Welcome to Music!
Cheryl Lewis
cheryl.lewis@bcsemail.org
I am Cheryl Lewis, the music teacher at Fairview Elementary School. My classroom is a wonderful place to be! During music classes, we sing, dance and play instruments as we learn about music from our community, our state, our country, and around the world. Students in Grades K-2 attend music classes for 40 minutes once a week and Grades 2 - 5 attend music for 50 minutes once a week.
At Fairview, we have Chorus for 3rd - 5th graders and a Percussion Ensemble for 4th and 5th graders that both meet after school. You will find more information about these groups under the activities section of the school website.
What professional training and educational background have you had?
I graduated from Mars Hill College in 1990 with a degree in Music Education. I achieved National Board Certification in 2002, and renewed that certification in 2012. I am also certified in the Orff-Schulwerk elementary music process, Levels I, II and III.
What makes Fairview such a special place to teach?
Fairview is a special place to teach because the Arts are a valued part of the school curriculum. I often work with teachers on special projects that incorporate classroom curriculum with music, allowing students to make deeper connections to what they are learning.
What do you like most about teaching at Fairview?
The thing I like best about teaching at Fairview is the sense of family that I feel as part of the staff. Everyone works together to make sure that the needs of our students are met.
How would you describe your classroom?
My classroom is the perfect place for all children to be successful. In music, we sing, play instruments, and learn to be expressive while listening to and moving with music. Creativity is encouraged, and technology is an integral part of the learning and creation of music that takes place in my classroom.
What authors or books inspire you as a teacher?
As a music teacher, I have been inspired by the ideas of Carl Orff, a German composer. He developed a very innovative approach to music education for children, known as the Orff-Schulwerk method. The music combines movement, singing, playing, and improvisation.
For which classroom projects/events are you known?
I am involved with several groups that meet outside of the regular school day. The Fairview Chorus, made up of 4th and 5th grade students, meets weekly during the first semester and includes 3rd grade students beginning in October. I also help to facilitate the Fairview News. Fifth grade students prepare and present a news show that airs on school television on Friday mornings. Also, one of my favorite programs each year is the second grade musical in the spring.
In what ways can parents take an active role in your classroom and in their child's learning?
Parents are always welcome in my classroom. My students love to share the music they are creating with anyone who will listen! I would love to have parents who play music or who have careers involving music share their skills and talents with my students as well.