At O’Donnell Middle School, I worked under the supervision of Betty Bauman-Field, who has been teaching chorus and general music in the middle school for 15 years. Students at OMS are in grades 6 through 8. 6th grade students are required to take Exploring Music, a trimester long general music class which focuses on World Percussion, Guitar, Music Tech, and a genre research project. I worked with one of the 6th grade general music classes, co-teaching the Guitar unit which culminated in students playing a 4-chords song, and developing and teaching the Music Tech unit, which culminated in a film score project. I also had the pleasure of teaching the Lifeskills Class, a sub-separate special education class that uses accessible instruments, vocal activities, and movement to engage students and allow for students to make music and feel successful in a variety of ways. In addition to general music, I worked with two 7th grade and two 8th grade choruses. I led warm-ups, selected appropriate pieces for each group, and rehearsed selected repertoire, tailoring instruction to the specific needs and abilities of each group.

In my brief but impactful 10 weeks student teaching at O’Donnell Middle School, I found immense fulfillment and joy in forging personal connections with students. Students responded to my lessons, which I intentionally tried to infuse with humor and fun to keep students engaged. Whether singing quirky warm-ups, making goofy jokes or analogies, or asking students to get on their feet to move and dance, the students demonstrated an eagerness to participate and learn. They were incredibly receptive to this approach, and it highlighted how important vibrant and inclusive spaces are for students’ learning.

Reflecting on the feedback students gave, I realized an error I made when initially administering the survey. I neglected to ask students to provide an email, so answers were truly anonymous allowing for candid responses, and revealing areas where I can refine my teaching practices. Some students expressed concerns about pacing, clarity of instructions, and thoroughness of teaching in certain areas. I think this showed how important student feedback is for me to continually grow in my teaching and provide them with the best educational experience possible. 

Along with constructive feedback was an outpouring of heartfelt gestures and comments of appreciation from students. Educators can have a huge impact on young minds, and that is a responsibility that I take very seriously. Their colorful drawings, thoughtful notes, and words of encouragement left a lasting impression on me. Moving forward into my first year of teaching, I plan to implement more frequent check-ins and opportunities for students to provide feedback so that their voices are heard and their educational experiences are enriched. As I say goodbye to this incredible group of students, I am so appreciative of the growth and learning we’ve shared together. I am deeply grateful to Betty and the supportive school faculty and administration, but especially grateful to the students for their openness and willingness to learn alongside me.