The Technology is There... But Don't Forget to Read Up!

July 2014 marks the 45th year since the Apollo 11 team landed on the moon. I heard the other day that the mobile smart phones, which many of us carry, have about 10 times the computing power of the computers used to land the Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon! Is that incredible or what?

As a new teacher in this "connection" age, you are quite fortunate to have a great deal of information at your fingertips. Think back to new teachers in 1969. They probably thought that the world was at their fingertips, but we now know we have the advantage over their era. My point is this, as you come into your new career as a music instructor, you have an entire planet of information out there and it really is "at your fingertips."

Where to Start at your Launch? ... A Good Handbook

Just like the Apollo 11 astronauts, new teachers going into the unknown will see that it can be a bit scary at times, but having the advantage of resources and answers will help the journeyman to feel more at ease. The New Music Teacher Handbook (NTH) is not a real book, but rather, it is an electronic wealth of knowledge located at ksmea.org/mentoring/handbook and it is part of the Kansas Music Educators Association website. The NTH has much information and links, and it is full of music education tips about teaching music. This webpage should be a first stop for all new music teachers.

Other, "real" handbooks are out there too. Take a moment to get some ideas from authors in your discipline. In the past several years, many new books have come out to aid music teachers in their early years as well as refresh the minds of veteran teachers. Not every idea in these books will work for you, but there are many that will help you teach all learning styles and aptitudes possessed by your new students!

While in Cyber-space...

Stop reading for moment to go to ksmea.org/mentoring/graduate.php and locate the web page titled "Graduates & New Teachers." At this location, graduates and new teachers can fill-out a quick form, which will allow you to join the KMEA Music Mentoring Program. This form will give your information to the mentor chair in your District, which will help start you on the path to a successful career in music education in the state of Kansas.

Mistakes Will Happen, But a Good Level Head Will Turn You Around in Your First Year Mission

This year you will be part of a new community. As hard as you try, you will make some mistakes and your community will expect it and therefore be forgiving. However, you do not want to wear out your welcome by never having the answer and always being in the dark. Enrich your first year teaching experience by having a network of other teachers, who can help mentor you through your first year. Just like the fateful journey of the Apollo 13 mission where Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon... Wait! That was the movie version... where the astronauts had to be mentored through repairs as they traveled toward the moon, a new teacher will need a mentor to help with dilemmas and problems that will arise during your first year. So, how can you set this up? First, know that there is no list published informing KMEA of the new teachers in new positions in the state of Kansas. Look at the list below and let us know where you are, so we know how to get you connected to all you need to know. Holly Taylor and Kelly Knedler are the State Mentoring Co-Chairpersons for KMEA (That's us). We are always available for questions or comments. BUT, for help a little closer to home, each of the six districts of KMEA have a Mentor Chairperson. Please contact your KMEA District Mentor Chair listed below, whether or not you have a question. Just having that connection will tremendously help you. Again, do not hesitate to contact us (Holly and Kelly) with any questions.

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

NORTH CENTRAL:
Nancy Monical; ncmentoring [at] ksmea.org

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

SOUTHWEST:
Ryan Elliott; swmentoring [at] ksmea.org

SOUTH CENTRAL:
Amy Brown; scmentoring [at] ksmea.org

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

A Journey Worth Making

As the first astronauts closed in on a moon landing they must have been very excited and then once on the moon Neil Armstrong uttered the famous phrase, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Your first year of teaching will be very exciting, and a great step for you, which could lead to a leap in the positive direction is the KMEA In-Service Workshop in Wichita, Kansas. This event will be held in downtown Wichita at Century II, February 26-28, 2015. This is a three-day event, and it will be one of the most helpful weekends of your first year! This annual convention event will host many performance groups and seminars. The KMEA Mentoring program will sponsor a seminar about surviving in the classroom called "In The Trenches," as well as a New Teacher Luncheon which is absolutely free to new teachers! We encourage all KMEA districts to get the word out on any mentoring events in your districts. Maybe there is a topic or seminar that you would like to know more about that could be put together for the KMEA ISW? If so, contact Kelly Knedler or Holly Taylor to pass on your suggestions. We would love to hear from you!

Prep for the Future

You hold many powerful tools in this electronic age that will connect you to all kinds of resources in music education, many of which you can access from your home or classroom. Do the following, if you have not already done so:

• Call the previous music teacher
• Talk to other music teachers in your district
• Talk to the principal
• Know the dates that you need to know or ask how you go about scheduling concerts
• Get to know your custodian(s) and secretary(ies)
• Get connected to your KMEA District at the KMEA website: ksmea.org (You can give KMEA your information, which in turn goes to the mentoring program at: ksmea.org/mentoring/graduate.php)
• ASK QUESTIONS!