TEACHER SELF CARE

AND

THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL�

Tammy R. White

MY Disclaimer

• School Calendars must meet the following requirements:
• Must have a minimum of 185 days OR 1,025 hours of instruction.
• Must have at least nine (9) teacher workdays.
• Teacher workdays are the total number of days a classroom teacher must work beyond the 185 days to earn their annual schedule.
• Originally workdays were intended to allow teachers to prepare classrooms for work that directly impacted their students….but administrators now schedule almost all these days for system wide or site based professional development that teachers are required to attend.

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In North Carolina…

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Well-Being and Stress Management

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Taking care of yourself��

• Teaching is important and rewarding work, but it can also be extremely stressful.
• Love for students is what drives many teachers—but it’s also what makes the profession really, hard. It is important to learn how to manage stress.
• Practicing stress management strategies are key. Take care of yourself!

Ask for HELP, LISTEN, and Implement FEEDBACK

• Novice teachers:
• ASK QUESTIONS!
• Be proactive about asking for information and assistance.
• Take every chance to observe what other teachers are doing. They are a wealth of information, encouragement, and support.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions from all teachers in the school. They can give you ideas about curriculum and provide information about students.

Establish a clean slate

Veteran teachers:

If you haven’t already, let go of last year. Whether it was a good or bad year, it’s not this year.

New teachers and veteran teachers all want to start the school year with success.

Be positive!

Stay engaged!

*Tip: Change up your classroom layout from last school year. Keeping things fresh helps to motivate you.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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Cultivating S-U-C-C-E-S-S �

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• Plan, plan, plan: planning too much is better than planning too little.

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• Before barreling through the content, get to know your students so you can better comprehend what to expect of them.

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• Include their parents as your partners for the success of their child. Use your enthusiasm to your advantage to show your students and parents that YOU CARE! Build your parent community!

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• Your people skills are what open most of the doors to come. Your work ethic, your attitude, your communication skills, your emotional intelligence, and a whole host of other personal attributes are the soft skills that are crucial!

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�Strategies for OPEN HOUSE

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Kiser Middle School

Sixth Grade Band

Student & Parent

Information

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Welcome to the Kiser Tiger Band!

Kiser Middle School Bands has enjoyed a tradition of excellence since the school's inception. This program is dedicated to giving students the chance to grow musically, socially, and academically. The band is also supported by the Kiser Middle School Band Boosters, whose mission is to support all band students through direct assistance and advocacy. The purpose of the Kiser Middle School Band program is to impart an appreciation of music to all our students through study, practice, and performance.

Follow us @kisertigerband on: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

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Mrs. White

Tammy White, director of bands at Kiser Middle School graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Music and Master of School Administration degrees. Performance highlights for Mrs. White include performing with the East Carolina University Marching Pirates and performing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wind Ensemble.

Mrs. White is a student-centered music educator beginning her 28th year in education, with 21 of those years teaching at Kiser Middle School. The Kiser Middle School Concert Bands have earned top ratings at district and regional music festivals. Mrs. White is an avid advocate for the arts, works closely with community partners and is active in professional learning for aspiring music educators. Mrs. White’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Educators, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, Association of Black Women Band Directors, and Women Band Directors International.

Mrs. White has been selected as the Kiser Middle School Parent Teacher Association Teacher of the Year (2004, 2010), the Guilford County Schools Employee of the Month (March 2016), the Kiser Middle School Teacher of the Year (2018), the Guilford County Schools Teacher of the Year (2019), serves as the current TeachNC Ambassador for Guilford County Schools. and received national recognition by the GRAMMY Foundation by being twice selected as a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022.

The Kiser Middle School Band program encompasses a rich tradition of musical excellence.

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Band Instrument Selection Process

The first step is in choosing an instrument. The choices of instruments are as follows: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone (school owned instrument), and tuba (school owned instrument). If your child is selecting one of the instruments listed above, you may go ahead and procure your instrument. If your child is interested in playing the baritone or tuba, please contact me. Students will need to have an instrument in class by September 6. This will be the first day of instrumental instruction for students.

The alto saxophone section will be limited to five students and will be filled on a "first come/first serve" basis. Please do not purchase or rent an alto saxophone until a spot has been confirmed. A google document form for an alto saxophone �“spot” will need to be submitted. Parents will be notified of their child either receiving one of the five spots or having to select their second choice of instrument. The link/QR code for access to the form will be included in the beginning band information letter mailed to parents during the week of August 8. Please email me with any questions regarding this process at whitet@gcsnc.com.

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Woodwind Instruments

ABOUT THE FLUTE:

• The flute is the highest-pitched woodwind instrument.
• Flute instruction begins with several complicated fingerings that are good for students with great dexterity.
• Flutes often play the melody, which requires quick fingers.

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED:

• Flute players need to hold the instrument out to their right, and will use their lower lip and fingers to balance the instrument.
• Flutists should be able to say “pooh” and create and hold a pouty lower lip, (similar to blowing into a pop bottle).

The Value of Reflection-from Surviving to Thriving

• JUST DO IT!
• Make it a part of your practice.
• Reflection doesn't always have to be done alone. When you reflect out loud, you can be heard, and have the potential to grow! It takes deep reflection to understand how to nurture your vision for your students, to keep it alive, and help it to grow.
• JUST DO IT!

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EMBRACE CHALLENGE & FEEDBACK

• Get a regular check-in partner

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• Build your professional network

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• Attend training and conferences

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• Do peer observations with feedback

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• Submit to coaching

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• Consider change

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Ask for HELP, LISTEN, and Implement FEEDBACK�

TEAMWORK:

Don’t be afraid of collaboration…you’re tapping into the expertise of others to improve your practice.

Establish a culture of communication…sometimes, teamwork can be less formal. Even going to lunch offers a big opportunity for teacher support.

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Managing Your Classroom EXPECTATIONS �

You are responsible for dictating the rhythm of your classroom. The first few days and weeks of school will often set the tone for the entire school year. Respect is often won or lost in those first few days and weeks. You get to set the tone. Show your students you’ve got this!

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Managing Your Classroom EXPECTATIONS �

• You’re nurturing someone’s most precious being. 
• Even the best teachers face criticism and pushback. Why? Because we’re helping people’s children—the most important person to them in the world.
• Soft skills are invaluable. 

One of the best ways to stand out as an educator is to learn how to work and foster intentional collaboration with parents.

You’re a professional. Be the part.

Teaching is one of those professions that everyone has an opinion on. Outsiders will always spout off about how they could manage a classroom better than you! Stay professional!

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

3 Guiding Principles

 Relationships

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Energy

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 Pacing

SET BOUNDARIES

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The HEART of the matter: the power to make a DIFFERENCE! ��“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much”�Marian Wright Edelman

• Teaching is HARD work, but it is HEART work.
• Empower↔ Inspire↔ Consistent↔ Persistent