Responsive Classroom for the Beginning of the Music Year - Matthew Stensrud

 
 
 
 
 

This is such a great conversation with my friend, Matthew Stensrud!

We talk about structuring the first elementary general music experiences of the year through the lens of Responsive Classroom.

In This Episode:

  • 00:00 - Intro

  • 01:35 - What is Responsive Classroom?

  • 04:45 - “Misbehavior” through a Responsive Classroom Lens

  • 07:00 - Holding Boundaries During Inappropriate Behavior (3 Steps)

  • 10:16 - Following up with Positive Interactions

  • 12:16 - Responsive Classroom at the Beginning of the Year

  • 15:07 - Opening Routine

  • 18:31 - Teacher Language

  • 27:35 - First Day Activities

  • 31:11 - Structured Choices

  • 34:51 - Closing Routine & Reminding Language

  • 39:50 - Beyond the First Day

  • 41:37 - Procedures to Have in Place

  • 44:11 - How to Connect with Matthew

About Matthew

Matthew Stensrud is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed Elementary Music and Movement Teacher and currently teaches preschool through fourth grade music and movement at Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, DC. 

Matthew received his Master of Music Education from George Mason University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with the renowned Orff educator Rene Boyer.

Matthew is an Orff Schulwerk approved Teacher Educator of Movement and currently teaches movement levels at the Portland Orff Course in Portland, Oregon and the William Patterson Orff Course in Wayne, NJ. He previously served on the editorial board of The Orff Echo - the quarterly journal of the American Orff Schulwerk Association - and was a Key Content Contributor to the book Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE, and Other Special Areas. Currently, Matthew serves as a Trustee for the American Orff Schulwerk Association.

Matthew presents frequently at schools, districts, state conferences, Orff and Kodaly chapters, and national conferences, and loves sharing with and learning from fellow music educators. You may know him as Mr. S, as you can find him as “MisterSOrff” across social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Patreon.

Where to Connect with Matthew: