room as you walk into it. I am super lucky to have a pretty big room! Here's a panoramic view of my room: I decided on a travel theme this year, and I have to say, this might be one of my favorites! I love the colors in the theme, AND I love that it fits in with my school's theme of "Oh, the places you'll go!" I really tried to be intentional this year to not cover every single wall with something, so that kids could learn in an engaging setting but not be overwhelmed.  Here is my word wall. Instead of posting words by individual letters, I decided to group letters. I'm loving this, because in years past, I felt like my word wall was a bit overwhelming (and honestly, do we HAVE to have the word "zydeco" up there just to fit the letter Z?) This is much more manageable! A bit further up the wall, I have hand drums hung with 3-M hook......

For many years in my classroom, I did not use a theme in my classroom...I simply decorated with whatever fun, colorful decor I had in my closet. But a few years ago--probably through Pinterest--I discovered that teachers were choosing themes for their classroom, and decided I wanted to try that too. Over the last few years, I've tried several different themes, and now I look forward to choosing a theme and implementing it in my room. Here are some ideas and strategies for choosing a theme for your music room! Why use a theme? First, why use a theme in your classroom? To me, it's a great way to start the school year on a new foot, with a different theme and different decor. Of course, some of your decor will be the same, but I love being able to give my room a makeover. I spend SO much time in that room during the year, it's nice to shake it up and make things look a bit different! It can also be a great way to tie everything in your room together. Whether you are "soar......

For many years in my classroom, I did not use a theme in my classroom...I simply decorated with whatever fun, colorful decor I had in my closet. But a few years ago--probably through Pinterest--I discovered that teachers were choosing themes for their classroom, and decided I wanted to try that too. Over the last few years, I've tried several different themes, and now I look forward to choosing a theme and implementing it in my room. Here are some ideas and strategies for choosing a theme for your music room! Why use a theme? First, why use a theme in your classroom? To me, it's a great way to start the school year on a new foot, with a different theme and different decor. Of course, some of your decor will be the same, but I love being able to give my room a makeover. I spend SO much time in that room during the year, it's nice to shake it up and make things look a bit different! It can also be a great way to tie everything in your room together. Whether you are "soar......

For many years in my classroom, I did not use a theme in my classroom...I simply decorated with whatever fun, colorful decor I had in my closet. But a few years ago--probably through Pinterest--I discovered that teachers were choosing themes for their classroom, and decided I wanted to try that too. Over the last few years, I've tried several different themes, and now I look forward to choosing a theme and implementing it in my room. Here are some ideas and strategies for choosing a theme for your music room! Why use a theme? First, why use a theme in your classroom? To me, it's a great way to start the school year on a new foot, with a different theme and different decor. Of course, some of your decor will be the same, but I love being able to give my room a makeover. I spend SO much time in that room during the year, it's nice to shake it up and make things look a bit different! It can also be a great way to tie everything in your room together. Whether you are "soar......

I have been super busy lately preparing for the new school year in my music room! Since Back-to-School has been on everyone's mind lately, I am teaming up with a group of great music bloggers for a Back-to-School Music Blog Hop! The blog hop includes six blog posts about Back-to-School in the music room, from lessons, to organization, to games, and more! To continue on the blog hop, keep clicking the picture at the end of each post to hop to the next blog! Here are my tips for first day lessons in the music room: #1: Play some name games! Whether you've been teaching at the same school for ten years, or are at a brand new school with hundreds of new faces, it's super helpful to play name games, to get to know their names, and for them to get to know each other's names! One of my favorite name games for Kindergarten-Second grade is called "Rickety Rackety," and goes like this: Students put the beat on their laps as they say it, then each child says their name, ......

I have been super busy lately preparing for the new school year in my music room! Since Back-to-School has been on everyone's mind lately, I am teaming up with a group of great music bloggers for a Back-to-School Music Blog Hop! The blog hop includes six blog posts about Back-to-School in the music room, from lessons, to organization, to games, and more! To continue on the blog hop, keep clicking the picture at the end of each post to hop to the next blog! Here are my tips for first day lessons in the music room: #1: Play some name games! Whether you've been teaching at the same school for ten years, or are at a brand new school with hundreds of new faces, it's super helpful to play name games, to get to know their names, and for them to get to know each other's names! One of my favorite name games for Kindergarten-Second grade is called "Rickety Rackety," and goes like this: Students put the beat on their laps as they say it, then each child says their name, ......