Zooming In on Humor as a Teaching Tool with Mel Emerick
Resources
Mel’s Instagram
Melissma Instagram
Outline
Introduction and Podcast Overview
Melissa Milner introduces herself as the host of the Teacher as Podcast, a show aimed at educators.
The podcast is in its seventh season, released every other week, and is gaining popularity among educators.
Melissa encourages listeners to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts to help it reach more educators.
She announces a new sponsor for the podcast, the Career Mentorship Program at Major Choice, and provides information on how to become a mentor.
Mel Emerick's Background and Initial Teaching Experience
Mel Emerick introduces herself as an elementary music teacher with experience in New York State and Massachusetts.
She mentions her background as a mom of two neurodivergent kids and her degrees in music and curriculum and instructional design.
Melissa recalls that Mel was a guest on the podcast five years ago and asks about her current activities.
Mel shares her initial teaching experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a lime green towel and a rubber chicken for green-screened lessons.
Development of the Secret Chicken Curriculum
Mel explains how the rubber chicken lessons evolved into a full curriculum for teaching music skills like oral dictation.
She discusses the creation of worksheets, extension activities, and writing assignments to complement the lessons.
Mel's book, "Barnyard Beats," was born out of boredom during her pregnancy and was self-published on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
She also created another book, "The Loud Book," and learned to use Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign for her projects.
Expansion into Comic Books and Teaching Tools
Mel talks about her current project, a comic book called "Blast Off Recorder Explorers," which includes five issues.
She mentions using Canva for teaching and graphic design, and how she taught her kids to use it for creating various projects.
Mel describes the use of a laser cutter in her school for teaching graphic design and creating manipulative music notes.
She shares how her students, including her daughter Ellie, enjoy using the music notes and learning rhythms.
Teaching Environment and Collaboration
Mel discusses her teaching environment, which includes a dedicated room with updated equipment thanks to COVID funds.
She mentions her preference for teaching younger kids and the joy it brings her.
Mel talks about her commute, which is only five minutes, and her former role in another district, now taken over by a colleague.
She highlights the importance of collaboration with creative colleagues like Holly, who is also a talented musician and teacher.
Use of Humor in Teaching
Mel emphasizes the importance of using humor in teaching to engage students and make learning more enjoyable.
She explains how humor can help reduce anxiety and make students more receptive to learning.
Mel shares her experience of using humor in her lessons, such as making jokes about silent animals and using funny voices.
She mentions research that supports the use of humor in education and how it can enhance learning outcomes.
Promotion of Mel's Resources
Mel encourages listeners to check out her website, MelissaMusic.com, for her resources and projects.
She mentions that her curriculum is now available through a national carrier called Music is Elementary.
Mel shares her experience of presenting her resources at a conference and using humor to make her pitch more engaging.
She discusses the importance of making educational resources accessible and helpful for new teachers.
Future Projects and Final Thoughts
Mel talks about her future projects, including a potential book on the ukulele and a project called "Dooney Beans" for teaching scales.
She mentions the importance of breaking down complex concepts into simple, engaging lessons.
Mel reflects on her journey as an educator and the challenges and rewards of teaching.
Melissa thanks Mel for sharing her experiences and highlights the impact of her work on students and fellow educators.
