Rock of Ages

rading in their pizza and milk for guitars and microphones, T students enrolled in Spruce Mountain High School’s Rock of

Ages class transform their cafeteria into a space fit for a live rock concert, complete with lighting and costumes.

The music class is unlike any other taught in the state, in which students learn about the history of rock and roll, beginning in the 1950's to the present. After completing the history portion of the class, students prepare for a concert where they perform covers of songs from each decade since the 1950's.

Music teacher Dianne Fenlason organizes the concert and preforms with fellow educators alongside the school band,

Deliverance. “I don’t teach music, I teach life skills. This is all about gaining confidence. I had a kid who hid behind her hair and now she’s leading songs—you don’t teach that confidence and you don’t assess it, you watch it,” said Fenlason.

For Fenlason, it’s important for her students to understand the social connection to the music they’re hearing, the messages the music sends and how those messages have changed through time based on the events occurring. “At the start of this, I wanted to make sure I met their needs as an educator,” said Fenlason.

It’s clear this music teacher and class are doing far more than that.

“This is easily my favorite part of school. I feel like we have to have somewhere to have fun because school can be pretty stressful.” – Student, Emily Wilson

“It’s a great opportunity. It’s super important to have the Arts available for me in school. It’s great to have a creative outlet for people who aren’t quite as inclined for math or English.”- Student, Tad Jewett

“I’ve always felt like I was a musician but my library of music expanded because of this class. It’s opened my mind to new things. I am definitely going to pursue music.”- Student, Jillian Buote

“Yes you can, and yes you will—that’s the mantra. The minute you lower the bar then it’s easy to keep lowering it. I tell them they can and they will. I had students who didn’t have an opportunity to perform. I had some really cool kids who were into rock music, and they ran with it.” -

Music teacher, Dianne Fenlason

#WEAREMEA FALL CONFERENCE 2017 - LESSONS WE LEARNED

Jannie Durr-Trainer (CCAA) Digital Literacy: Gamification in the Classroom “The people who went to my session walked away with some free tools to use in the classroom—High tech, low tech, mixed tech tools. For example, for a low tech tool, use a beach ball with numbers on it and students toss it to each other and wherever your finger lands on it and they would answer a question. It engages the brain in a real way, in a deep and meaningful way.”

Erin Babbin (Gray-New Gloucester TA) “I went to the how to deal with chaos session. This conference always provides resources and rejuvenates the beginning of the year—it gets you thinking and helps me revise all my units.”

80'sRockin' Rewind Party

Bryan Eldridge (Student MEA) “I've wanted to come so many times before, but this was my first opportunity, and I’m so glad I could make it. I want to grow as an educator and learn from those here and their experiences. I want to teach Elementary education, fourth grade, and I feel the culturally responsible pedagogy session and differentiated instruction will help me going forward. There is so much offered at this conference, and anything I can take that is geared toward behavior management is going to help me.”

Costume Contest Winner