GETTING TO KNOW YOU BLOG HOP

Thanks to all who participated in the blog hop.. So fun to get to know all these amazing teachers.

What a fun way to get to know a bunch of other music teachers!  We’re have a blog hop so you can meet us…well at least get to know a little about us. What do you need to do?  You need to respond to the last question #3 and then hop on over to the next blog for a chance to win some prizes.  If you want to start at the beginning, go to the Yellow Brick Road Blog. 
Question #1
“What state or region do you live in?”
If you’ve read my blog, you know that I’m living in Arizona. I actually love it here and have adjusted to the heat-as we joke our “winter”, or the time we do indoor activities instead of too many outdoor ones. I’ve grown to love flip flops and cool clothing too. It’s very different than the other states I’ve lived in, which are New Jersey and California and Utah. I also lived in Tokyo, Japan for 6 years with my husband and 4 young children. (Tokyo Disneyland circa 1990)

Question #2
“What is your educational background?”

My educational background is very eclectic. I have a Bachelor’s degree in History with a Minor (and teaching certificate) in English with an emphasis in creative writing. I also earned an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from A.S.U. I took more college courses and private lessons to earn my Certificate in Music Education. I’ve attended many songwriting, writing and music conferences and workshops.This will be my 15th year teaching General Music in the same school district. I traveled to 4 schools my first year and then 5 schools the next–then I landed a job at my home school and have been there ever since. I have watched 2 sets of Kinders go through my program and I’ll probably see one more set before I retire. I love teaching General Music because of the diversity of the program. I love the instruments, dancing, and singing. I instituted a guitar program there and I run an extra-curricular Chorus program. I do about 9 programs a year including assemblies. It’s really busy! My educational background actually has been a big help to me in the Elementary School setting because I integrate a lot of literacy and social studies connections into my lessons and programs. I also attended Kodaly I training and hope to finish that and do the Orff certification too.

Question #3 (this is the one you need to comment on to enter the giveaway)
What is the best compliment you have ever gotten?

Funny that I got that one because I’ve been cleaning out old memory books and photos and stumbled on some certificates I’d won.  I think it was “Most Talented” at a Youth Camp and then receiving that again as a teacher from the PTSO. I’m grateful for my talents and I’m constantly looking for ways to use them for good.

HERE’S THE LINK TO THE NEXT STOP