Preparations, discussions and reflections occur during a semester-long class on Tuesdays from 6:15 - 7 p.m.

These student teachers then also participate in teaching group and partner lessons at Todd Elementary 2 times a week based on Turtle Tunes teachers’ schedules. Currently Turtle Tunes teachers work with students at Todd Elementary on Mondays and Thursdays from 4-5:00 pm, 8 weeks total.

Students may continue to teach for Turtle Tunes after their first semester for as long as they’d like. Such continuing teachers register for a .25 credit course. They do not retake the initial course but do continue to participate in discussions and reflections with their peer teachers

Be Patient

“I have learned to be patient when dealing with others. Sometimes we might think that what we are saying makes sense to the next person because it makes perfect sense to us but it might be pure gibberish to them. It is important to be aware of the context. I had to simplify a lot of musical concepts as I tried to explain them to the third graders.”

Be open

“Make things fun, because that is more important than getting every little thing right. If you don’t know how to make it fun, ask someone for help. People have lots of good ideas and they like when you give them an opportunity to share their thoughts.”

Be prepared

“There’s a lot that changes from semester and the most important thing I’ve learned is to have a bit of a plan, to be willing to have fun, and also be willing to shake up your original plan. A lot of plans that I have made for my life have not gone the way I expect them to (not in a negative way necessarily), but this has been great because it’s in these moments that I change my plan that I often have the most fun or get the most out of the experience.”

Stringed instruments are generously provided by Voigt Music in Janesville, WI. Thank you, Voigt!