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Classroom Practice/Program

Both choirs also benefitted from singing
songs slated for their upcoming spring
performances. Our Birney elementary
students sang songs from the spring chorus
packet that was to be performed for parents
and the entire school in an outdoor concert
by the large tree on campus. These young
students got to practice their songs in
unison and in harmony in front of a kind
and empathic audience that cheered them
on. Due to this, student confidence was
increased, and we had a beautiful and
successful spring concert about which
students felt very proud. This in turn, led to
higher academic performance.
Students from Birney Elementary and Long Beach Conclusion
Community College join for a combined photo.
As a result of this LBCC choral music
exchange field trip event, students got to explore new environments, made connections, and collaborated
not only with their peers but also with college students and a college professor. Students also developed
trust and empathy with one another and their teachers and broadened their perspectives. The event also
boosted students’ confidence, improved their social skills, and was culturally enriching.
I believe that teachers should take
students on field trips at least once a year
if possible. Furthermore, for teachers who
are a little bit shy about taking youngsters
outside of the school, virtual field trips
are an excellent option. Virtual field
trips allow teachers to take students on
a journey to learn more about the world
around them—while not having to secure
grants for busing and travel. Such trips
can also allow students to interact with
the virtual world, giving them a sense
of autonomy navigating at a pace that is
comfortable. Whether literal or virtual,
field trips provide students with unique
and unforgettable experiences and an
enthusiasm for learning that they would
not normally receive in the general Current Birney Grade 4 students are joining chorus after
classroom setting. being inspired by the Grade 5 students!

Valerie Vinnard, MM, is a National Board Certified Teacher, two-time Grammy Music Educator Award Nominee, California Music
Educator Association (CMEA) Award winner, and nominee for the Ernest R. Yee Illuminating Culture Award. She is a Long Beach Unified
School District Teacher of the Year nominee, two-time winner of California State Organization Professional Service Award, past president of
Delta Epsilon Chapter, and current member of Eta Chapter—both in Long Beach in California State Organization. Vinnard utilizes her art—
writing, photography, and singing—to promote the benefits of music education in schools. VVinnard@lbschools.net

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