Isaac Dickson MUSIC

Mrs. Fowler's Classroom

UPDATE:

DECEMBER 2021

Well, friends -

We are halfway through a challenging year. I want to just say that your children are amazing. The resiliency and perseverence they have shown is inspiring. I'm not sure what the Spring will bring, but just know that I'm appreciative of the hard work you do as family and community members. Thank you for including me in your circle. <3

You are LOVED. May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be safe and sound. And give yourself some love from me.

Welcome to the Music Room!

Hey, this is Mrs. Fowler and I'm working hard to make the best experience for you in our distance learning of Music this year!

Education: Mrs. Fowler graduated from Conestoga Valley High School class of 1995 in Lanca ster, PA and attended a Study Abroad in Bavaria, Germany. She earned her Bachelor's Degree of Music Education from West Virginia University, in partnership with the University of Ulster, Belfast, N. Ireland, in 2000. She earned her MSA degree in School Administration from Western Carolina Univeristy in 2006.

Teaching Career: Mrs. Fowler taught for 13 years at Erwin Middle School in Asheville, and has been teaching more than five years at Dickson Elementary where she is VERY HAPPY!

Personal Info: Mrs. Fowler lives in Weaverville with her husband (David), their three children (Eli, Daphne, and Freya), their dog (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) and their floofer cat (Willow Vena). She enjoys cooking, playing board games, and D&D. She loves being part of a very active and seriously fun book club, as well as watching terrible reality shows and listening to informative podcasts. She loves kids because they are always learning.

EXCITING things are happening this year in MUSIC CLASS!

Finishing touches are happening in the Sound Garden!

We still have room for growth, so if you are interesting in donating toward purchasing more Sound Garden instruments, please let me know!

For more information regarding our Sound Garden, please CLICK HERE!

Music Class

Grading Rubric

S = Satisfactory

N = Needs Improvement

U = Unsatisfactory

Sending home report cards is a tough job for any teacher, and Specialists face a special challenge in that we are grading so MANY students but we don't get to see them as frequently. So, participation in the time that we do have them with us is the key generator of class grading. I will never grade a student on how well they do it, just if they try to do it well.

In Music Class students are assessed daily on our three classroom rules:

  • Act Safe

  • Be a First Time Listener

  • Everyone Joins In

These rules are taught in Kindergarten and follow the children through Fifth Grade. The daily assessment is a five-point scale. Should a student be experiencing extreme behaviors, or consistently concerning behaviors, the classroom teacher and/or parents will be contacted and/or a comment will be placed on that students' report card.

Here are some comments I use regularly:

  • Inconsistent Performance = this student has good days and bad days

  • Grade Affected by Behavior = this student is an extreme disruptor in some way

  • Grade Affected by Participation = this student is not choosing to join class activities

  • Shows Improvement = this student had one of the above comments, but is doing better!

  • Rising Star = this student is showing increased interest and participation in class

  • Rockstar! = this student has perfect points

4th/5th GRADE RECORDERS - ON HOLD!

4th and 5th graders are playing recorder this year. If students have their own recorders, great!

If they don't have one yet, they are still be available for purchase from Mrs. Fowler for $5.00. Please make checks payable to IDES - MUSIC, or enclose cash in an envelope marked with your child's full name and classroom teacher.

Order any time in the school year!

UKULELE CLUB

Ukulele Club is taking place during the BRIGHT IDEAS program on Thursdays!

If you have ideas for future events that might feature a song selection performance by the Club, we'd love to help out!

Email Mrs. Fowler with the event date/time and details.

MONTHLY THEMES

Want to know what your child is learning in Music Class?

Start by asking them about their monthly theme - This can get a conversation going about the songs and concepts they are studying - and it may even spark a family sing-along!