Classroom Procedures And Processes

Elementary music teachers are expected to cover a wide range of topics with their students. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when planning lessons—Especially after attending a great session at FMEA! We want to cover so much, but time, behaviors, and classroom logistics impede our students’ learning. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on ways to maximize my time with students. I would love to share some of my ideas and procedures with you. Please allow me to take you through a typical lesson at my school. We will listen to/discuss recorded music, play a game, read solfège, sing a part song, practice writing, and play instruments, all in the span of one 45-minute class period. I believe that scaffolding, variety, and routines are the best way for students to master (and remember!) what they learn in the elementary music classroom.

Kristen Schibener 

Pinellas Park Elementary School
Music Specialist

Kristen Schibener is a music teacher at Pinellas Park Elementary in Pinellas County, Florida. She has worked at Pinellas Park Elementary since 2009, where she teaches chorus, general music, and several after-school instrumental ensembles. Kristen Schibener holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bucknell University. Kristen plays the bagpipes in her spare time and is also a member of Pinellas Schola Cantualis.

The FMEA Professional Development Conference and All-State Ensembles receive support in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.