Organize Volunteers with Less Work

    I became K-12 last year, so I was looking for any and everything that could save me time.  I had post-it notes covering my desk before school even started!  During all the chaos, I kept getting e-mails from VolunteerSpot (now called SignUp.com) telling me their website was "free" to use and could help organize my volunteers.  Hmmmmmm. . . . okay, I was desperate, so why not give it a whirl?
     I set up VolunteerSpot to organize people bringing desserts for my fall choir concert (my FIRST secondary concert EVER!).  Guess what?  It was all that I had hoped it would be--and a little bit more!  So please let me tell you about it in case it will help you next year in your teaching!  I imagine you could use this for costume prep, parties, parents volunteering to help students learn speaking lines, etc.  Sound good?  Yep!

What is SignUp.com?

     SignUp.com is a website that allows you to create an event and describe what volunteers you need.  You are then able to share this event with others through e-mail, a link, social media, or a button on your website.  Parents can follow the link to see what volunteers are needed and can sign up without you being the middle man (or woman)!

(I think a tear may be rolling down my cheek . . .)

How do you use it?

1.  Sign up for an account using your school e-mail so that all communication goes to your school e-mail.  Then it will take you to your Dashboard.  This is where you get stuff done!

2.  Click on "Create New Sign-Up." 

 

3.  Pick a date to create an event:

4.  Add spots for the volunteers you need: (You can even create a repeating schedule!)

 

Here's what it looks like when you add multiple spots:  

5.  When you are done creating spots and click "Next" it will take you to back the calendar view--but don't stop there!  Go to the bottom and click "Next."  It will take you to a page where you can customize your event's appearance to match the theme.  LOVE this!  Pick an icon, then scroll down to pick the background design.  Click "Next" when you're done.

6.  Pick an option for how you would like to share it with parents.  I personally send the e-mail to myself and then copy it to my choir parent lists.  But do whatever works best for you!

7.  Then you can finally click "Done!"  It will show you all of the nifty features you will be able to add if you go premium, but for my purposes I haven't needed that :)  To go back to see your event, you can click "Dashboard" in the upper left corner.  Here's what it looks like under "My Sign-Ups" now.  (I signed up for a volunteer spot so you could see what it shows you.) 

8.  Click "Preview" if you want to see what parents will see when they go to sign up.

9.  Go back to "My Sign-Ups" on your Dashboard.  If you click on the title of the event.  It will take you to the calendar view.  Click on your even in the calendar view and it will pop this up:

Pretty nifty, huh?  

It gets better:  This website sends reminders on its own to the people who sign up--YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER TO DO IT!  However, if you want to send a message or a thank-you to your volunteers, go to "My Sign-Ups" and click on "Manage" and then "Messages."  You can also print reports, etc. to see the status of your sign-up all through the "My Sign-Ups" section.  LOVE IT!

Is it really FREE? 

YES!  As far as I can tell, unless you are someone who has to organize a marathon, I think you will be more than happy with the FREE package!  You can always upgrade to premium if you really want to :)

Is it worth the time?

Yes, there's a small learning curve when using SignUp.com, but it pales in comparison to the amount of time I used to spend making flyers, sending e-mails, and making phone calls!  Work smarter, not harder right? 

Give it a try and let me know how you used it!  I would love to hear how you saved time!

Catch you next time I have something Noteworthy!

YouTube Tip: How to get rid of commercials

I often use YouTube in my classroom as a way to engage students when they are listening to music.  The problem is that the ads that are on the side and often before the videos (and let's face it, the comments below the video!), are often not appropriate for students to see!  Well, I have a wonderful tip for you that I've been using this year:  quietube.

How to Use Quietube:
1.  Go to http://www.quietube.com/.  It won't look fancy at all (see below).  Drag the quietube logo up to your favorites bar. 

2.  Next, go to YouTube and find a video you want.

3.  Then click on the quietube logo on your favorites bar, it will take you to a new page with the video.

4.  There will no longer be an ad at the beginning of any video you show!  The side bar is gone too!  The pop-up ads can still happen, and there will be a small ad at the bottom on the quietube site.  I have yet to see one that's inappropriate.  In fact, once a student wanted to sing a song for me on YouTube and it was blocked by quietube because the video was considered inappropriate. You can also make it full-screen for no ads :)

5.  And just in case you want a different background, there's an option to switch between black and white.

I hope you find this quick tip to be helpful in your classroom!  The YouTube videos I use are part of my composer of the month activities.  Using YouTube means I can save money on buying examples of a composer's music and the students are very engaged watching the videos.  If you'd like a free sample of my composer of the month products, go here!
Catch you next time I have something noteworthy!

FREE Website for Brain Breaks

     I have a class that really needs A LOT of movement this year to help them focus.  One of my colleagues had sent out a website for us to look at earlier this year, but I never tried it.  Later, I asked my principal if she had a tips to help me with one class and she suggested trying the website out.  The site is called GoNoodle and the best part is that it's FREE! 
     Here's what you do to use it:
Create an account and sign-up under a school.  Mine was already listed!

 

Once you are in, you can test it out with a demo class by clicking on the question mark.   Later you can go back and add a specific class.  I have added about 10 of them and it hasn't made me pay yet :)

 Then you have to pick a "champ."  The students love these!!

 The teacher-only demo are is great because it lets you figure out the program before you try it out with a class.

 Here is what the initial choices are:

 I haven't had that much luck with the YouTube videos running (and the videos have less structure for the students to engage with).  But the other videos--WOW!  Here is an screenshot of some of the Zumba kids videos:

 And here is Run With Us:

  The Run With Us warm-ups are great for the focus of students and they actually enjoy them!  Most of the time when the students have completed an entire video, they get a point towards earning a new "champ." 

     One of the reasons I like these brain breaks is that students love to have choices, and this is an easy way to give them a "say" in what we do.  This website also takes no extra planning time on my part (which is a huge plus).  Also, I have not found one video that the students have been bored with.  In fact, my 4th graders picked one that was made for maybe 1st grade, and they were giggling the whole time they were doing it! 

     So, whether you are a music teacher, classroom teacher, or stay-at-home-mom and you are looking for a way to help your students/children get their wiggles out, check out GoNoodle!

Why Music Is An Essential Class in Elementary School

As a music educator, I've always seen the value of music for elementary age students (and really any age) for a variety of reasons.  It baffles me when school districts cut music programs!  And here are just a few reasons why:

1.  Music education promotes teamwork and cooperation.  And unlike recess time, when a student may be off to the side because they have struggles socially, music includes ALL students.  I once had a special needs student who I thought was barely aware of anything going on in my classroom.  The very last day of the year, he verbalized that he wanted to play a certain game (the verbal part was a big deal for him!).  Not only did we play the game, but he led it.  The look on his face was priceless. 

2.  Music education develops a different part of the brain than students use during their "core" classes.  Some students who cannot process math or reading in the typical mediums, can learn through music.  Which also leads me to the fact that . . .

3.  Music classes provide self-confidence for students who are gifted in music (many of whom may struggle in other areas).  I have had friends tell me they only showed up for high school because they liked choir, otherwise they may have never graduated!  And that's coming from people who didn't go on to do anything in music for their profession.

4.  Musical movement gives students a positive way to get their wiggles out!  And they may even learn something from all of that movement we do . . .

5.  Children can create beautiful music!  It also gives them an appreciation for music, and we need aesthetic appreciation and creativity in our culture! 

6.  Music teaches children about our culture and heritage.  I require all of my students to memorize the National Anthem in 4th grade.  Where else is someone going to take the time to make sure they actually know they words and what they song is about?  Also, you should see the smiles on the faces of my students when they finally "get" a folk dance they are doing.  You would think they just won a video game.  But wait, they aren't hooked up to a tv or phone, they are engaging with other human beings!! 

7.  Play is essential to the development of children's brains.   Want some more proof that this is true?   One study found that “preschool children taught with games and songs showed an IQ advantage for 10 to 20 points over those without the songs, and at age 15 had higher reading and math scores” (Harvey, 1997). (http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/elementarymusic.html)  Which leads me to my next point...

8.  Music increases test scores because it increases learning.  And since our schools are so concerned with test scores right now, shouldn't music be essential to them?

9.  Music is unifying.  I have not met a single person who absolutely hates all music ever created.  This can rarely be said about other topics such as games, sports, fashion, etc. 

10.  Music is fun.  And beautiful.  And inspiring.  And something so unique from everything else in the world.  It moves us, makes us dance, cry, remember, celebrate, worship, hold loved ones close, helps babies fall asleep.  Music is . . . well, music.  And that alone is powerful. 


Advocate for your school's music program.  Your students deserve it!

“It's [music education] terribly important, extremely important -- because when you are a child, you are in a receptive age ... In high schools, public schools -- that's where they must have the best influence, the first influence, which will go through their whole life.”
- Eugene Ormandy – conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra

Monster Melody Game--Music Pin!!

Today I was perusing Pinterest to see if there were any new music teaching ideas and I came across this gem!  Anything that has an appealing look that I think will catch the eyes of my students, I click on.  Anyway, the short version of it is that the class has to sing melodies to "feed the monster." If they draw a "make a snack" card instead of a melody card, they have to write their own and sing it.  Click on the picture to get to the pin, and then click on that to get all of the directions :)  I'm thinking I may have to make a rhythm version for my students.  Always looking for ways to keep it fresh! 

By the way, I'm thinking I'm going to have to start following her blog.  You can check it out here! 

Behavior and Classroom Control

      The first week of school is always a fun one!  We go over seats, play name games, review our rules, meet the kindergartners (who are doing quite well this year!), and find out who has "morphed" over the summer.  I use that term jokingly :)  But you know what I mean--that student who used to mostly follow the directions and now could care less!  You already put them in a good seating spot, used fun activities to lighten the mood, and made your expectations clear.  And they don't seem too impressed!
     Well, if PBIS hasn't come to your school yet, it will likely be there soon.  PBIS=Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports.  Think RTI (Response to Intervention), but for behavior.  It makes sense; you've tried everything you can think of, what now?!?!?  At one of our meetings this year, my someone suggested the website www.pbisworld.com.  I went to check it out and liked the concept. 
     The first page lists a bunch of behaviors (anxiety, defiance, etc.).  When you click on the link, it will tell you a better description of the behavior to make sure you have correctly identified it.  Then it will take you to a page with a bunch of interventions to try.  As an experienced teacher, this may not seem earth shattering, but for a new teacher, this would be amazing to have at your fingertips!!  And even as experienced teachers, it's always good to make sure we've really looked at every option possible to help our students succeed!  Also, if the main interventions aren't working, you can go to the Tier 2 page that will give you some more ideas to try.  (Just an FYI, it often takes you to other sites to explain the ideas--occasionally some of the links don't work.)
     So, check out PBIS if you haven't!  Encourage positive behavior in your classroom using every tool you can find!  Believe it or not, it's made a big difference at our school when we've made little changes using this data.  (Sorry if you've heard that word a million times already this school year . . . I'm pretty sure it's here to stay!)