Torch Light

 

This school year marks an exciting milestone for South Side School. For the first time in 14 years, all first and second graders are learning together under one roof. Thanks to the addition of the new South Side Mobile Classrooms, the building now has the flexibility and space to house all students and essential programs including art, music, English Language Learners (ELL), and special education.

 

Among those most appreciative of the new space is music teacher Mr. Stout who describes his new classroom as “at least twice as big” as the space he previously used. Before the mobile classrooms were installed, his music room occupied one-third of what had originally been the school cafeteria; a makeshift space adjacent to the multipurpose room that was also used for PE and lunch throughout the day. He had his equipment and materials stored in various areas such as the stage and the custodians’ storage room.

 

“When I came to South Side, they built a wall for me,” he recalls with a laugh. “Before that, there had only been an accordion door separating my classroom from the multipurpose room. It was a tight space that was often hot, crowded, and tricky to manage with 20 to 25 active bodies moving, singing, and playing instruments.”

Today, things look very different. The new music classroom in the South Side Mobile building offers ample room for movement, instrument play, and creative set-ups which are all integral parts of Mr. Stout’s dynamic approach to music education.

 

“Our music class isn’t the traditional ‘sit-and-sing’ kind of class,” he explains. “We sing, we move, and we play instruments. Having the extra space means we can design lessons that weren’t even possible before. The larger room and built-in storage make everything more efficient. The transitions from class to class are smoother, as well as from one activity to another within the same class. We can spend more time digging deeper into activities instead of transitioning the room.”

 

The students have noticed the change, too. “Our second graders have experienced learning in both spaces, so they really appreciate the difference,” he says. “The first graders don’t know how lucky they are!” To celebrate the upgrade, Mr. Stout began the school year with a favorite singing game that includes a chase element. “We couldn’t safely do that game before. It was the perfect way to kick off the year and show them what’s now possible.”

 

Beyond the benefits for music, the addition of the South Side Mobile Classrooms has transformed collaboration across the building. For the first time, every first and second grade teacher is located in the same place. “Collaboration is easier now that the entire second grade team is in one building,” Mr. Stout explains. “Teachers can share ideas, align curriculum, and support each other more easily. From my perspective, I now see all sections of second grade. In past years, about 60 students attended Central for second grade and were taught by another music teacher, so our lessons couldn’t always match exactly because of space and equipment differences. Now, all second graders have a common musical experience.”

 

Music strengthens language development, listening skills, memory, and pattern recognition, all of which support literacy and math growth. It also nurtures creativity and a healthy outlet for imagination. In group settings, music encourages teamwork, focus, and discipline, while performance opportunities help build confidence. Perhaps most importantly, music brings joy.

 

Mr. Stout adds that being able to work with all students for two years in a row is personally meaningful: “It’s wonderful to build those longer-term connections. Participating in music class brings a sense of belonging to the school day. Music can help children connect to their peers, their teachers, and the larger world around them.”

 

The timing of the new space couldn’t be better. Last week, Mr. Stout hosted a professional development workshop for area music educators in his new classroom, an event he co-founded in partnership with the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) in 2017.

 

“I’ve always been passionate about supporting music teachers,” he says. “This event provides meaningful, content-specific professional development for educators in our region. Having the space to host this in my own classroom makes everything easier. I’m familiar with the building, and I can help presenters meet their equipment needs without hauling materials across town.”

 

He was especially excited about the lineup of presenters, all of whom he knows personally. “They’re modeling different ways of teaching music that aren’t always covered in college programs or accessible in our area. These sessions give teachers new tools and ideas they can take back to their classrooms. Seeing these models gives music educators more tools to put in their tool box and may provide a spark for them to pursue further training in these approaches. Ultimately this workshop could benefit hundreds of students.”

 

While the music program may be one of the most visible beneficiaries of the new South Side Mobile Classrooms, the impact is being felt throughout the building. “Education today involves so much more than general classroom teaching,” Mr. Stout explains. “In addition to 18 general and special education homerooms, we have reading and math interventionists, special education resource teachers, a librarian, art, counseling, ELL, speech, and other specialists. Together, these educators work as a team to meet the diverse academic and social needs of every child who walks through our doors. Before the mobile classrooms, some teachers had to triple up in a single room.”

 

With the additional space, programs now have more appropriate settings, and there’s room to grow. “Having the South Side Mobile Classrooms gives us the flexibility both to better meet current needs and to expand as new programs arise,” he says. “It’s truly an investment in our students and in the future of South Side.”