Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities. The components in Domain 4 represent the wide range of a teacher’s responsibilities outside the classroom. These include reflecting on teaching, maintaining accurate records, communicating with families, contributing to the school and district, growing and developing professionally, and showing professionalism. Teachers who demonstrate these competencies are highly valued by their colleagues and administrators, as well as being seen as true professionals. Charlotte Danielson, “Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching,” Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Music in the Community
Music is everywhere in our society, and bringing our children into that world can make for some of the most memorable experiences of their childhood. Our Guggenheim Fifth Grade Singers had an opportunity to perform at an Islanders Game, showcasing their talent, professionalism and dedication to what we practice here at Guggenheim. This was a memorable day for singers, and for their families, as they got to be a part of this tremendous audience with pride.
Communicating with Families
Keeping parents informed of upcoming events, opportunities, and expectations ensures that we are consistent across the board. Staying organized with deadlines not only maintains order, but sets an example for our students, showing responsibility and the importance of timeliness, organization and following directions. Letters that are sent home to parents also opens up the door for future communication and conversations.
NYSSMA, All County and All District Festivals
The New York State School Music Association Festival is an outstanding opportunity for our students to have another opportunity to perform and showcase their talent. Students learn a selected song, as well as work on sight reading skills, which will be performed in from of an adjudicator from another school or community. These adjudicators provide a non-biased score, with helpful comments, for both the students and teachers like myself. Students enter this performance with a sense of ownership and responsibility than their usual concerts, since they are performing alone.
It is a pleasure for me to work with these students in smaller groups and individually as we prepare together for this festival. These students are serious about their craft, and I am able to provide instruction similar to that of a private instructor or studio experience, but during their school day.
By participating the NYSSMA Festival, students also earn scores which may qualify them to be nominated/selected by the NMEA All-County Board to participate in a performance with the top selected musicians from around the county. These students work together for only two combined rehearsals culminating in a concert, showcasing the highest level of talent and skill for their division. Since there is such little preparation as a group, it is always an exciting and useful time for me to work with these students to prepare this music. Since this concert happens in the beginning of the year, it's a great opportunity for me to get to know their voices and regimen, while also building a confidence and new degree of work ethic.
It is a pleasure for me to work with these students in smaller groups and individually as we prepare together for this festival. These students are serious about their craft, and I am able to provide instruction similar to that of a private instructor or studio experience, but during their school day.
By participating the NYSSMA Festival, students also earn scores which may qualify them to be nominated/selected by the NMEA All-County Board to participate in a performance with the top selected musicians from around the county. These students work together for only two combined rehearsals culminating in a concert, showcasing the highest level of talent and skill for their division. Since there is such little preparation as a group, it is always an exciting and useful time for me to work with these students to prepare this music. Since this concert happens in the beginning of the year, it's a great opportunity for me to get to know their voices and regimen, while also building a confidence and new degree of work ethic.
Staying Active in the Professional Music Community
In a field such as music, the community is very small and intimate, and full of support and encouragement from peers. The Nassau Music Educators Association is a network of current and retired music educators from Nassau County, who work together to ensure that the community outside of our immediate school community remains close, aware, supportive and educated. There are events throughout the school year, that bring us together to celebrate success, discuss or prepare for future events, all encouraging this tremendous network to remain strongly connected. It has been an honor to become an active member this past year, as I am excited to have recently taken a spot as a Division I West All-County Choral Co-Chairperson. I look forward to becoming further involved in this community, as well as making an impact with my work.
Becoming Involved in Community Events
It was a great privilege and honor, to be asked by our Social Worker, to help initiate an act for our the Talent Show in which our students were participating. We coordinated a surprise performance of a parody of "Shake It Off", where we sang about Guggenheim Elementary School, and our favorite people and aspects of our school. We had an outstanding turnout from teachers and staff to participate, and our students and their families were pleasantly surprised and thrilled by our breakout performance. This was such a fun and memorable experience, getting to know my colleagues, spending time as a group, and of course, showing off our school pride.