My name is Makenna Hague. I am the dance teacher at a public middle school in Utah. I graduated from Brigham Young University in December 2015. I received a BA in Dance Education with a K-12 endorsement.
When you become an educator the question of “What teachers inspired and influenced you in middle/high school?” is often proposed. I had one. Mrs. Becky Reed. My dance teacher. As far as I remember, she was the only teacher at the time that took any interest in me. She challenged me, she didn’t accept anything but my best, and she introduced me to the artistry of what dance is, and what I’ve grown to love so deeply. My college experience provided endless mentorship through the many professors I had the privilege to learn under. (I could write an entire post on how wonderful my professors were and are today… another time perhaps.) Kori Wakamatsu in particular had an immense impact on my development as a teacher. She demonstrates excellent pedagogy, professionalism and nurturing demeanor towards her students. She is a master teacher and is someone I owe a lot of my success to today. She inspired a sense of learning, exploring and creating in me. With this interest, I hope to pursue a master’s degree within the next few years.
After graduation, I was hired as a full-time dance specialist for a public elementary school. I was only there a few months when I was offered the teaching position I currently hold. The day after I accepted the job, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. It was a whirlwind of an adventure to experience my first year as a middle school teacher simultaneously with my first pregnancy. I started the school year five months pregnant and took six weeks of medical leave after my son was born in December 2016.
Returning to school after his birth had its challenges. My body was still adjusting to the changes of childbirth; I pumped during my breaks and prep period. It also took a toll on my emotional health. I was fortunate to receive support from my husband, administration and fellow teachers. My son has since accompanied me at parent-teacher conferences, Saturday rehearsals, and dance concerts. My husband works from home and watches my son Grayson while I am away.
My dance program is on a productivity schedule. This means I teach 7 of 8 class periods on a block schedule, which allows a prep period every other day. I teach over 400 students a year, 165 of which are boys. My contract hours are longer than the typical full-time teacher. I am contracted to arrive before, and stay later than, the regular full-time teacher to make up prep time. Due to the limited prep time during the school year, my district also offers their teachers paid prep days during the summer. This is typically 8 full days of prep, when I collaborate with other dance teachers in the district, and prepare for my own classes.
My classes are a semester long, except for my dance company, which is a full year. My students are in grades 7-9. Students who enroll in my class earn a fine arts credit.
I find my students fascinating. I love their eagerness to learn, their sense of humor, and their (sometimes exhausting) amounts of energy. I strive to offer my students the opportunity to foster and develop creativity in a nurturing and challenging educational environment. My students receive an education that is rich in diversity of techniques, choreographic processes, and meaning making. I believe the power of dance in education can create a holistic and overall enriching experience in these students' lives that will contribute to their positive role in society.
Monday 1/22/18
6:15am – Wake up
7:00am – Commute to work
7:20-8:15am – Prep for classes
8:15-9:30am – A1: Men’s Dance Class
9:35-10:50am – A2: Dance 2
10:50-11:20am – Lunch (on “A” days I don’t get a break once school has started; I use my lunch as an additional prep)
11:20-12:30pm – A3: Dance Fundamentals
12:35-1:45pm – A4: Dance 1
1:45-2:00pm – Enter grades, emails, prep for tomorrow
2:00-2:30pm – Meeting with principal. Discussed a few students with behavioral issues.
2:30-2:45pm – Contacted parents of these students.
2:45-3:00pm – Commuted to coffee shop to meet with other middle school dance teachers and collaborated. (Our collaboration is mandatory and usually an hour and a half after school has ended on Mondays. I was late today because I was addressing students that needed their parents contacted.)
3:30pm – Commute home
4:00pm – Ate a snack, spent time with my son Grayson (1 y/o) and husband Bryan.
6:00pm – Dinner, clean up the house
7:15pm- Start Grayson’s bedtime routine
8:00pm – Unpack boxes (we have just recently moved!), clean up house, spend time with Bryan
10pm – Bed
Tuesday 1/23/18
6:15am – Wake up
7:00am – Commute to work
7:20-8:15am – Prep for classes
8:15-9:35am – B5: Dance Company rehearsal
9:40-10:10am – Advisory
10:15-11:35am – B6: Men’s Dance Class
11:35-12:05pm – Lunch
12:05-1:25pm – B7: Dance Fundamentals
1:30-2:45pm – B8: Prep – choreography for school musical auditions
2:45-3:30pm – After school prep – grades, emails, create technique sequences for classes
3:30pm – Commute home
4:00pm – Ate a snack, spend time with Grayson and Bryan
4:30pm – Grocery shopping
6pm – Dinner, clean up
7:15pm – Start Grayson’s bedtime routine
8:00pm – Unpack boxes, clean up house, spend time with Bryan
***When I’m caught up with my home life, I take a technique class from 8:30-10pm.
10pm – Bed
Wednesday 1/24/18
6:15am – Wake up
7:30-8:15am – Faculty Meeting
8:15-9:35am – A1: Men’s Dance Class
9:40-10:10am – Advisory
10:15-11:35am – A2: Dance 2
11:35-12:05pm – Lunch and prep
12:05-1:25pm – A3: Dance Fundamentals
1:30-2:45pm – A4: Dance 1
2:45-3:00pm – Prepare for musical theater auditions. I’m the choreographer for the show.
3-5:30pm – Judge musical theater auditions
6pm – Picked up fast food on my way home
6:30-7:30pm – Spent time with my boys
7:30pm – Start Grayson’s bedtime routine
8:15pm – Cleaned up house, checked e-mails, read a book
10pm – Bed
Thursday 1/25/18
6:15am – Wake up
7:00am – Commute to work
7:20-8:15am – Prep for classes
8:15-9:35am – B5: Dance Company rehearsal
9:40-10:10am – Advisory
10:15-11:35am – B6: Men’s Dance Class
11:35-12:05pm – Lunch
12:05-1:25pm – B7: Dance Fundamentals
1:30-2:45pm – B8: Returned dance costumes to neighboring middle school
2:45-3:30pm – Met with a previous student, discussed my college experience with her.
3:30pm- Commute home
4:00pm – Snack, family time
4:30pm – Start dinner, prepare lunches and breakfast for the next few days
6pm – Dinner, clean up
7:15pm – Start Grayson’s bedtime routine
8:00pm – At-home workout with husband
***Possible technique class 8:30-10pm
10pm – Bed
Friday 1/26/18
6:30am – Wake up
7:15am – Commute to work
7:45-8:15am – Prep for classes
8:15-9:35am – A1: Men’s Dance Class
9:40-10:10am – Advisory
10:15-11:35am – A2: Dance 2
11:35-12:05pm – Lunch and prep
12:05-1:25pm – A3: Dance Fundamentals
1:30-2:45pm – A4: Dance 1
2:45-3:15pm – After school prep
3:15pm – Leave for home
3:45pm – Relax
5pm – Went to Ikea for storage containers, ate out for dinner
7:15pm – Grayson’s bedtime
8pm – Clean up the house, read, relax
10pm – Bed
Saturday 1/27/18
7:15am – Wake up
8am – Unpacked the FINAL boxes
10am – Put Grayson down for a nap
12pm – Repairman arrives
*****Possible rehearsals for 2-4 hours between 12pm-8pm
1pm – Lunch
2:15pm – Put Grayson down for a second nap
2:30-3:30pm – At-home workout with Bryan
3:30pm – Snack
4pm -Went grocery shopping
5pm – Family came to visit
7pm – Dinner
8pm – Put Grayson down
10pm – Bed
Sunday 1/28/18
7am – Wake up
9am-12pm – Church services
12:30pm – Lunch
12:30-4pm – Relax and meal prep for the week
4pm – Commuted for a family dinner
4:30-7:30pm – Spent time with extended family
7:45pm – Put Grayson to bed
8:00-10pm – Clean up the house, meal prep, relax
**** From August-May: I dedicate my time to my family, religion and teaching. From June-August: I dedicate my time to my family, religion, and seek out opportunities for performance, training and other professional development.
Related posts:
My Dance Week: Teaching Full-Time in a Public Middle School (Jennifer Smith)
My Dance Week: Teaching Full-Time in a 6th-12th Grade NYC Public School (Sarah Billings Wheeler)
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Life as a Modern Dancer 
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