Hills I'd Die On as an Elementary Music Teacher & SEL Advocate
We all have strong feelings about the work we do, and I'm no exception. After being in the classroom for 14 years and focusing on SEL for a lot of that time, I've got a few opinions! What are some of your hills? Let us know in the comments!
Regulation comes before everything else.
When kids are stressed, their brains have a harder time accessing the attention and higher-level thinking they need to learn. Connection and regulation aren’t taking time away from learning—they’re what make learning possible.
Classroom management is Social Emotional Learning.
High expectations, clear boundaries, positive discipline, and helping kids regulate are all part of the work.
Routines will save your life.
Hello songs, greetings, line up chants, order of class. When they know what to expect, the learning environment feels much safer. And yes, repeat those expectations daily.
Repetition is the magic.
Repeat the songs, repeat the routines, repeat the expectations—but make it fun so it doesn’t feel boring.
There’s no need to start from scratch each year.
Keep the things that work and build on them each year if needed or make little tweaks hear and there. This will save you tons of stress.
Let them play instruments from day one.
Let them play the big drum. Yes, especially on day one. Teach them how to play it, teach them “resting position,” and trust them with it. That trust goes a long way in building your relationship with them.
Classroom Management doesn’t need to be complicated.
You don’t need a treasure box. Catch them doing it right, celebrate it A LOT, and give students ownership whenever you can.
Catch them doing it right — A LOT!
Positive discipline is everything. If you want a culture of kindness and respect, celebrate it when you see it! And be specific:“I saw you help your friend tie their shoe—that was so kind!” Or “Everyone walked in quietly and went straight to their spots! Thank you for following directions without being reminded!” Point out the positive things you want to see more of. When you consistently catch kids doing it right, the classroom culture starts to shift!
Simple spaces work best.
Kids don’t need a classroom full of stuff to have a great music experience. Say no to the trinkets. Your future self will thank you.
And finally: A little humor and dramatic flair go a long way.
Being in control doesn’t mean being strict. You can have high expectations, follow through, regulate when needed, celebrate the good, and still have FUN.
Are you ready to level up your classroom culture and routines?
Check out our Chaos to Calm and Hello Songs & Name Games Bundles. They're full of songs, worksheets, implementation guides, and more!
If you're looking for even more support, our SEL Core membership is a resource library with everything from full lesson plans to filler activities to brain break video playlists. We've got you covered!
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