In 1998, the inspiration for Blueprints for Life came from attending character education workshops for teachers in Indianapolis. It was the beginning of the journey that led to writing songs and creating puppet characters. Organization was one of the first songs I wrote, and what a thrill it was to find that my students loved […]
The Lotus Arts and Education Foundation from Bloomington, Indiana brings music and the talents of many artist from all around the world to our local communities and schools. The Lotus Foundation was established in 1994 and is named in part to honor Indiana musician Quinten Lotus Dickey. The mission of Lotus is “to create opportunities […]
Our podcast group from Lincoln Elementary “What’s Up Lincoln?” has officially posted its first podcast on Trojan radio at Lincoln Elementary School’s website under the student tab. If you would like to hear the podcast please follow this link. This podcast is about tongue twisters. The children had a lot of fun trying to say the […]
Ah, isn’t it nice to feel comfortable in doing what you do on a daily basis? I think we all enjoy feeling like we have accomplished a certain level of expertise in our lives – teaching, cooking, sewing, playing an instrument, or whatever your gifted area is. I’m a music teacher and have grown up […]
The dictionary defines a shadow as, “a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light.” Shadows are such an interesting phenomena! What is it about seeing our shadow cast that makes us want to make hand puppets, dance or shiver in the night with fright? Shadows are the ideas for songs, movies, books, and even puppets! When our youngest daughter Caitlyn was one year […]
I grew up around music and pianos. I fondly remember a old upright piano in our dining room that Mom gave piano lessons on. When I was just a small child, I would sit on the floor in the living room playing with dolls, while Mom gave lessons. When at age 4 I began to […]
Make new friends, But keep the old, One is silver and the other gold! Friends are one of the most important choices we make in life. The above picture is of a group of girls I grew up with. We have sung together our whole lives! My Mom organized our first singing group when we […]
My students, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 at Lincoln Elementary presented a Japan program. I have been teaching my students about Japan’s culture and music in conjunction with my Lilly grant over the past year. I spent almost 6 weeks last summer traveling across the country via trains, planes and buses seeing Japan’s beautiful […]
I was a HUGE fan of the show “What Not to Wear”. The premise of the show was to help someone who was “fashionably challenged” and help them find the full potential to look their best. Hosts Stacey London and Clinton Kelly were masters at helping the guest find clothing to complement their body type. […]
Music! It’s always been a part of my life! Both of my parents were musical. My father had a deep, bass voice. Mom played both piano and organ. She wrote many songs over the years and sang in several groups at church. My mother started giving me piano lessons at age 4. I sang in […]
One of the first group activities we learn as children is making a circle. Many children’s games are based on making circles. Making a circle represents group cooperation and participation. One would think that making a circle would be one of the easiest things to get a group of children to do. WRONG!!!! If you […]
Integrity 1,2,3,4 you can count on me, Because I am a person of great integrity. I try to make the right choice in everything I do. 1,2,3,4 you can count on me. by Becky Muncy This month we have been singing a song called “Integrity” in my music classes in elementary school. We have been […]