Reflections from the Music Room

1. What lessons were the biggest hits this year?

Which singing games, folk dances, recorder pieces, bucket drumming activities, or technology lessons had students fully engaged? Make a quick list now while it's fresh in your mind.

2. What lessons need a refresh—or retirement?

Not every activity ages well. Which lessons felt flat, took too much preparation, or didn't achieve the learning goals you hoped for?

3. Which resources saved you the most time?

Every teacher has a few go-to resources that make a busy week feel manageable. Maybe it was MusicplayOnline, a trusted book on your shelf, or a classroom routine that kept lessons running smoothly. Before summer begins, make a quick list of the resources you found yourself returning to again and again.

4. What should you organize before leaving?

Are there instruments that need repair? Supplies that should be reordered? Bulletin boards to take down? A few minutes of organization now can save hours in August.

5. Which students made the biggest growth?

Take a moment to celebrate student successes. Sometimes the students who grew the most aren't the ones who performed the best.

6. What classroom management strategies worked best?

Were there routines, transitions, seating arrangements, or attention signals that made a noticeable difference? Write them down so you don't have to reinvent the wheel next year.

7. What should you stop doing?

This can be one of the most powerful questions. Which commitments, activities, or habits added stress without adding much value?

8. What should you do more of?

Think about the moments when your students were most engaged. Was it singing, moving, creating, collaborating, or playing? Consider how you might build more of those experiences into next year's lessons.

9. What would make next September easier?

Could you label bins, update lesson plans, organize digital files, or prepare first-week activities before leaving for the summer?

10. How will you rest and recharge?

Teaching music is demanding work. Summer isn't just a break—it's an opportunity to refill your creative cup. What will you do this summer that has nothing to do with lesson planning?

Let's learn from each other!

What's the best lesson, game, or activity you discovered this year? Reply to this email and share it—I may feature some of the responses in a future newsletter.