Yesterday I vowed to keep a list of positives throughout the day today in hopes of helping my mood and focus. Well…I have a list. It took me until lunch time to actually start writing anything down, but by the end of the day my list covered both sides of a post-it note.
Cooler weather
Students positive responses to having a choice between whiteboards and popsicle sticks for writing or constructing their rhythmic patterns.
Hearing, “I got it right!”
Receiving three books from students off of my book fair list.
Unplanned, improvised “singing” of one of those books.
A student who has severe anxiety, always sits alone and doesn’t speak to me, accepted a music stamp on his hand when leaving class today.
Was it a perfect day? No-there’s no such thing. But was it a good day? Yes. And even though I may not be able to use my mood as an indicator for the success of the day, I can look back on my list and be reminded of the things that were good. Funny thing is, almost all the items are things over which I have little or no control.
So what do I have control over? Continuing to look for the positive. My responses to the people and situations I encounter. Loving my family, friends, and students.
Any guesses which book I sang today? It was super fun!
Time for confession-I am struggling this week. Low days, fighting back tears, just the general blahs. It will pass, I’m sure. When this happens, thankfully I’ve learned to recognize it and say it out loud. If it lasts longer than a week, there’s a need to talk with a trusted friend or family member.
All that to say-I found myself searching for the positive on my drive home from school today. The sun was shining, the sky a beautiful blue with perfect, fluffy, floating clouds. Besides blue being my favorite color, I’ve always been fascinated with the sky and its inhabitants. Seeing one like this today most definitely helped my mood.
Once my attitude began to change, I remembered kindergarten class from earlier today. We’ve been learning about rhythmic patterns while going on our adventures with Freddie the Frog. Today was review time and students were creating patterns on the Smart Board. Their ability to not only create a pattern but also read it out loud was a pleasant surprise.
Each of them was eager to give it a try-all twenty of them-at the same time. Suddenly I remembered the popsicle stick basket. First and second graders had used them the day before to create patterns on the carpet. I hadn’t planned on using them with kindergarten just yet.
Change of plans! I asked the kiddos to move to our circle and gave each a hand full of popsicle sticks-rhythmic patterns began to appear everywhere! Once we cleaned up, I asked students to brainstorm ways they could do this activity at home if they didn’t have popsicle sticks. Crayons! Pencils! Markers! Legos! And on and on and on…one mentioned writing down their patterns. Impressive!
Encouraged by the success of my kindergartners, I decided to attempt the activity I had asked them to try at home. Here are my results.
Goal for tomorrow-begin my day looking for the positive. Will I be successful? I don’t know. But hopefully I will remember that the simplestthings can change my day for the better-even popsicle sticks and clouds.
Returned from a long weekend workshop to a not-so-great report from one of my classes…a fifth grade class. You know, the ones who are supposed to be my leaders. If there was any class to be concerned about, this would not have been the one I’d pick. I was disappointed to say the least. So the first day back started with a heart to heart chat.
While expressing my sadness over their actions and some missing candy, I knew the tears were going to start-mine, not theirs. A few of them did join in after a few minutes. My purpose in confronting the students was not to make them feel bad. It was about giving them a chance to make a good choice and be honest about what happened while I was gone.
We all make poor choices sometimes. All of us-no exceptions. And even though it’s difficult, admitting those mistakes brings growth and freedom. My students had the chance to make things right, and I’m proud to say almost all of them rose to the challenge.
Reading their apology notes later in the day, I once again found myself getting choked up. There were sweet assurances of their love and appreciation-covered in hearts and music notes, of course. For some, the realization and acknowledgement they had not fulfilled leadership roles. But the one that touched me the most-“I’m so sorry that I made you feel sad.” Wow.
Just as with my own children, I work hard to get my students to think about how their behaviors affect other people. Or how they would feel being on the receiving end of an unkind word or action. Today I learned that I must keep teaching those lessons. They really do listen! And when given the chance-make the right choice. A choice with the power to encourage this teacher to keep teaching.
Fast forward…the next morning at school (day after our little chat) one sweet student said, “My brother and I have something for you.” An entire bag of candy to replace what had “disappeared” while I was away. The amazing thing is their mom would have had no way of knowing what happened unless they went home and shared. It may seem like a small gesture to some, but for me…the best gift I could have possibly received.
Here’s to teaching! The lessons we impart, but more importantly the ones we learn along the way.
How often do we as teachers think of ourselves as students? Do we look for opportunities to learn from our students? On those required PD days or weekend workshops, do we truly put ourselves in the position of learner? I know the answer for me is often no, not really. It’s easy to just check off another box or keep pressing through my lesson plans. It’s much harder to focus on what I don’t know and admit needing help.
This weekend I truly experienced what it feels like to be a student. There were moments of challenge that made my head hurt! Activities that were way outside of my comfort zone. I’d forgotten how frustrating those times can be, especially when they involve disagreements or differences in teaching philosophies. I don’t particularly like to debate and often avoid conflict. But I was reminded of their benefit and usefulness when used in structured and limited ways.
The challenging times were followed by moments of encouragement and creativity. When you sing or dance with a group of people you’ve just debated, the air clears rather quickly. There really is something powerful about music and it’s ability to influence mood and atmosphere. And that is the root of what made this weekend so special.
Our topic was “Teaching Music to Students With Special Needs.” The group of participants was made up of music teachers and special education teachers. As you can imagine, the personalities, opinions, and philosophies were strong on both sides. With the help of our amazing instructor, we were able to work together, learning new material and sharing helpful ideas from our own teaching experiences.
Tomorrow I will head back to my classroom. Yes, I will be taking super fun, new, and exciting activities with me. Hopefully those will help renew my energy as the teacher. But more important than the activities will be the attention I give to my students as individuals, looking for ways to both support and challenge all of them. Focusing on each one as a person first, while also recognizing and acknowledging their differences.
Being a student is hard work! And to be a great teacher, I have to continue being a student, too!
Morning car duty, the day after our first elementary choir rehearsal, one of my favorite fourth graders hopped out of his car with a big smile. Running over he gave me a big hug and chimed, “Choir was so much fun yesterday! I told my mom and dad that you almost cried when we sang Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” A tad embarrassing but he was right-I did get a little teary.
Same day-first hour-fifth grade. I showed students one of the new puppets I had ordered for my younger classes. Just delivered and so cute! The students smiled and I heard some awwws-that’s all it took. I began telling them how much the little kids love the puppets and how I wished I’d had puppets when they were in kindergarten and first grade.
A fifth grade boy spoke up, “Mrs. Morris, I’ve never seen an adult so excited about puppets before!” Well, guess what? I soon had twenty-something fifth graders asking to play with puppets. Of course I said yes.
What a sight! The biggest kiddos in the school using the cutest animal hand puppets, singing along to Carrie Underwood’s The Champion. Priceless!
Then it hit me! The enthusiasm of a fourth grade boy had been contagious.
There was a positive attitude domino effect at work. This cycle continued for most of the day, the most encouraged I’ve felt about my teaching so far this year. Don’t misunderstand, not all days work this way. I’m not attempting to paint a “perfect harmony little cherubs singing” portrait. Nor am I anywhere close to being Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music.
Truthfully, it took the excitement of a student to adjust my attitude. And if this one student has the power to do that for me, how many students and colleagues should I be able to influence?
Attitudes are contagious. And I can either spread one that is positive and encouraging or one that is negative and frustrating. Here’s to having an attitude others want to catch, not one they try to avoid.
Music has the ability to both unify and separate. Think about it-how many times has one single song been used to represent and bring unity to a social movement? “We Shall Overcome” & “We are the World” immediately come to mind. The opposite is also true. History tells us of music such as Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” causing rioting in the streets of Paris during its debut.
What causes these polar opposite occurrences? Opinions! We all have plenty of those. What we like and don’t like. What we think sounds good or sounds bad. Oh, how we love to share, myself included. The problems occur when respect is absent from the sharing of said opinions.
At the beginning of the school year, I have discussions with my students concerning music and respect. After listing many different styles of music, students have the opportunity to share their favorite. I remind them that we always show respect for our friends opinions. We also talk about how boring it would be to hear the same music all the time, and the importance of giving something new a chance.
As I considered this respectful sharing of opinions, my thoughts moved from the classroom to the church. There is definitely a wide variety of styles and opinions concerning music in this realm. Having played piano in church since I was a little girl, I have experienced these styles and opinions on many occasions.
Hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “What a Friend We have in Jesus” immediately take me back to my childhood. They provided a strong foundation for expressing my faith. As a teen I remember playing and singing the chorus “Pass it On” and listening to Keith Green’s “Songs for the Shepherd.” There was truth and power in this new style of song. Although different from the hymns, their meanings were the same. As an adult, songs such as “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me and “Praise You in this Storm” by Casting Crowns provided comfort and reassurance during difficult times of grief when I questioned my faith.
Sadly, I have also witnessed the polarizing effect music can have in the church. As some choose to dig their heels in for tradition, unwilling to consider anything new, the result is often a weakened message. On the opposite side, others become so engulfed with constantly seeking something new, the message doesn’t have time to sink in or provide the intended encouragement.
So what’s my conclusion? Personally, I find security and strength in the old, while experiencing comfort and renewed energy in the new. I believe there’s room for both. But those are my opinions. If I lose focus, forgetting the reason for the music, then my opinions really don’t matter. Truthfully, in this situation I’m not sure they really matter anyway.
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
“…speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God…” Ephesians 5:19-20
If the words “Elementary Choir” cause you feelings of anxiety, welcome to my world! I’m teasing, mostly, but I do find it challenging. Choir was part of my high school and college life, but most of the time I ended up behind the piano. That is where I’m most comfortable. I’ve never felt as confident with my singing, hence my hesitation with directing a choir.
Today was the first day of after-school choir. We meet once-a-week for about forty-five minutes. In case you’re wondering, that’s a long time to keep twenty-five 4th and 5th graders engaged and singing, especially after a full day of school. We are all tired, and ready for a snack and a nap. Well, I’m ready for a nap. Not to mention being hot and sweaty from afternoon car duty…
As I walked back to my classroom to begin practice, I could hear kids saying, “Here she comes!” And it wasn’t a “better stop what you’re doing” warning. It was more of a “Yay! It’s time for choir” comment. The room was buzzing with energy and excitement. Students helped set up chairs and everyone was seated quickly, ready to start. I went to the piano and asked them to sing a simple song for me. There was a risk they would consider my request babyish, but I needed to hear how they sounded.
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” has never sounded so glorious! I am not exaggerating! Not only were their voices sweet and light, I could tell they really loved to sing. My smile could not have been any wider. After some up and down “ah-ah-ah” and “ha-ha-ha” vocal warm-ups, I asked them to fill out a short choir survey. I’ll get back to that shortly.
After the survey we learned the first part of our choir theme song, “Friend Like You.” One of the verses says, “I know with friends like you, friends that I can talk to, we can take on the world. There’s nothing we can’t do.” So simple, yet so powerful. And once again, their sweet voices singing this timely message made my heart happy.
We wrapped up practice, everyone went home, and I packed up my computer. Oh, and those choir surveys as well. Once home, I decided to read them. Oh my goodness…their answers. Most said they love to sing and want to sing better. Some admitted being shy or embarrassed. And then there was this…”I sing to my siblings at bedtime.” Remember, we are talking about 4th and 5th graders. I can’t imagine anything more precious.
Today changed my outlook for choir. This self-described awesome group of kiddos-who just want to hang out with their friends and sing-encouraged this exhausted, in-search-of-motivation teacher. Because of their attitudes, I find myself looking forward to next week. I will listen to those sweet voices, and teach them the rest of our theme song. Hopefully their enthusiasm will spill over, giving this tired teacher renewed energy.
Maybe elementary choir is not so elementary after all.
What is a champion? The word often brings thoughts of athletes, winning the ultimate game. Webster’s definition includes warrior, fighter, defender, one fighting for the rights of others, and lastly the winner of a competition. Although I like the order of those descriptions, there is much more to this idea of being a champion. Or at least there should be…
Do I think of myself as being a champion in my role as wife? Mom? Teacher? Friend? Truthfully, no. But what if I did? After all, each role is important and has the power to influence and encourage my family, friends, students, and community. What if I consistently worked hard at improving my skills in each role?
The official music video for Carrie Underwood’s song “The Champion” (feat. Ludacris) does a beautiful job of expressing the broadness of this word. Included in the lyrics are invincible, unstoppable, unshakable-mixed with images of hard work, honesty, integrity, and sacrifice. People from all walks of life, facing every kind of challenge imaginable, working hard, persevering.
I love watching my students’ reactions to this video. Of course, the song is energetic and exciting. They love to sing along. When I ask what people they notice, the answers are all over the place-football player, swimmer, surfer, soldier, someone with cancer, a person with prosthetic legs-you get the idea.
What they don’t usually notice, however, are the students, teachers, parents-doing everyday things. They are students. As I like to remind them, doing school is their job. But do they consider themselves champions in that role of being a student? This is not a naturally occurring thought for them-or for us as parents and teachers either I’m afraid…
It’s never too late for a new mindset, right?
So where to begin? The answer will be different for each of us. For me personally, maintaining motivation is a constant struggle. Lack of sleep, feeling tired, possibly getting sick-anxiety levels begin to rise leading quickly to negative thoughts-I don’t think I can keep doing this, am I a good teacher, have I been a good mom-a rapid, downward spiral pulls me away from the much-needed motivation.
Sometimes the spiral slows with a prayer, a deep breath, a confession of feelings to a trusted friend. Other times it requires tears, and possibly a nap. Thoughts begin to refocus. A successful lesson, an encouraging word from a colleague, and a reminder that what I do has value, and therefore requires hard work.
Eventually, the search for motivation begins all over again, and I look for ways to make changes and improvements in my chosen roles. And who knows? Maybe there will be that moment where I feel like a champion.
Even better–maybe someone who crosses my path will feel like a champion.
Teachers love the word plan. Lesson plans, sub plans, plan time-each have an important place in our school days, weeks, months, years…sometimes our bests laid plans go awry. Then there are those rare moments when the simplest of plans exceed our expectations.
This was one of those days.
Freddie the Frog and his adventures on Treble Clef Island are breathing new life into my K-2nd grade classes. (See earlier post-The Innocence of Imagination.) The plan for today sounded simple, and came with very little explanation. I was actually nervous that I hadn’t added something, afraid it wouldn’t take enough time. Students were going to learn how to create stories using barred instruments such as xylophones by having the story characters, Freddie and his elephant friend Eli, talk back and forth to each other.
Let me just say, having kindergartners play xylophones can be a daunting task. Imagine twenty-something of them having to wait their turn, holding mallets, making sure the mallets only touch the instruments…enough said. But I really have to brag on them. They did such a great job!
We brainstormed before moving to instruments, creating conversations between Freddie and Eli. Everything from “Do you want to play?” “Yes I do!” to “Would you like some waffles?” “That sounds great!” Each class came up with at least four different question/answer phrases, their very own ideas. I spoke the words in rhythm, they echoed, then we repeated the activity on the instruments.
We played, we laughed, we created…I was both energized and exhausted all at the same time. My plan is to do it again tomorrow with a different set of kiddos. Will it work exactly the same? Possibly, but probably not. And that’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day.
Piano Girl 