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Music Class!

March 24, 2021 | Kristen Jordan

Last week was our first week of Music class with Dr. Smith, one of Mustard Seed’s music teachers.  Although Dr. Smith was virtual, the children connected and followed her like she was right in the room!

We sometimes see Dr. Smith in worship music videos and songs, and we hear her teaching music class to the 6th graders next door, but this was the first time the Trees children were able to interact with her during music class!  The children were so interested and focused. 

Dr. Smith led the children in some new and very fun rhymes and chants.  

“Can you follow my directions?”

They helped her to make soup by cutting up vegetables:

“Chop, chop, chippity chop.

Cut off the bottom and cut off the top.

What we have left, we’ll put in the pot.

Chop, chop, chippity chop!”

They practiced their best “Yee haw!”, just like Cowboy Joe!

Children also worked on some voice exploration exercises with Dr. Smith.

They watched so carefully, smiled and laughed where there were joyful and funny moments, participated fully in the movements and chants, and had a really great time!  

It was such a joy to watch them enjoy engaging with sound, music, and movement.  The children are looking forward to seeing Dr. Smith again this and every Thursday going forward! 

Kristen Jordan

Teacher, Rivers Class

Kristen Jordan began helping at Mustard Seed School in 2006, after her daughter had been a student in the preschool. She substituted for many years in all grades; in 2011, she returned to the classroom and has been a teacher in The Nest ever since.

Prior to the birth of her daughter Clara, in 2002, Ms. Jordan worked in Brooklyn as a first grade teacher with the New York City Public Schools. During this time, her school collaborated with the Brooklyn Museum, and this work helped Ms. Jordan develop a real interest in the parallels between the process of making art and the process of writing in the classroom. She thoroughly enjoys teaching both art and literacy to preschoolers.

Ms Jordan’s background includes work with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. While at Teachers College, she trained with esteemed educator and author Lucy Calkins. Early in her teaching career, Ms. Jordan did not think that she wanted to teach very young children but her view has changed! She now really enjoys and takes great interest in young children and their development.

Ms. Jordan enjoys reading, working out, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her daughter and family. Although she has lived on the East Coast for a very long time, as a native of Oregon, she really loves the mountains!

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