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Thankful Thursday (on Friday) and FRENZY!

I am linking up with Aileen Miracle for Thankful Thursday. I have so much to be thankful for this year.


#1 - my family
I am so, so blessed. I have a 16 month old daughter, Ellie, who I just adore. She is a climbing, walking, running, talking, kisses-giving, waving bye-bye cutie. Parenting is not always the easiest, but I could not imagine my world without her. It is amazing to watch her grow, it seems every week she is able to say or do something new. 

I am also very lucky to be married to my best friend. He is very supportive of all that I do. I also love that we are both teachers - and both music teachers. I see pre-k through 5th grade and he sees 6th-12th grade band, so we pretty much cover the spectrum. He teaches about an hour away from where we live, but  that brings me to my next thing I am thankful for.

#2 Our jobs

I am so thankful that we were both able to find jobs teaching music in a time when positions were being cut and there weren't many openings. I love my school, the kids, the staff, my room. It is amazing to be in one school! My first teach teaching I traveled between three schools daily and never really felt "grounded" in any of the schools or school communities. Now, I feel very much a part of my school, and I am so thankful that I get to wake up and make music with beautiful children everyday.


#Networking - this past year I have really learned what a tool online networking can be through pinterest, facebook, blogging, and teacherspayteachers.com. I have gained so many ideas from music teachers all over the world. Collaboration is right at our fingertips. The teachers who went through Kodaly Certification with me have a facebook group where we can go to celebrate our personal victories, ask questions, and continue to help improve our teaching. I am also on several other music groups on facebook that act in the same way: Kodaly Music Educators of Kansas (feel free to join even if you are not in KS), Kodaly Educators, Orgaization of American Kodaly Educators, and Music Teachers. Each of these groups has been a valuable tool for me this year. As music teachers we are often the only music person in our buildings and it can be very isolating. It is important to continue your own professional development by keeping close contact with other music educators.

Several of the music teachers I have come to know over the past year are linking up Dec. 6-9 on facebook to stuff your stockings with 17 amazing freebies. There is something for everyone, Kodaly materials, Orff orchestrations, recorder resources, pre-made bullitin boards, music clip art for your printed programs, and so much more!


Just go to my facebook page and look for this tab:


If you have already liked my paged, the freebie will be right there for you to download. If you haven't, simply "like" my page to get your freebie. Then, click on the snowman in the freebie tab and you will be sent off to the next stop to collect another free resource. This Facebook Frenzy has 17 stops. Don't miss out on any great products. Sometimes you will have to click on your back arrow if the freebie doesn't open in a new page to get back to the frenzy page with the snowman link to the next freebie. Let me know if you need any help making your way though and I can email you a map with direct links to each page.


Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy this first ever music teacher facebook frenzy!

Lindsay




December Festivities

Today is the last day of the TPT Cyber Monday and Tuesday Sale. If you have anything you want to get, I'd definitely stock up today! Most of my store (as well as many other teachers' stores) is up to 28% off when you enter the code CYBER at checkout.


I've created lots of new materials for Winter and Christmas, and just added another to my store yesterday. It is called "Dashing Through the Snow Rhythm Races". 



It has nothing to do with "Jingle Bells". It is just a fun rhythm practice game. Originally I wanted it to be Bobsled Rhythm Races, but I could not find any bobseld clipart that met my needs. This game is played just like my Turkey Trot or Candy Corn rhythm races where you have different colored teams and each team gets a pile of rhythms. When you say/play the rhythm, one person from each team races down to find the correct rhythm and bring it back for their team. My idea with the bobsled (sleds in this case) is that if your PE teachers has scooters, you could have them race on scooters to find the rhythms. This works well on a combined PE and music day or if you have the space in your music room and can borrow scooters from your PE teacher. Although I couldn't find bobsled clip art, I do love these glittery sleds. They were one of my first Cyber Monday purchases from Glitter Meets Glue Designs. She is the queen of all things glittery!



I am working on a set of all of the level 1 and 2 rhythm concepts (because that's where my kids are). If you want me to also work on sets for level 3 concepts, please comment below and let me know what concept you would me to add to my store. So far I have these ones done:

and more to come! :)

I also wanted to let you know that I will be participating in a Facebook Frenzy this weekend for music teachers. 16 music teachers including myself are teaming up to bring you 16 fabulous freebies. Starting Dec. 6th, if you visit any of our facebook pages and "like" our page you will be rewarded with a freebie as our thank you for following us. Once you have downloaded the freebie from one teacher there will be a link to the next freebie so you can hop through and collect all 16 free things for your music room. HOW AWESOME DOES THAT SOUND!?! I am so excited that many other Kodaly and Orff teachers are a part of this frenzy. There will truly be something for everyone. 

Here's a little preview of my freebie and the other great freebies to come!

 
I have been saving this just for my facebook frenzy! It is not currently available in my TPT store.


Head to my facebook page Dec. 6-9 to start snagging your freebies and don't forget about the CYBER sale ending today! 

Lindsay