Becca Buck, an elementary music teacher in District 191, has been named the Elementary Music Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Music Educators Association.
Qorsho Hassan and Becca Buck compiled a first-of-its-kind collection of Somali songs, chants, and games from students and parents at Gideon Pond Elementary School.
The collection provides historical and cultural context for each song or game, along with photographs and illustrations, offering a glimpse into Somali culture.
Becca Buck, a teacher at Gideon Pond Elementary in Rochester, is collaborating with her colleagues to incorporate Somali music into her curriculum. The project has resulted in students excited to share songs from their cultural background and a book filled with materials she’s learned from her students, their families and her colleagues, which she hopes to make available to more teachers. Listen to the story now!