In my home every day is “Valentines Day”. Every day is a new opportunity to say “please” and “thank you” and show our love for each other. As a professional every day this year has been a new opportunity for me to say thank you and demonstrate my love and concern for all of my students. This week has been Teacher Appreciaation Week. I have been so blessed by the thoughtfulness of my administration and the continued encouragement and support throughout the year This week I have received so many special gifts, homemade cards, words of kindness, and hugs. Of the 33 years that I have been teaching music in a classroom this is probably the happiest year I have had. Each year just gets better.
I am thankful for each person in my life. May God continue to bless us all.
Our Howe Montessor Spring Concert is Thursday, May 18, 1:30-2:45 pm, in the Gymnasium. We would love to have you join us in the audience. I would like to share with you some very specific information to help your child prepare for the concert.
Some students have a speaking part. If your child has a speaking part you would have already received an email from me with a link to the script. You will notice your child’s name is in the script each time they have to speak. Please take some time to help your child memorize their words. The speakers also need to practice speaking slowly, with a strong and clear voice.
All song tracks and speaking parts are also available for home practice. To get to the material your child can:
Log into Clever
Click on QuaverEd
For first time use click on the button on the right (green)
Click on “A+”
Click on “Pet Show, K, 1, 2” or “Script and Songs Spring Musical 3rd, 4th, & 5th, Grade”. Students in grades 3, 4, & 5 also have “Music is Amazing Extra Help”.
Click on “Launch’ on the right hand side.
On the day of the concert students in grades Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade may bring one plushy stuffed animal that is no larger than 10 inches tall (smaller is better). The animal must be one that represents a real domesticated pet; cat, dog, bird, snake, lizard, bunny, hamster, guinea pig, fish, horse. No lions, tigers, monkeys, bear, etc. permitted. Only domesticated pets are allowed. And not all students need to bring a pet, because some children are not allowed to have pets (as one of our songs will say), and that is perfectly fine. It should be small enough to hold and also place on the riser step at their feet during their performance.
Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade are performing a Music is Amazing themed concert. Students may dress with a Disco Fever Theme if desired. We will also have a few fun surprises for you during their performance. They will finish their performance with a Recorder Playoff. Let’s see who the last one standing will be.
The 5th grade band and violin students and the After School Music Club will also play a few things during the concert.
We hope you will be able to join us for this special event. If you have questions please email me: reedc@dearbornschool.org
A fun thing happened yesterday evening…..I was on my way to Orchestra Rehearsal in Redford at the Redford Community Center and I crossed paths with one of our Howe Montessori students. We greeted each other and were amazed at how small the world can be sometimes. Then, as I was walking in to the building my ‘friend’ and another child (not from Howe) began singing one of our concerts songs from their car. I really loved this. Thank you for making my great day even better than it already was.
I love working at Howe. Staff and students have helped to make this year one of my best years ever. That says a lot considering I have been teaching for 33 years. 😀
We had a great time performing our new variation of a Irish Dance with our students in the Special Ed program. Most of the montessori classes also learned various Irish style dances this week.
To tie in the them of Super Hero for March is Reading Month our montessori students had fun creating rhythmic ostinatos (patterns that repeat over and over again) by using Super Hero Icon Cards. Everyone had an opportunity to be the composer for their respective team and all students in the team performed the composition. Shazam! Pow! Super Music Powers Activated!!
Dear Parents of Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students,
Our Spring Concert is May 18 at 1:00 and I would like to begin selecting students for the speaking parts. The students can access the songs and speaking parts at home to practice for the concert by doing the following:
Click on Student Portal on https://dearbornschools.org/
Click on Clever
Scroll down to locate QuaverEd and click on it.
Click on the red A+ located on the student dashboard.
Click on “Pet Show Kinder, 1, 2, grades”
Click on “Launch located to the right of the assignment box.
Each song is a slide – to change slides just click on the slide titles at the bottom of the screen.
If you know your child will not be here for the concert on May 18 please send me an email and I will not assign a speaking part for your child.
In celebration of March is Reading and also March is Music In Our Schools I hope youwill enjoy this video I made with another teacher friend and one of our shared classes quite a few years back.
