Consolidation

There was a picture I recently saw from the past, most likely from the 1980s, of a man who was wearing big headphones, with a landline telephone thrown over his shoulder. He was standing behind a home stereo system holding a big shoulder-style Video Camera with a Boom Box on his other shoulder. Hanging from his right wrist was a small tape recorder and a Sony Walkman was attached to his left suit coat pocket (walkman headphones around his neck). Displayed on a table in front of him was a Sony Watchman TV, a transistor radio, calculator, Word processor-style typewriter, and a VCR with VHS Cassettes scattered around. The table also included several Compact Discs, Audio Cassettes lying about and several Atari Style video games. Wow! If you had all of these items in the 1980s you really knew "what was up!" Yes! You were "connected!" That's how we used to have to travel and what we needed with us to stay "connected." It took many items and a lot of planning... But the problem with these items was that they were not very portable!

Today, I'm sure most of you reading this article (probably from a mobile device... We're on the web exclusively now, you know) have all of these consolidated into a technological wonder of approximately 5" x 2.5" x .5" called a mobile phone. Today, there is no need to travel with numerous items as we did in the 1980s, because one can just take along a mobile phone and have it "all" consolidated and it's just a finger flick away. Plus, you don't have to mess with lines attached to walls, except at the end of the day to recharge the battery.

Your first year of teaching can be full of a lot of questions. Maybe you feel you have to search in many locations to find answers. Maybe you don't even know where to search to find the answers. I'm sure that the first part of your first year of teaching can be a little overwhelming, just as it was overwhelming in the 1980s to stay "connected." But, if you really want to get "connected" and get your questions answered, hear some incredible music and understand what is going on in music education in the state of Kansas... Have I got a deal for you! "Consolidated" in just three short February days in Wichita, Kansas at the Century II complex is the 2015 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop (that can be consolidated to KMEA ISW)!

You can consolidate your last minute rush and planning for the KMEA ISW by:

NOW

• Pre-Registering for the KMEA ISW @ www.ksmea.org/iswreg
• Register for the New Teacher Luncheon
• If needed&Acquire your time off, and Put in for a substitute teacher
• If needed&Make hotel arrangements

IN FEBRUARY

• Begin reading the KMEA ISW events.
  • You will want to attend as many learning sessions as possible.
  • You will want to attend as many performances as possible.
  • Plan to attend the vendor displays and meet them.
  • Try to attend any reading sessions presented.
• Use the ISW planner to consolidate your events and plan your KMEA ISW!

USE THE CALENDAR ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE TO MARK THESE DATES
The KMEA In-Service Workshop held in Wichita, Kansas, February 26 - 28, 2015. The KMEA In-Service Workshop, or KMEA ISW will provide you with great networking, excellent examples of performances in your field of music, new and tried and true products for teaching, and incredible clinics geared to boost your effectiveness as a teacher.

STORE KNOWLEDGE AND LINKS TO KMEA ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE
The KMEA website provides tons of great information, but one of the most helpful parts is an area dedicated to the music teacher new to education. This is "The New Teacher Handbook" ksmea.org/mentoring/handbook. The KMEA New Music Teacher Handbook is an online resource for new and veteran teachers alike. Resources for handbooks, lesson planning, curriculum assessment, rehearsal techniques, and classroom management can all be found in one place. This is a great place to start!

QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AT THIS NEW TEACHERS SESSION
The KMEA In-Service Workshop will feature a proven to be helpful event... a question and answer session titled "Tips from the Trenches - How to Survive the First Few Years of Teaching!" During this session, music teachers new to education get the opportunity to listen and speak to a panel of experienced music teachers that have experienced and tackled problems that new teachers may face today. Year after year, the advice, guidance and help given during this session have proven to be quite valuable. New teachers are encouraged to ask questions, but sometimes just listening to the tips and advice given in this session will prove to be a huge teaching aid to the music teacher new to education!

GET A REWARD FOR BEING NEW TO EDUCATION OR TO KANSAS
Please take time at the KMEA ISW to join the KMEA Mentoring program for a complimentary luncheon on Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. This luncheon is given for all Pre-K through 12 music educators who are in their first year of teaching. Guest speakers scheduled for this year will be KMEA President Avian Bear, Kansas State High School Activities Association Assistant Executive Director Reggie Romine, and from Senseney Music, President Lori Supinie speaking on behalf of the Kansas Music Merchants Association. Attendees of this luncheon will receive information on the KMEA Mentoring Program as well as free material courtesy of NAfME, or National Association for Music Education. See? It's not just a free lunch! Please register for this luncheon online at ksmea.org/iswreg. Register to join us for a complimentary catered luncheon sponsored by Kansas Music Educators Association, Fruhauf Uniform Company, JW Pepper, and Kansas Music Merchants Association. You must register by February 20, 2015 on the website, so prioritize and register today!

Right now, you have the opportunity and time to prioritize your KMEA ISW! As always, your mentor chairpersons in Kansas, whether it be district or state level, are ready to help. We look forward to meeting you at the KMEA ISW. Again, you can contact your State Mentoring Chairs, Kelly Knedler and Holly Taylor at the email shown at the top of this page, and your district mentoring chairperson at:

NORTHWEST:
Jeff Jordan; nwmentoring [at] ksmea.org

NORTH CENTRAL:
Nancy Monical; mentoring [at] nckmea.org

NORTHEAST:
Maggie McKain; nementoring [at] ksmea.org

SOUTHWEST:
Ryan Elliott; mentoring [at] swkmea.org

SOUTH CENTRAL:
Amy Brown; mentoring [at] sckmea.org

SOUTHEAST:
Rosie Sweaney; sementoring [at] ksmea.org

We look forward to seeing you at the KMEA ISW in February, but more importantly at the "Tips from the Trenches" session and the New Teacher Luncheon on February 28, 2015! Get connected and get ready to consolidate right now!