Talking to Kids.

Talk to the students in your normal voice. Please don't use that Disney/Fake/I'm Talking To Little Kids voices. The kids know it's fake and will respond the same. Respect the students enough to use your regular voice. If you're not sure, tape yourself and then watch it.

Musical Hands

This is hard for us to remember, but our movements will be exaggerated by a class of 25 or so until they are playing (or using body percussion) so loud nothing else can be heard.

So, make sure you make your body percussion, and your modeling (of instruments) soft and musical. Nothing is worse when you're playing loud or clapping loud, and then you yell at the students for being too loud.

Visual Aid Tips

For visuals and posters purchase the giant Post-it easel Pad. They're easy to write on (permanent marker will not bleed through), easy to tear off and stick most anywhere, even to eachother, and can be used again next year for the same lesson. They are about $20 at Sams Club for one tablet (25 sheets) which lasted me most of the year. Not sure how much they are at office stores.

Also become familiar with any electronic visual aide equipment in the classroom- some teachers have an LCD projector and office or other documents can be projected as a visual aide. This will also take care of some of the technology requirements in your various evaluation forms.