Each year, BPS Foundation sets aside funding for the district to send a cadre of teachers to national conferences, ensuring educators have opportunities for professional growth. This year, it was the music teacher cadre’s turn to benefit, with April Vander Laan of Heritage Elementary and Elizabeth Schaffart of Bennington Elementary attending the American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA) National Conference in Des Moines.
This opportunity allowed April and Elizabeth to learn from some of the nation’s top music educators, gaining new strategies and techniques to enhance their classrooms. The grant covered conference registration, AOSA membership, hotel stays, gas mileage, and food expenses, ensuring they could fully engage in the experience.
The conference offered workshops on employing the Orff-Schulwerk process and pedagogy, teaching improvisation and creative movement, and integrating props and children’s literature into lessons. Both teachers returned with fresh ideas to make their lessons more engaging and impactful.
Impact Highlights:
- New strategies for integrating children's literature, toys, and props into lessons
- Hands-on learning activities and community-building ideas for students
- Innovative performance ideas inspired by student groups at the conference
- Ongoing impact on students for years to come through improved pedagogy
“This grant will not only affect my current students—about 450—but it will continue to benefit every student I teach for years to come,” shared Schaffart. “I left the conference with so many new tools and ideas, and have already begun implementing some into my teaching!”
April Vander Laan also expressed how the conference energized her teaching: “My Day 1 recorder players sounded great today, and I attribute that to what I learned at the conference! Students have already experienced more movement, children’s literature, and hands-on learning in our music lessons. I can’t wait to try some of the new program ideas, which are always the students’ favorite part of the year.”
In addition to enhancing their own classrooms, April and Elizabeth are sharing what they learned with their elementary music team, amplifying the grant's impact across the district.
“Conferences like this give me fresh motivation and help me set goals for myself and my students,” Elizabeth reflected. “I’m so grateful to the Foundation for partnering with teachers and investing in our professional growth.”
Through this experience, thousands of students district-wide will enjoy a more engaging and enriching music education, proving that investing in teachers is a worthwhile investment.
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