Teacher Feature: Kristin Berger

• Kristin Berger
• Posted 8/27/21
• 0 comments

Get to know our authors. In our ” Teacher Feature,” you will not only learn about our contributors’  professional endeavors but also get to know them as  humans  too.  Just like our readers — our authors are actively teaching in schools across the United States. 

Kristin Berger is a general music teacher at an elementary school in Ann Arbor Public Schools, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She holds degrees in Music Education (BS), Vocal Performance (BA), and Secondary Education (M.Ed) from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has nearly ten years of experience teaching students in elementary and high school settings. Kristin completed her Orff-Schulwerk training and holds a special interest in involving all students in all activities, specifically using Orff instruments to do so.  

Some interesting facts we learned about Kristin… 

How did you end up becoming a music teacher?

On my first day sitting in seventh-grade choir in a new school, my director played the introduction to an arrangement of “Fly Me To the Moon,” and I was instantly hooked. How could someone be so lucky to do this every day? Now I get to inspire those moments for my students, and even if they aren’t inspired to be a music teacher, they might be intentional about keeping music in their lives down the road. That is so valuable to us as individuals but also as a community. We need musicians — yes, but we also need patrons and parents who support their students’ dreams! 

Did a teacher influence your decision to enter education?

 I was incredibly lucky to have amazing educators at every step of my music education journey, even though I moved every three or four years growing up. Whether we were living in suburban Ohio or Tokyo, Japan, I give major credit to my parents to recognize my love of music and make sure I had opportunities to explore and experience high-quality music everywhere we lived. 

What inspires you to share your experiences with other teachers?

Ensuring that lessons in the music classroom are accessible to all students is a huge responsibility that can overwhelm music teachers. My goal is to ensure that teachers have access to easily implemented tools and lessons that will enhance the teaching that they are already doing, to encourage all students’ participation and enjoyment. 

What is your favorite music teaching moment?

My very favorite teaching moment is when a student has a “lightbulb moment” – something just clicks. There is usually a huge smile and a desire to try it again. This is particularly amazing when students have a mallet in their hand and want to try something again on a barred instrument. If they are trying a new note in their melody or adding harmonies or complementary rhythms to a peer’s work…it is in those moments that I know I’m in the right place. 

What has been the biggest surprise/revelation about being a music teacher?

I’m not sure if I just wasn’t paying attention during my student teaching, but I really didn’t realize the amount of work it takes to keep our lessons relevant and interesting! I suppose I thought I’d have a “one-and-done” curriculum that I could just whip out each fall, but I have found that those familiar favorites need to be supplemented and refreshed each time they are used.   

How do you deal with stress?

When stressed, I like to bake and then eat what I bake! My kids love to work with me in the kitchen, so we make lots of brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and pumpkin bread. We live pretty close to a fire/police station, so we often take the tasty treats over to share with our neighborhood’s first responders. 

Fun Facts About You?    

What is your favorite food?

 Anything sweet, particularly involving chocolate!

Do you have any pets?  Tell us about them. 

We have a dog named Callie, who is almost ten years old. Callie is a Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle mix that we adopted when we were living in Kentucky. She’s a fighter – she survived a tornado and was rescued along with her littermates and mom from a barn that had been knocked down in the storm. But now, Callie is a couch potato puppy and our kids’ best friend!

What is your favorite style of music to listen to?

I love all kinds of music. My Spotify doesn’t ever know what to suggest because in the span of one day, I’ll listen to a musical, kids’ songs, the Carpenters, 90’s throwback hits, and Latin dance music – all before lunch! 

What is your favorite school-appropriate beverage – are you a cola or coffee drinker?

I always surprise people with this answer — even with two young kids, I don’t drink any caffeine! I’m a plain-Jane water kind of gal.  

What is your favorite book?

In our house, we read a lot of children’s literature, but when I am reading for myself, I have been working my way through the Outlander series. 

If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why? 

I’ve always been a big fan of wintertime weather, so I’d choose to be Frozone from The Incredibles because it would be awesome to create that icy weather whenever I wanted! 

This is a photo of my oldest son and me, taken on a happy day!

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Kristin! Check out her Music ConstructED articles below.