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Blended, remote, or in-person education - GET READY! These items will make transitioning between in person and virtual learning a breeze this school year for any educator.
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We know this school year is going to look different, and is really unpredictable. Luckily, educators, music or otherwise, adapt and overcome quickly! The items listed below are definitely going to help me make the leap between virtual teaching and in-person instruction while keeping myself, my students, and my colleagues safe (and maybe sane)!
Most classroom guidelines encourage students to be at least six feet apart at all times. The National Association for Music Education even encourages classes to be held outside, in auditoriums, and in gymnasiums. While those situations help my class size issue, my voice will definitely be shot by the end of week 2 in these big, open spaces!
This mic has lots of power and does not have to be hooked up to your phone (unless you want to use it as a bluetooth speaker). It is offered in 11 different colors, so pair it with your classroom decor, spirit wear, or glam style! Any musician would be glad to have this in their toolkit.
Why I'm buying it: I lose my voice during allergy season when we're indoors. I'm banking on outdoor classes and saving my voice.
My school computer has a front-facing webcam and so does my personal smartphone. That being said, making instructional videos that look like I'm living in a Zoom meeting are... yuck. I want to be able to create a flipped classroom environment so that my remote learning kiddos can practice playing rhythms, speaking text, or being introduced to a new topic with me so that we can do more when they're in the room together.
This camera is super easy to use and can be mounted on anything (like a music stand!) if you're a little creative with the clip. It does need to be USB connected to another device, so open up iMovie or another program and record away!
Why I'm buying it: My kids and I are both over the Zoom meeting format. And who doesn't want to pretend they're a YouTuber?
Education has known about floor tape since the beginning of time. I have folding chairs in my room. I also have carpet squares. Neither of which are as easy to clean as the good ol' floor! Floor tape has endless possibilities:
Creating a "directional flow" with arrows.
Marking areas for different activities.
Giving "personal bubble" guidelines for each student (and your personal bubble!)
I am still working on this plan while our district finalizes their beginning of year guidlines, but at the moment I want to use the tape to "rope off" some personal space for my belongings - because no child has ever wanted in my desk for candy/pretty markers/sticky notes/bandaids. 🙃 I am thinking I will sanction off "personal bubbles" for each kid, depending on my class sizes. That will keep the chairs from migrating too close to their BFF in the next row.
⚠️ Check your building's policy on floor tape. Your director of facilities will definitely have an opinion on this one!
Why I'm buying it: Personal space is good. Visual guidelines help.
Elementary kids love sanitizer. I don't get it, but they do. They also have more strength than they bargain for, often leaving the area around the sanitizer bottle equally sanitized. You know, the very slippery, gel-covered floor that is probably cleaner than anywhere else on Earth.
We can all agree that "less touching" of our resources is the motto this year. This little guy lets you put your favorite sanitizer in the reservoir and get a "hands off" squirt of sanitizer. Bonus? No jumbo-pumps from your very strong 4th graders wasting the sanitizer!
Why I'm buying it: Let's keep the hands off the pump, the sanitizer off the floor, and the kids and I healthy!
Last year, I shared a room in the high school fine arts wing of our building. This year, I will be formally in our elementary wing, but with easy access for high schoolers to drop in. I loved seeing them during passing periods last year, and my elementary kiddos would drop in from time to time too. Unfortunately, I need a more regimented "you may enter" timeline this year so that I have ample time to sanitize shared resources and get videos put together.
Not only is this board SUPER CUTE, but I can flip the open/closed sign to let students know when it is okay to come visit and when the door needs to remain shut and noise level low. It should also help my elementary students know where I am when I am "out of the office" on high school assignments.
Why I'm buying it: Clearly set boundaries for uninterrupted video production and cleaning times.
Final Thoughts
I didn't include masks, tissues, gloves, and face shields because I hope that some of these items will be accommodated by my district. I also have plans to make some super cute face coverings for myself so that my true colors shine through. Hopefully some of these items make your school year a little smoother!
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