Teacher spotlight #3: From Music Therapy to Lifelong Connections
Welcome to Part 3 of our Teacher Spotlight Series, where we ask thoughtful questions and let inspiring educators share their journeys and insights. We're excited to introduce Michelle, also known by her instagram handle @mssmusicclass (make sure to follow her!). Michelle reveals what ignited her passion for teaching, the rewards of building lifelong connections with her students, and the innovative strategies that have transformed her classroom experience.
Get ready to dive into her world of music, heart, and creativity, and discover what makes her teaching journey truly remarkable.
What inspired you to become a teacher and what's been the most rewarding part of your teaching journey so far?
I originally went into Music Therapy as a major in college. As I was going through my coursework, I got the chance to observe a friend teaching her elementary music class. I watched her interact with her Tiny Humans; I watched her teach her lessons; I watched her Tiny Humans laugh and enjoy themselves while experiencing music. I thought if I can bring that much joy to one tiny human, just one… I’m sold.
The most rewarding part of teaching has been the long term relationships I’ve been able to have with my former and current Tiny Humans and their families. I have followed so many of my former Tiny Humans over the last 26 years. I’ve been to sports games, graduation parties, weddings, baby showers; I’ve had former students’ children in my music class; I’ve had the opportunity to teach alongside former students; and sadly, I’ve been to the funerals of former students or their immediate family members. The relationships are not for the time I have them in class; they are forever.
Could you share a memorable classroom moment that reinforced why you chose this profession?
There isn’t just one that sticks out for me - there are actually so many. I’ve had several teachers who were and still are a part of my life. They have followed and cheered me on throughout my life and career. That has stayed with me and a huge part of how I go about my teaching. Something else that really stood out to me was the classroom interactions these teachers had with us as a class. They took real interest in us, they joked around, they made class fun, we worked hard, and we laughed. A lot of laughing. Those experiences were what I have used to create my classroom environment. Their joy in teaching was a huge motivator in choosing this profession.
If I had to pick one memorable classroom moment it would be the first year I was in my current district. I was not prepared for the behaviors or the classroom management that was needed for this building - and I had already been teaching 17 years! One Tiny Human in particular stood out to me. She was extremely sassy, confident and gave zero cares as to who I was and what I was trying to do. She had absolutely no problem telling me what she thought of me and what I could do with it. She may have called me a choice name or two and she definitely didn’t mind ignoring me. I worked so hard at trying to reach all of these students, but especially her. She fought me every step of the way… until I introduced recorders. It was like watching a butterfly open their wings for the first time. She took to recorders like no other student I’ve ever had - she LOVED it. She loved it so much that she would ask for extra music to work on. Fast forward to middle school where she joined band and began playing the flute. But the biggest change was our relationship. She is now in High school and seeks me out if she comes with her family to pick up younger siblings or cousins. She jumps out of the vehicle to give me a hug or rolls down the window to make sure she says hello. She is no longer in band, she is no longer a student of mine, but I can always count on her giving me a hug and saying hello, seven years after our first encounter.
What innovative teaching strategies or tools have transformed your classroom experience?
This may not be an ‘official’ innovative teaching strategy, but … GRACE and ACCOUNTABILITY. Learning how to ‘teach’ in college does not truly prepare you to enter the classroom. Innovative strategies and tools are wonderful, but having grace and accountability gives teachers the ability to fail and it still be okay. Grace allows us to know life happens and sometimes not everything is going to work out perfectly but what we get done is enough. Accountability for all in that we can still get things done. Grace and Accountability not only for us, but our Tiny (and Big) Humans as well. Even when we have bad days, we can still be okay and do what needs to be done. These two strategies have been game changers in how I run my classroom, how I handle situations in my classroom, how I teach, how I expect my Tiny Humans to learn, and how we all react to each other in my classroom.
If you could design your dream classroom with unlimited resources, what would it look like and why? Being a music educator, I would have a much larger classroom with space for more instruments. I would also have plenty of space for all these instruments to be stored easily and conveniently for access. Storage also for the many different costumes, props, and set displays for all the musical performances.
This room would also have a stage with curtains and a viewing area where the musicals can take place and can be watched with plenty of room for everyone. This takes away the issue of intruding on another teacher’s class time because the stage is also a part of the gym or someone else’s classroom. I would have an area for children's books - a mini library for us to use and share stories through music.
A movement area with plenty of space to use ribbons, the parachute, or circle games, any kind of movement activity. I would have a classroom with windows! My dream classroom would include an area where we can explore cultural music along with those instruments. My dream classroom would also include a very well paid, full time Para or Teacher’s aide
What's the most valuable piece of advice you'd share with new teachers starting their careers? If your Tiny or Big Humans know you care, if they truly know you love and care about them, you have won half the battle with your behaviors. Classroom management is the other big key component, but over my years of experience the one true thing that has stuck with me is love. I tell my Tiny Humans how much I love them. They know I have their backs. They know I will hold them accountable and they know I mean what I say and I say what I mean. They are smart - they can tell if someone cares about them. And when they truly know you care, they start to care.
Conclusion
Michelle's heartfelt journey reminds us that teaching is so much more than imparting knowledge—it's about fostering lasting connections and embracing the ups and downs with grace and accountability. Her blend of passion for music and dedication to her Tiny Humans offers invaluable insights into how creativity and care can transform a classroom. Thank you, Michelle (@mssmusicclass), for sharing your inspiring story and showing us that every moment in teaching, no matter how challenging, can lead to lifelong bonds and immeasurable rewards.