In episode 51, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Elizabeth Peterson, a 25-year veteran teacher from New Hampshire.  Elizabeth discusses the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) in the music classroom, especially in relation to building strong teacher-student relationships and fostering student empowerment. She emphasizes the significance of SEL in helping students become more emotionally aware and socially competent, and offers strategies to help music teachers promote SEL concepts. These not only enhance students' musical abilities but also help develop empathy, communication, and emotional understanding among them, creating a safe and caring learning environment. Elizabeth shares that proactive and explicit SEL practices can foster a sense of empowerment and engagement among students, making them more enthusiastic about their learning experiences.

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We want to hear from you! How are you passing the baton? Have students started taking ownership in your music classroom? Have you created an environment where students feel empowered? We want to hear about it! No matter how big or how small, consider sharing your experience passing the baton to your music students. Use this link to record a short voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/PasstheBaton.

You may even hear your story on an upcoming episode of the Pass the Baton podcast.