Classroom teachers all over the country are seeking ideas for creative and innovative Winter door displays. Here are some suggestions! For more wonderful door displays, click on this link: We Are Teachers.
Talented band directors lead student musicians in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Several outstanding music educators appeared with their students today in the 2019 annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s the 93rd parade since Macy’s department store inaugurated the tradition. These educators represent some of the best America has to offer in music education.
The Blue Springs High School Band marched under the direction of Tim Allshouse. In 2009, this superb educator was name his district’s Teacher of the Year. The 210-member band hails from Blue Springs just outside Kansas City. Missouri. This Golden Regiment Band has previously marched in the Rose Parade and the Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama. I loved this band’s crisp white and bright pink uniforms, especially their chic slanted hats!
Directors Jeremiah Fowler and David Jaggie conduct the Madison Central High School Band from Richmond, Kentucky. The band is comprised of 215 musicians, 60 color guard members, and five drum majors. This group has been named their state champions a whopping five times! “We have very mature and great musicians in the band programs and the reason why the high school has become so successful is due to the fantastic middle and elementary music and band teachers,” remarked David Jaggie. This band’s unique animal costumes were really delightful! Members dressed in zebra stripes, peacock feathers, and tiger stripes, among other animals, were a genuine treat for the eye. I loved their snappy music choices, too.
Under the direction of Renee Shane-Boyd, the Catalina Foothills High School Band traveled from Tucson, Arizona, to appear in the parade. As a teacher in Catalina Foothills School District for 35 years, she has taught elementary, middle, and high school. As the Director of Bands at Catalina Foothills High School, her program is known for its diversity and excellence in concert, jazz, and marching band. The group has consistently been the largest marching band in the state of Arizona for over 18 years. This is the second time the Falcon Band has marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A total of 265 students comprise this band. This group appeared to have the most unusual marching maneuvers. I really loved watching them!
Also marching was the Martin Luther King, Jr., High School Band from Lithoma, Georgia. This 114-member group was established in 2001. The group is the first American marching band to perform in Johannesburg, South Africa. The students were overseen by School Principal Ennis C. Harvey. I loved the comment that educators at this school attempt to instill the ideology modeled by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in all of their students.
The Panther Band representing Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, made its third appearance in this year’s Macy’s Parade. Directed by Kevin Pollock, the 183 members of this band are no strangers to performing. The group has also appeared in the Presidential Inaugural Parade and twice in the Rose Parade. Kevin has worked at the school since 1987. The respected music educator said that the band’s success is a credit to the members. “They’re willing to work hard and put in the time to get the job done,” he said. I really enjoyed the beautiful turquoise, white, and black uniforms with the piano keyboard motif sported by this group. And I liked their use of the grand piano prop to accompany their theme of “Roll Over, Beethoven.”
The Ronald Reagan High School Band from San Antonio, Texas also appeared. This 360-member band marched under the direction of Dan Morrison. Previously, the band appeared in the Rose Parade. In addition, the group has won the University Interscholastic League Marching Contest numerous times and is a two-time winner of the Bands of America Conroe Regional competition. For his outstanding work in the classroom, Dan has garnered the Daniel J. Perrino School of Music Award for Excellence in Music Education. Loved the back and neon green uniforms on this group.
And finally, the Macy’s Great American Marching Band made its fourteenth appearance in this year’s parade. This group of 240 members is comprised of stellar high school musicians from all over the country. These students performed under the direction of Richard Good and Dennis Rhoads. What a terrific idea to bring together student musicians from all over the United States to create this new band.
Loved this year’s parade! If you would like to read more about the parade, see this link from CBS News. I look forward to sharing the event with you again next year! Happy Thanksgiving holiday to you and yours!
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Native American teacher Nicole Williams mentors her tribe’s young people
Native American teacher Nicole Williams returned to her home school, Calcedeaver Elementary School in rural Alabama. There she teaches her tribe’s culture, language, dance, and history to a community with a large Choctaw Indian population. On the way, she mentors many of those students through high school.
Approximately 90 per cent of the students who attend Calcedeaver are Choctaw. Most of them live in poverty. Until recently, they had to trudge through raw sewage to get to class when rains were heavy. Most qualify for free or reduced lunch.
In a career that has spanned 15 years, Nicole has devoted herself to overcoming those obstacles. As one of many dedicated teachers, administrators, and support persons, she has helped turn things around at the school. And the efforts are paying off. The state math and reading test scores for Chalcedeaver students outpace those of their fellow students in Mobile County and across Alabama year after year.
In addition, high school graduation rates are up dramatically. When Nicole inaugurated her mentoring program, the high school graduation rate for Native American students who were elementary students at Calcedeaver was only about 50 per cent. Now, the high school boasts a 91 per cent Native American student graduation rate. That’s one of the highest in the state. “I try to ensure the community and students are getting my best and they’re giving me their best,” Nicole remarked. In fact, among her classmates, Nicole was the first, and one of only a few, who went on to college and earned a degree.
To read more about the work of this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link: Education Week.
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Marzell recommends sharing “Harriet” with your US History students
Last weekend I viewed the movie Harriet, a historical fiction version of the life of Harriet Tubman. Harriet was born into slavery, but she was determined to be free. I loved this film! I would highly recommend that US History teachers share it with their students. The film goes a long way towards helping students better understand this remarkable woman’s life. It also leads to increased knowledge of the workings of the Underground Railroad.
The story line follows the heroine who was faced with her impending sale as a slave, separating her from husband and family. To avoid this, she made a daring and harrowing escape North to freedom. She had some help from the Underground Railroad, but traversed the better part of 100 miles to freedom all on her own. Once she tasted freedom, Harriet determined to lead members of her family and other slaves to freedom, too. Despite the danger of capture and return to slavery, not to mention beatings and other reprisals, this intrepid woman ventured back into the South to accomplish her goal. The movie credits her with engineering and executing the escapes of at least 70 slaves, but I have read historical accounts that place the number closer to 300. The effort earned her the epithet “The Moses of her People.” In fact, Harriet Tubman became one of the most important and most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad.
The production was released by Focus Features on November 1, 2019. Cynthia Erivo stars in the title role. Leslie Odom, Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monae perform in supporting roles. The film is rated PG-13, and there are no scenes that I would say are unacceptable for classroom viewing. The movie’s length spans 2 hours, 5 minutes, which is a bit long for classroom purposes. However, I would be hard pressed to suggest which scenes could be cut. I think it would be best to show the film in its entirety.
The trailer above serves as a teaser. You can watch the movie yourself and come to your own conclusions. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
