Erika Gersten

Music teacher and Environmental Studies student at #UW interning at Fiddleheads Forest Preschool. #music, #enviroed, #naturalhistory

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

So excited to be taking Psych470, Psychology of Music! It should be *instrumental* to writing my research paper on musical development in an outdoor setting. #interdisciplinary #envir492

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@ColeZwierzynski Not for me, but it's definitely getting my foot in the door in environmental education! I think it'll lead to other jobs. And I think @AKushP_UW got a job from his? #envir492 #poecap

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@JobeKyler @uwpoe Definitely Envir 280, Natural History of the Puget Sound. It was super fun and without the plant and bird identification that I learned in that class, I would have been shown up by a bunch of preschoolers at my internship! Environmental pedagogy was helpful too! #envir492 #poecap

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@SmythAnneliese I was just talking to @ellectrifying7 about ways we cut plastic! I made some produce bags out of a scarf I found on the street. Also, reusable "saran wrap" and cellulose sponges are awesome!

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@AnnaLouiseMcKee Just playing around in the forest with the kids was great! Some highlights were snow days, songwriting, and lots of tag! They ran me into the ground 😂

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

Already brainstorming for my symposium presentation. I've gotta figure out a way to incorporate a song on ukulele! #ENVIR492

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

So excited to be finishing up my capstone! #envir492

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

On my last day we all wrote a song together! It's been absolute magic interning there! Thanks Fiddleheads!! ❤️❤️❤️ #envir491

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

I am so grateful for my opportunity to work at Fiddleheads! Playing around the forest with the same kids three days each week not only supported my research, but allowed me to build a relationship with the kids. I'll miss them so much! So many memories! #Envir491

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@ellectrifying7 That's fantastic! Beautiful work! Also, so informative. I really don't think many people think about the affect of social trails.

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@QuiliciAngelina Wow! I had no idea. That's sad! I think that's something that people would really like to know about.

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

I've learned so much at Fiddleheads this quarter! Even though I read about it in my papers, I didn't fully understand the exploratory nature of preschool development. It's far more effective for preschoolers to explore music in small groups than to plan formal lessons. #envir491

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

Wow! Last week's tweet had a lot of replies about wanting to learn an instrument or take lessons. I hate to promote my business in an academic setting, but I have been teaching piano, guitar, and vocals for the past four years. If anyone is interested in lessons, lmk! #envir491

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

The @NAfME standards have been *instrumental* in helping me develop outdoor music curriculum for Fiddleheads Forest Preschool. I'm still always looking for fun outdoor activities! #envir491

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@JohnEricksen10 Awesome! As a teacher, I've found that my students that have been in choirs often have an excellent sense of harmony and a strong musical ear. I think it's one of the most valuable musical experiences for future learning. Trombone is also really hard. I've tried. Also ugly

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

What's your musical experience #envir491?

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@castroisa25 ME TOO! I have a keyboard, but its not the same. Finding them on campus is really hard. There's one in the Anderson club room and the HUB if you don't mind an audience. Otherwise I've heard there are practice rooms in the west campus dorms. Haven't been there though.

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@QuiliciAngelina Its definitely not! My adult students are often very motivated to learn. They practice regularly and methodically. Also, I think that some concepts come easier to adults than children.

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@ginapak6 I've also been using UW libraries. I found some good sources on google scholar, but didnt have access 😥

[Erika Gersten @ErikaLGersten]

@MayXJY