@MUSICWITHMRSDUNC - Blog

Summer Thoughts

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:35:21 GMT

my VERY dated planner from years past.

ALDI 24-25 Teacher Planner

I know, I know this planner says 2023-3034.... bear with me...

As I wait in silence at the car dealership for my oil change, I have a moment to pause, reflect, and think about this past school year. The 24-25 school year was a big one for me:

I started the school year traveling out west to present for an amazing group of teachers in Vegas- shout out to the Nevada's Desert-Valley Chapter OF THE AMERICAN ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION.
Received the great honor of being recognized as one of the CMA foundations 2024 Music Teacher of Excellence.
Discovered I was pregnant and due in April of the school year.
And was working on completing my grad degree, being only 4 classes away from earning my Master of Music, in Music Education from Longy School of Music.

I think I tried to prepare myself for all the things that this year would bring but there were so many plans that shifted, and needed flexibility. Not just with my day to day teaching while pregnant, but also with my home life of being a working, and learning mom and wife/life partner.

But day by day, I kept pushing, kept planning, and kept checking off my lists. Yes, I truly credit my accomplishments big and small to my daily checklists. If you have not considered a physical planner with checklists, let this be your reason to begin. I found my teacher planner for this past year at ALDI but I have loved and used the @happyplanner brand for years.

Whatever planner you decide, make sure YOU LIKE IT- think its cute or whateva. If you invest in a planner you love, you will use it more.

For this upcoming school year, I am still on the hunt for the perfect planner, but best believe it will have a space for checklists, and she's gonna be CUTE. I will keep searching but am in no rush because July is truly summertime for us teachers. I don't need her until August 1st. LOL

Hope y'all are enjoying your break,
XO Charissa

Everybody Sing: there's more to this story

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 06:00:00 GMT

We have a song to sing. But first, I have a story to tell. Back in 2020 I learned the song Jingle Bells had ties to minstrel performances and blackface. I felt as if I was immediately faced with only two choices:

I stop singing this song and toss my classroom jingle bells aside and avoid singing or bringing up this song in my classroom.
I write something new to teach AB form and have my students play their beloved jingle bells.

As many of you know, I chose the latter. So I began playing around with chords on my piano. After a few hours at the piano and chicken scratch on an old envelope, I had something I was proud of. I shared my new song with my students along with many of you on my social media accounts. My song, Everybody sing:Jingle jangle was born.

A year later, November 2021, I took my 8 week old newborn with me and got in a recording studio and recorded “Everybody Sing: Jingle Jangle”. I shared the song on YouTube and received positive feedback from family, friends, teachers, and students alike. As Everybody Sing gained popularity in my classroom, I thought what else can I do to bring more to this song? It needed a dance, and maybe more instruments? So I continued to brainstorm and add to "Everybody Sing: Jingle Jangle".

This brings us to now. With the encouragement of my teacher friends and students, as well as with the help of my partner, I had recorded, edited and produced a music video to Everybody sing: Jingle Jangle". I uploaded the new created video with excitement. I was so exited to hear what everyone would think of the dance and play along. I wondered if students would make up their own variations to the dance or if teachers would incorporate other instruments than the ones suggested in the video. I was looking forward to the variety of videos I might receive from family, friends, and colleagues of their kids singing and dancing along to "Everybody Sing",

That's when it happened.

Just below my song on YouTube was a “song suggestion” for a video of Judy Garland in blackface- an easy click away from my song. My heart sank, I felt nauseous, and completely defeated all at once. How could this be? Why would YouTube have this song near mine? Was it because of my research on the topic? Why was this happening? In complete frustration and at a loss for what to do, I went to google and typed the title of my song “everybody sing” only to be more taken aback than before.

I had come full circle.

Here I was, creating new music to cut ties with a song that was performed in blackface only to discover the title of my new song was also the title of a 1938 Movie “Everybody Sing”. A movie where Garland performs a song in blackface. I had come full circle, I was angry. I was mad at myself for not “checking” the title before I wrote it.

I’m sad that a simple and musical phrase like “everybody sing” is tainted by white supremacy and blackface. But that is America. That’s who we were. That is Americas musical truth. I now know I can't ever entirely escape the hurtful and harmful musical past of our nation. Behind the songs, behind the "simple phrases, racism will always be here.

I am on a perpetual path of combating racism.

But I also know what I can do. I can continue to do better when I know better. And I can say with a heart full of hope, my song “Everybody Sing: Jingle Jangle”, was intended to avoid mockery, spread joy, all while playing jingle bells and teaching musical form to my students. I did not plan that in writing this song I would be on a perpetual path of combating racism. But through this experience I was reminded that antiracist work is continuous and often overwhelming, requiring a growth mindset.

ALL human beings should feel safe to share their voices, and be seen for who they are.

My hope is that my song “Everybody Sing: Jingle Jangle” allows everyone an opportunity to feel included and safe. I hope the 1938 movie, is a reminder why we strive to do just that. I want to reclaim the meaning of the phrase "everybody sing". To me it means: ALL human beings should feel safe to share their voices, and seen in who they are. What does it mean to you?

I appreciate everyone who has supported me in this journey of teaching music and being my best self. From the bottom of my heart I wish you all a joyful and tuneful holiday season.

Mrs. Dunc

YouTube Teaching TIP

To avoid a Youtube "suggestion" that is unwanted:
When sharing videos with my students from YouTube I ALWAYS insert them as a link into google slides for my lessons. This way no suggestions show up and I can avoid unwanted materials from my students view. This may be crucial to do knowing what I now know about phrase "Everybody Sing" and its ties to the 1938 Judy Garland movie.

I am also selling the video for you to download and own if you want to avoid YouTube entirely. Click here or go to my store to purchase the video.

"Spooky Season" Books for the music classroom

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:53:09 GMT

This is Halloween!

I thought I would join the trend and welcome Halloween the best way I know how. See some of my halloween/spooky book recommendations below:

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Renyolds with Lesson Plan by Music with Mrs. Dunc
Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino
Skelly the Skeleton Girl by Jimmy Pickering with Lesson by Lisa Meyer
Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa with melody by Music with Mrs. Dunc
Where's my Mummy by Carolyn Crimi Lesson by Music with Mrs. Dunc

For more wonderful Halloween Recs, check out the amazing Music Room Reads List below:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Music-Book-Recommendations-Lesson-Plans-8660829

New YEAR, New NAMES

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 22:02:41 GMT

Hey Everyone! It's been a while since I have blogged. I will keep it short and sweet. I want to re-share some of my ideas for learning names and teaching on identity at the beginning of the year. I know Many of us are already incorporating name games and activities because we have the -sometimes daunting- task, along with our other essential teacher colleagues, of knowing EVERY child's name.

Check out the lesson below!

NEW NAMES LESSON...

Many children struggle with correcting adults/peers on how to say their names. We know there is much importance in learning students names correctly and some of the pro's for taking the time to learn your students name include:

Students feel seen and empowered when their teachers and peers take the time to learn and speak their names properly.
Names are a big part of student identity and sometimes ethnic origin.
It encourages students to be proud of their names and where they come from.
Every student gets to practice and learn each others names which builds community.

For this lesson, I use a chant I learned from a mentor teacher of mine who attributes this name chant to Avon Gillespie. See chant in image below:

Lesson Objectives
-Create & perform rhythm patterns, AB form.
-Steady Beat Practice

Use the chant as an "A section" and use students names as the "B section". Have the student leader phonetically say their name and the rest of the class echos. The B might sound like this:
"Mis-zuz dung-kin-sin" -Student leader
"Mis-zuz dung-kin-sin" -Students echo

"Ah-leh-wah-duh" - Student leader
"Ah-leh-wah-duh" -Students echo
"Eh-muh-lee" - Student leader
"Eh-muh-lee"-Students echo

As an extension I like to pair the chant with books and let the books be the "B Section". I have used the following books for multiple grade levels. Click on book image below to learn more about the text itself.

These books range from how names can be silly or playful - to the ways our names and identities hold complexities. I encourage you to explore your local library and find a book that interests you and your students.

Hope you find this lesson useful! Remember to be gentle with your mind as you have the task of learning all the new names, YOU GOT THIS!

-Charissa aka Mrs. Dunc

Are you teaching OYE comO Va?

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 03:32:25 GMT

RSS Feed

then please Consider what I have to say>>>

Do you know what the lyrics are saying?

Oye como va, mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar, m*lata
(Listen to my rhythm
Good for fun m*lata)

The Merrimm-Webster defines:
mulattanoun
mu·lat·ta | \ məˈlatə, myəˈ-, myüˈ-, -atə \
plural -sDefinition of mulatta
sometimes offensive
: a mulatto woman or girl : MULATTRESS
Definition of mulatto
1usually offensive: the first-generation offspring of a Black person and a white person
2usually offensive: a person of mixed white and Black ancestryFirst Known Use of mulatto1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1
History and Etymology for mulattoSpanish mulato, from mulo mule, from Latin mulus

As a mixed person, who is of Black and white ancestry, I was shocked and then hurt, to know this song that I loved by Santana, was calling me less than human, likening me and my mixed identify to that of a mule.

I literally taught this song to my students last year, and felt immediate shame knowing I continued to normalize the dehumanization of Black bodies through this awful term in
Santana's song.

So here I am, to say I am NOT anything less because of my mixed identity, Mixed people are people and deserve to be treated as such.

Join me in finding a different song that shows off Santana's Talent. I can NOT tell you how to be antiracist, in your teaching practice. Perhaps i can suggest you find AnOther Santana song. I encourage you to find a Santana song that honors him without degradIng mixed people.

Click here to purchase my middle school lesson on Santana VS Rihanna.

What are some suggestions you might have?

Comment your ideas below!

-Mrs. Dunc

Everybody Has A Name

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 20:04:30 GMT

It's a new school year and as music teachers we know the great task of learning and remembering names.

Many children struggle with correcting adults/peers on how to say their names. We know there is much importance in learning students names correctly and some of the pro's for taking the time to learn your students name include:

Students feel seen and empowered when their teachers and peers take the time to learn and speak their names properly.
Names are a big part of student identity and sometimes ethnic origin.
It encourages students to be proud of their names and where they come from.
Every student gets to practice and learn each others names which builds community.

One of my favorite lessons is to use a chant I learned from a mentor teacher of mine who attributes this name chant to Avon Gillespie. See chant in image below:

My objectives for this lesson are:

Create & perform rhythm patterns,
AB form.

I use the chant as an "A section" and use students names as the "B section". I have the student phonetically say their name and the class echos. The B might sound like this:
"Mis-zuz dung-kin-sin" -Student leader
"Mis-zuz dung-kin-sin" -Students echo

"Ah-leh-wah-duh" - Student leader
"Ah-leh-wah-duh" -Students echo

"Eh-muh-lee" - Student leader
"Eh-muh-lee"-Students echo

***As an extension I like to pair the chant with books and let the books be the "B Section". I have used the following books for multiple grade levels. Click on book image below to learn more about the text itself.

by Yangsook Choi

by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

by Huda Essa

Who was Avon Gillespie?

Avon Gillespie was a leader in Orff Schulwerk nationally, and taught for years at the Santa Catalina School in Monderey, CA. He was a founder of the current San Francisco International Orff Course. He passed away in 1989.⁣⁣” https://aosa.org/professional-development/2017-distinguished-award-recipient-avon-gillespie/
Why am I sharing this? As a Black music educator, it is rare to see myself represented in my profession. When I first saw photos of Mr. Avon Gillespie I knew I needed to know more about him. Many of my mentors have learned from him and use many of his lessons to this day. I am so inspired by Mr. Gillespie and am passionate to continue to learn about him and his legacy of teaching music.
⁣
#representationmatters #blackeducators #orffschulwerk #avongillespie #orff

Did you enjoy this tip/lesson? If so, subscribe or post comment below.

NEW YEAR, New MOM, Same Teacher?

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:40:15 GMT

My thoughts on birthing a baby as the new school year begins...

This post is more reflective than informative. If you are not interested in pregnancy journeys- this blog post probably is not for you. However, I will do my best to update and share my teaching and lesson ideas in the future as I explore my new role as a "teacher mom".

So here I go... Somehow the teacher (ME) who is obsessed with planning and control, was unable to plan the timing of my pregnancy... go figure...!

I am coming to terms with this, for several reasons, but mostly because my partner and I struggled with fertility for over two years prior to this pregnancy. I know I am not alone in this journey and I am so thankful to those of you who shared your stories with me and reminded me that I am not alone in this.

Back to the pregnancy. I found out I was expecting on Christmas eve day 2020, and was skeptical to believe I was truly pregnant for months... After loosing a child in utero, I began to believe many lies and bad thoughts about my future and body. But then at my 20 week ultrasound I saw the face of my baby, and my fears and lies about this not really happening faded. Fast forward to now... Summer 2021 where my due date is Aug 31. 2021. For me, School PD Begins around the 25th and well, students return on September 7th, 2021. In my early first few years teacher mind; this would be the WORST POSSIBLE TIMING for a baby.

"HOW CAN I HAVE A BABY AND BE THERE FOR MY STUDENTS TO START A NEW YEAR?"

Short answer: umm, Charissa, you can't.

Long answer: If I have learned anything during this time of pandemic teaching, it's that I have to LET GO of the things I can not control. Something that helped me with this mindset was writing down a physical list of things I can vs things I can not. Same goes for planning and preparing for my students and sub plans. I can't control what my sub does or doesn't do. I am currently working on a "let go list" for my time off preparing for this baby, and letting go of the "what if's" within my classroom.

So here we are 38.2 weeks pregnant due in 12 days, living day by day, and accepting the beautiful and not so beautiful realities of this new year. I am going to continue to try to be kind to myself and my mind as I cross into year 8 of teaching and first time motherhood, regardless of how different this new year looks and feels from my previous years.

Thanks for listening,

IS JINGLE BELLS REALLY CANCELLED?

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 23:37:33 GMT

Short answer: YES. The song Jingle Bells has a racist history that has been recently brought to my attention. I am responsible for speaking truths, and my students deserve a music teacher who teaches with integrity & who will also advocate for and with them.

Long answer: YES. Jingle bells has a racist history that I am now learning about thanks to many other music teachers and advocates of anit-racist curriculums/ music.

The composer of Jingle Bells, James Pierpont was a supporter of the Confederacy even though his father was an abolitionist pastor. James Peirpont wrote songs for the confederacy during the civil war. (check out the history channel website)

The song was originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” and was first printed in September 1857. It was dedicated to John Ordway, a Boston doctor, composer and organizer of a troupe of white men performing in blackface called “Ordway’s Aeolians.” John Ordway and his fellow minstrel musicians performed Jingle bells along with many other songs in black face.

Woof… so ya, it’s cancelled in my book.

Before you jump down my throat I ask you to reflect on three things:

1. This song wasn’t intended to be a “Christmas Song” when it was written. It has no mention of Christmas… Why do we insist on keeping it?

2. Many teachers use this song to teach AB form (myself included). BUT -I honestly can think of TONS of others to teach this concept…

3.Is it even a question about removing this song from your classroom/music repertoire when it was originally written by a racist and it’s first performances were in blackface?

So what am I doing about it? I am not singing it. I am omitting it from my school sing along. I am giving suggestions for other songs like Silver Bells, or Jingle Bell Rock, or The Square Root of Possible from Jingle Jangle!

What can you do? Well, in my opinion, when you know better, you do better. I can’t tell you what to do but I am 100% willing to support other teachers, caregivers, and leaders on this journey of being antiracist.

‘Tis the season to be anti-racist.

Resources:
The History Channel: 8 things you didn’t know about Jingle Bells

List of songs by Lauren McDougle of AKI that catalogues songs that should no longer be used in an elementary classroom Songs with a Questionable Past.

EDIT a dear friend and colleague, Zach Schlaug, brought another article on this topic to my attention. For more reading on the history of Jingle Bells and Minstrel Repertoire "The Story I Must Tell: “Jingle Bells” in the Minstrel Repertoir"

EDIT 2 I have written a song to use instead of JB called "Jingle Jangle" Please feel free to learn, sing, share or create your own.

Another option is to use the song "Jingle Bells" By Ms. Niki's Music Class. See below:

Goodbye November and Hello December

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Well I feel like I blinked and boom November is done. Before I jump into what's happening in my virtual music classroom this month I want to share a Podcast interview I was featured on this fall. Click here to find the Racism in Education Series hosted by The Simply Organized Teacher.

This podcast is a five part series on how racism plays out in the education system and what we, as educators, can do.

You can hear my interview on episode 2 of the series where I share how to build your inclusive classroom library. As a singer, I am working on my speaking/interviewing skills, I am excited to practice these hard conversations with others in the future.

For this month I am working on a school wide virtual sing a-long that will include some pre-recorded student lead videos, movement activities, and of course singing as a whole school via Microsoft Teams.

Hope you are feeling productive and positive this week and hanging in there, Remember, We have less than 2.5 weeks til our holiday break!
-Mrs. Dunc

Um, Well, I am behind....

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 22:01:32 GMT

So this last month has FLOWN by... I will try and give a quick re-cap of weeks 5-8 aka the month of October.

Week 5 & 6:
My lower el students read many books including "There was an old lady who wasn't afraid of anything" , we sang and broke down the rhythm of  "Pass the Pumpkin" and did lots of movement with Koo Koo Kangaroo's Monster Movements

For my 3rd-5th graders, and Indigenous Peoples Day- I wanted show respect to and teach about Indigenous People and traditions with authenticity. I Read the book "We Are Water Protectors" and incorporated movement and song. If you are interested in my lesson, email me and I will gladly share what we did.
Also, for additional resources on this book, you can head over to https://read.macmillan.com/mcpg/wearewaterprotectors/   to find free additional lesson ideas. For movement we have been into "Just Dance" videos and moved to This is Halloween.

My 6th-8th grade students have been exploring Schoology and submitting assignments/classwork within. I include links within each week for students to complete on their own. For example I give students a singing activity, movement activity, and creating activity to do during class and then they complete the lesson by answering a short "assessment" in Schoology.

Weeks 7 & 8:
Lower el students were reading "Mama Mummy" and continued to practice our five little pumpkins poem. We also worked on quarter note and eight note rhythms using iconic images of pumpkins and bats. I found this video, Pumpkin Walk on Youtube to help practice two sounds (eighth notes) vs one sound (quarter notes). Movement was a lot of "Dem Bones".

My 3rd-5th graders worked on reading "Shake Dem Halloween Bones" while playing a youtube rap beat. I used these "freestyle beats" videos and had students pick whichever one they wanted/liked best. We moved to Michael Jackson's Thriller Just Dance Video.

My 6th-8th grade students were working on their Music Map Projects.
Students are creating their own powerpoint slides. Here are the instructions I gave them.

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE TOP.
Add pictures of the musicians or bands of your choice to each category: CHILDHOOD, CURRENTLY EXPLORING, WANT TO EXPLORE.
Add video links to your pictures.
Change the font, background colors, and personalize your slide however best suits you.

See my music map I used as an example below:

If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Hopefully I can been on top of my blog in this new month of November!

-Mrs. Dunc