by Melissa Stouffer | Jan 6, 2026 | Back To School, Teacher Tips
Happy New Year! Semester breaks are a great place to reset things that went awry during a previous part of the year. January is all about resets so let’s look at a few things that you can quickly review at the new semester. Grading/Rubrics I know I’ve said...
by Melissa Stouffer | Aug 19, 2025 | Back To School, Substitutes In The Music Room
I know BTS is the time we think about curriculum and decor, but sub tubs are an important thing to consider as well. Gosh forbid that you need to miss the first week of school, but it does happen! Let’s talk about the basics you need right when you go back to...
by Melissa Stouffer | Aug 12, 2025 | Back To School, Teacher Tips
Classroom teachers use parent helpers all the time for reading, individual work, copies, for events, and more. But music teachers tend to be reluctant. Why? If you are in a K-5 school those parents’ students are your students for SIX years. And while we only see...
by Melissa Stouffer | Aug 4, 2025 | Back To School, Classroom Decor, Classroom Management, General Music, Kodaly, Lesson Planning, Teacher Tips
Once August hits, we all know it’s coming. Some of our Southern friends are already back, and if you are in the North like me, it starts becoming a reality even though school supplies have been in stores since before some of us were actually OUT for summer. So...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jul 29, 2025 | Back To School, Literature
Back to School is a milestone moment. These fun books are a great way to help students feel a little more at ease. These are some great books to help them ease in, or have a giggle on those first nervous days. Full disclosure: Some affiliate links. Won’t change...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jul 22, 2025 | Back To School, Teacher Tips
I’ve been dreading this post since I decided to write it. But it’s unfortunately a reality that we need to think about. I have a former student who survived a nationally known incident at a local district a few years ago and I think about her and that...
