Tip #7: Everything in its Place

I don't know how things like this work for your school, but at mine (all three) there are behavior charts that I have to fill out for random students. It's all part of PBIS, if you're familiar with that. Students always come traipsing in with these charts and leave them all over the room. I find myself scrambling at the last minute to collect them and fill them out before sending the students on their way. This can cut into my very own personal bathroom time which is super important to me, so I came up with a system that will save some hassle. By dedicating some counter space or a small table in your classroom to the behavior charts, students always know where to place them and you can stop by the table at any time during class to fill it out or make a note on it so it's ready to go when the kids are. I like to keep a pen or pencil at the station too, preferably anchored to the wall or cabinet so I won't walk away with it. For kids who collect stickers on a sticker chart, I keep a roll of stickers close by to add to their charts. I make a fun sign for students so they know that's where their charts go and they remember to drop them off and pick them up too.

Tip #6: Value the Plan Time

Once you start doing extra jobs for people, it becomes expected and those precious plan time minutes will get chipped away until there is nothing left. Value your plan time, don't do extra work without compensation. This is a lesson I've learned the hard way. Everyone wants to do something nice for another person but there are risks involved.

I'd make a list of the things I have to try to do during the little time I have, but I don't want to dwell on it.

The other day I noticed that most of the time I don't teach two of the same grade level in a row. I'm used to the SMART Board where I just open up a new file, but now that I'm back to a whiteboard, I have to remember to erase or set up the new lesson in the time the classes are switching.

I need that set up time now.

Tip #5: Make a Copy

I know this sounds totally tedious, but when you teach in three schools, you do three times the paperwork. Anything that one school asks you to fill out, make a copy of it and put it in a file folder somewhere marked "Paperwork." Trust me, when another school puts one of those same forms in your mailbox, you can just go to that folder and find what you need. In my district, we fill out the same contact info sheet every year. So now, when they put it in my mailbox next year, I'll already have a copy ready for them and I don't have to go searching around for my doctor's phone number and address.

Tip #4: Share and Share Alike

Over the last several years I have been creating a ton of resources for myself. I've made document templates for my lesson plans and a whole lot of SMART Notebook files to use in the music classroom. I didn't realize how much I had to share until one of the other music teachers in my district got a SMART Board. I made sure she had access to all of my files no matter what state they are in so she can use them too. I knew where to look when I started out, but I did come up with most of my lessons on my own.

I realize what a benefit it is to have all that stuff to use and I'm happy to share it. Besides, I'm getting back a ton of resources from her now too. It's good to share!

I use Google Docs to host all of my files online so I can access them anywhere and share them easily. It's a snap to add them to my online lesson plans that I create using Google Docs, too.

Here is a link to all of my SMART Notebook files. I'm in the process of transferring them over to this Google account, so they're looking sparse now, but they'll increase throughout the year.

Tip #3: Google Docs for EVERYTHING!

A couple of years ago I got into Google Docs but I had no idea how much of a role it would play in my life when I started traveling to teach music.

After only a few weeks, I don't even need to bring a bag into school with me anymore. I can input my grades online (private, of course) and upload all my worksheets and documents to download and print at the individual schools.

The other music teachers in the district and I are sharing a lot of things online now, including a pacing chart so we can see what each other is teaching and we can comment and edit our curriculum so that when it comes time to revamp, we'll be ready!

I put all of my lesson plans online too, so I can just share them with the principals of all three schools. It's taking me a while to get all the lesson plans written up, but that's just because I don't have much of a plan time after I get to the second school, get my mail, fire up the computer and make copies, set up the room, etc. I'll get there though.

Tip #2: iPods=Awesome

It's a good thing I had already planned on using an iPod to hold all of the music files I use for class. When I was setting up my classrooms this year, I didn't even think to check to see if all of the CDs that go with the book series were in the room. Turns out one of the schools doesn't have any CDs in it! I couldn't believe it. There is no way I would be traveling around transporting CDs, so I would have had to use my iPod regardless. I realized quickly that I couldn't sync my iPhone with more than one iTunes library, so I had to dig out my old iPod mini that I acquired in 2004, the first year I was a music teacher. It's pretty ancient iPod wise, but it holds 4GB of music so I'm good for now. I just sync up playlists for the time being and take the iPod with me. I purchased iPod docks at Walmart, one for each of the two schools that I don't already have a setup for. At the third school I just play music straight out of iTunes on the computer and have a great pair of speakers. I'm going to save up to buy an iPod Touch with a ton of room on it to hold the entire library of music, but for now, I'm good. An old iPod mini is better than nothing and it's pretty much awesome.

Plus the kids love it. I get so many compliments on my little pink iPod with the dial on it.

Tip #1: Don't Let the Day Get You Down

Don't think about the fact that you have to go to more than one school in a day... think about the fact that you get to leave one school and go to another! For me, it's a nice break in the day. I get to leave any worries at the door, jump in my car and be myself for a few minutes before I rush into the next school to set up for the afternoon and eat my lunch. After school is over, don't stick around past your contractual time, if it doesn't get done, then they're not giving you enough time to do it. You can always pick it up and finish it tomorrow. Or if you're really dedicated, you can take it home with you. Sometimes it's the only way. Be the breezy music teacher who everyone loves to see and don't let that schedule get you down.