Hopkins Elementary School in Somerset, Kentucky, to host a student teacher from Campbellsville University. James Sayers, a senior music education major, is spending the first half of his student teaching experience co-teaching with veteran teacher, Valerie Durham.
Mr. Sayers is doing a fabulous job of jumping in and co-leading lessons. In fact, when Valerie discussed the current curriculum for first grade, he offered a creative and engaging way to enhance student learning.
Utilizing the MusicPlay online curriculum, students in first grade are exploring the symphonic children’s classic, “Peter and the Wolf.” Each week students review the story line and discover new orchestral instruments that represent different characters in the story. Mr. Sayers, as a trombonist, and future music educator, volunteered to bring several of his own instruments to class. So far, students have seen a clarinet, a trumpet, and a French horn up close.
The students are thrilled to see what these instruments look like in real life. Watching Mr. Sayers take apart the mouthpiece or demonstrate how a rotary valve works helps them grasp the concepts needed to play instruments with much greater understanding – far beyond what watching a short video clip of someone playing can provide.
Hopkins Elementary students are thoroughly enjoying this hand-on experience, and we look forward to seeing how Mr. Sayers continues to inspire and enlightens our learners during the remainder of his placement with us.
Valerie Durham
Hopkins Elementary School
Somerset Independent School District
Grades K-4
