Mount Pleasant ISD-Texas

From the fall edition of Inside MPISD, the district magazine highlighting stories from around Mount Pleasant ISD! The fall edition was titled "MP is a Work of Art" and featured stories from our Fine Arts Departments.
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By DANIELE CULVINAR
INSIDE MPISD Staff Writer
Teaching music to elementary students allows an educator to share their lifelong love for singing, playing instruments or just appreciating the sound of music. That is what Vivian Fowler Elementary School music teacher Julie Merrill does as she makes music exciting for her students. Merrill shared some thoughts on the importance of music and what she likes about teaching it to Fowler students.

What do you enjoy most about teaching music to elementary school students?
I enjoy the authenticity. Teaching young children lets me witness expression and discovery in its purest form. It is messy, loud, and wonderful. Their enthusiasm is unmatched. They are not held back by self-consciousness. They jump into music with curiosity and joy. Watching a concept click, whether it is keeping a steady beat or reading a simple rhythm, feels meaningful. Helping them discover the joy of music and build a foundation for lifelong appreciation is the best part.

Can you describe your favorite lesson to teach?
A favorite lesson of mine is built around Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. It introduces students to orchestration and character themes in a way that feels like play.
Lesson: Peter and the Wolf Character Parade
The goal is to show that instruments have unique voices and that specific melodies represent specific characters. We begin by meeting the characters and the instruments that portray them. Peter is shown with the strings, the Bird with the flute, the grandfather with the bassoon. Students hear each theme and choose a character to represent. With simple props, they listen to the narrated story and act out their character whenever their theme plays. Birds flutter, ducks waddle, wolves prowl. At the end, we form a parade and march to the final theme with rhythm instruments.
This lesson works because it requires active listening, supports many types of learners, and makes instruments unforgettable. By the end, a bassoon is not just a sound. It is the grandfather. The experience stays with them for years.

How do you make music fun and exciting for children?
I make music exciting by turning learning into active, creative exploration. My classroom is always moving. Students sing, play, improvise, and experiment. Instead of relying on rigid routines, I create an environment where curiosity meets structure. I adjust lessons to include technology, student choice, and hands on music making so students feel like creators, not just listeners.

What is the most important thing you want your students to learn in music class?
I want students to learn to express themselves. I want them to feel brave enough to sing, move to a beat, or improvise without fear of being wrong. If they forget musical terms but sing in the shower, tap along to a song, or try a new instrument for fun, then the heart of music has reached them.

How do you include movement and singing in your lessons?
I use movement and singing to engage the whole body. This strengthens memory and creates an energetic classroom. Interactive songs, action rhymes, and call and response activities help students participate fully. The focus is expression rather than perfection. Enthusiasm matters most, and students know they are safe to try, explore, and make mistakes.

How do you decide what to teach in music at different grade levels (K through 4)?
I plan instruction by balancing state standards, child development, and the larger learning sequence. Each skill builds toward the next, creating a clear musical journey from kindergarten through fourth grade.

How do you use music to connect with subjects like reading or math?
Music supports reading and math through rhythm, patterns, and structure. I use lyric rewriting for vocabulary, time signatures for fractions, song form to reinforce story structure, and historical music for context.
Music strengthens decoding, tracking, and numerical reasoning because it activates auditory, physical, and logical learning at the same time. It turns abstract ideas into concrete and memorable experiences.

What do you do to keep learning and growing as a music teacher?
I grow by staying a lifelong student. I continue my own education, practice as a musician, try new approaches, and reflect on my teaching. This keeps my instruction fresh and energized.

One word that describes the music class you want to lead:
Inspiring
I want to uplift and motivate my students, build confidence, and spark a love of music that shapes them both as musicians and as people.

From the fall edition of Inside MPISD, the district magazine highlighting stories from around Mount Pleasant ISD! The fall edition was titled "MP is a Work of Art" and featured stories from our Fine Arts Departments.
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By ABRIL FIGUEROA
Inside MPISD Staff Writer
Karen Garrett is an art teacher at the Child Development Center - Mpisd and through her job she brings the love of being creative to her students.

Garrett took time out to answer questions on what she likes about teaching art and how it inspires her and her students.

1. What is your favorite part about teaching art to the students and why?
My favorite part of teaching art to 3- and 4-year-olds is watching their curiosity grow as they explore new materials.
Everything feels magical at this age, and seeing their faces light up when they create something on their own always reminds me why I love what I do.

2. How do you keep students engaged and excited about art?
I keep students excited by making every activity hands-on and playful. We work with lots of fun materials, add music or stories, and take time to explore. I also celebrate each child’s artwork so they feel proud and motivated to keep creating.

3. What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about making art?
I wish everyone knew that young children learn best by exploring, experimenting, and getting a little messy. Real creativity grows when we give them space to try things out, and when we take the time to teach them how to use the materials—we can’t expect them to know unless we show them. What matters most is the experience, not making something perfect.

4. What’s the best part of your day in the art room?
The best part of my day is when the children try a new activity with excitement in their eyes. That first spark of curiosity and joy makes every day in the art room feel special.

5. Do you prefer painting, drawing, or sculpting?
I enjoy all kinds of art, but drawing is my favorite. It helps me slow down, relax, and let ideas flow.

6. What’s one thing you hope your students remember about you?
I hope they remember that art with me was a happy and safe place where they felt supported, encouraged, and free to express their own ideas.

7. What’s a fun fact your students might not know about you?
A fun fact about me is that I have a twin sister!

Coming soon…
MP Tiger Youth Football Camp 2026!

CAMP INFO:
•Thursday, August 6 & Friday, August 7
•10 AM to 12 PM
•MPHS Sam Parker Field
•Grades: students going into K-8th

Bring cleats and energy!

To register, go to https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/mpisd/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzkwMQ==

Pre-registration ends July 30. (Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to secure a T-shirt.) Registration also available at the door on the first day of camp.

Our Tigers may wear black and gold, but today we're celebrating in red, white, and blue!

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!
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All MPISD campuses and offices will be closed this Thursday, July 2 and Friday July 3. We will reopen on Monday, July 6.
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School supply lists and the 2026-2027 school calendar are on the front page of our website! Go to www.mpisd.net and scroll down to Quick Links!
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