November

This month on my personal Facebook page, I have been listing things that I am thankful for everyday.  You know - the hubby, my munchkins, family, friends and my JOB!  You know, I graduated from college over ten years ago and I have gone through my fair share of jobs since then...band director (1 year), church music assistant (5 years), media specialist (5 years) and now in my 2nd year as a music teacher.  In looking back at how I've gotten to where I am, I kick myself that I didn't start out here!  But, if I had done that, I would have missed out on so many growth opportunities and meeting so many awesome people!  So, I am thankful for my journey to where I am!  I am also over the moon thankful for my job!  I am where I need to be and I LOVE it!!!

Mrs. King posted an idea that she's been using in her music room (http://mrskingrocks.blogspot.com/2012/10/4th-graders-play-pumpkin-pattern-memory.html#comment-form) and I am going to tweak it to use in my room!  I am so excited about this!!!

I am so thankful that there are awesome music teachers out there that share their ideas, lessons and activities so I can get ideas for my classroom.

I encourage you to think about what you are thankful for on more than the one day set aside for Thanksgiving.  It is a wonderful feeling and I love reading about it!

A Sunday Quickie

While I'm lesson planning, I figured I'd hop over and do a quick little post.  Wow, wow, wow - the kids are just soaking up all kinds of music stuff!!  I so wish I could post pictures of their happy little faces while they play Mallet Madness!  But, alas, I have not had time to send home the permission slips so I CAN post. Right now, I'm super focused on getting the permission slips for my Donors Choose thank yous and getting the pics for that done.  Oh maybe this Friday I will get a little more caught up!

Holiday programs are beginning to come together.  More on those a little later!  I will have the primary grades program on Monday, December 10 and the 5th grade program on Tuesday, December 11.  Will I be more crazy intense than usual, hmmm YES!  That's okay - I wouldn't trade it for anything else!!  I am seriously LOVING my job!  Feel like the luckiest girl EVER!

Okay, must get my plans turned in!  Happy Fall y'all!  :)

TBA Open House Week! ~ Monday=Meet the Teacher

If you haven't heard, Teaching Blog Addict, TBA, is undergoing some changes that I think will be a win-win for all involved!

This week, TBA's hosting Open House Week. Each day has a theme or topic.

Monday's topic is Meet the Teacher.

My name is Cheryl Lukac.  My birthday is WEDNESDAY!  Even though the whole getting older wiser thing is still growing on me, I do LOVE to celebrate my birthday!  I work in a rural part of South Carolina that is about an hour outside of Charlotte, NC.

This is my 8th year of teaching - 2000-2001, I taught band, then spent 5 years as the Music Associate at my church, 2006-2007, I returned to the "classroom" as a media specialist, after discovering that path was not a good fit for me, I am back to teaching music on the elementary level.  This will be my 2nd year as a music teacher.  Funny thing is, I started teaching middle school band 12 years ago in the SAME building where I teach half the day and I'm spending the other half of my day where I worked as a media specialist!  I keep coming back!  My husband has said that I'm not allowed to leave these schools again until I retire!  LOL! 

I'm certified to teach music at all grade levels and content types grade Kindergarten - 12th.  I however, LOVE elementary music and would prefer to teach band rather than chorus or orchestra.  :)  But, please just let me teach the little ones!  I'm certified in music in North and South Carolina and this past year, I added Elementary Education (grades K-6) to my NC certificate.

Every morning I start my day at the Primary School (grades Pre-K - 2nd) and at lunch I head over to the "big kid" school for grades 3rd-5th.  Between the 2 schools, I will see almost 800 students a week.  Both schools are Title I and got A's on their SC report cards last year!

I LOVE what I do and I LOVE my students! If I didn't, I couldn't go back day-after-day!

In 2002, I married my college sweetie, who is a high school and middle school band director.  We have 2 amazing children, ages 8 & 6.  We go to Walt Disney World every chance we can afford!  My kiddos love to be outside and have wonderful imaginations.  They have helped me become a better teacher and I would not trade my life for anything else!

I love to have fun!  What better way to spend my day, than singing, dancing, playing instruments and getting my students to be super creative!

 

I love to use technology in my classrooms and I enjoy helping others find the best ways for them to incorporate it into their teaching lives.  It makes me sad when I discover that teacher friends are "scared" to use the technology they have at their disposal.

 

Head over to TBA to see more Meet the Teacher posts!

Cheryl

Labor Day SALE!

Starting Saturday all products in my TpT store will be 10% off until Tuesday!  So, if you haven't already, be sure to download some of the items!  :)

I have been so super busy between finishing my time in Charlotte and getting things ready for my move back to Pageland.  I hope to post more often again soon!

Happy Monday and have a GREAT week!

Workday Worries

Oh.My.Goodness!!!!  So much running through my brain and I can't get it to slow down enough so I can make a to-do list and aaahhhhhh!!!!  Open house night is always so much fun - everyone seeing each other after going months, students going back to see former teachers and oh the hugs!  I LOVE it!  Today was even better because I got to totally surprise former students that I haven't seen in a while and share that I'm going to be teaching them music!

It was so much fun and I am so glad that I got to do that today!  Now, I'm going to write down a few "to-dos" and then go to bed.  I am tired!

Happy Monday evening friends!

Christmas is in the air!

WAIT...WHAT?!?!?!  Sorry to put a damper on your end of summer celebrations!  BUT...I have to, have to, have to start thinking about Christmas/winter holidays/and what have you.
I was looking though the materials already at my school for my 5th graders and while I like what's there, most of it has been used within recent years.  So, that leaves me looking for something new.  A few of the musicals that caught my eye are...

North Pole Musical by Jacobson and Huff
A Pirate Christmas by John Jacobson & Roger Emerson
North Pole Star by Albrecht & Althouse

I'll keep you posted on the winner.  If you have a suggestion on a musical you love, please share!

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Help please!

Our school is having a PASS celebration for the students that met their goals on their end of grade tests last year.  Any suggestions for a fun song that I could sing with a small group of 5th graders?  I want something that will be easy for them to learn but, is funky and fun and really up beat.

I've looked through a few Music K-8 issues but nothing really jumped out at me...so, I need help!
Thanks in advance!