Tag: encouragement

Ready or not, here they come!

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

There are exactly ten days left until the start of school.  My fellow teachers and I are busy bees, frantically working to prepare our classrooms.  Searching for just the right bulletin board border, inspiring posters, room arrangement, etc.  Even though the decorations are not the most important aspect of this process, I do want my room to be warm and inviting.  A place students look forward to visiting which encourages them to be creative.  Since I spend most of my days in this space, the atmosphere is also important for my personal well-being.

This year begins my tenth year as a public school teacher, first a special education teacher and currently an elementary music teacher.  The ten-year mark has me thinking more closely about my focus as a teacher.  Why am I doing this?  What would I like to accomplish?  How long will I stay in this position?  Maybe my questions have something to do with turning fifty this past year…who knows?

I have chosen the word connections to guide my attitude for the coming school year.  After all, the success of the year is dependent on positive relationships with both colleagues and students.  Fellow teachers, no matter their age or level of experience, have something to offer.  A fresh idea, a long-tested method, contagious energy-discovered only when we take the time to get to know each other, listening and investing time-connecting.

And what about my students?  Why are connections so crucial?  Because music is personal.  Styles are endless, and we all have our likes and dislikes, especially kids.  Unless I take the time to get to know my students and let them get to know me, how can I expect them to explore and create?  Yes, they may learn basic music skills, building blocks, history.  However, unless they make a personal connection and recognize that music is all around them, I haven’t done my job.

This is not an easy task.  As the music teacher, I see between 400-500 students.  That’s a lot of names!  And I struggle with remembering names in general.  So that’s where we begin-movement and rhythm games, not only sharing our names and our favorite (fill in the blank) but hearing them repeated back to us.  Simple I know-but surprisingly empowering.  When students realize another person likes the same color, animal, food, song-a connection is made.  A first step…

Those first days back are exhausting!  It’s easy to become overwhelmed (and a tiny bit irritable) with the newness.  Adjusting all over again to the daily schedule and expectations.  This year I want to push past all that and see the people in front of me, colleagues and students.  I hope connections are made that very first week.  Connections which will become building blocks, and grow into an amazing, music-filled school year!

Ready or not!IMG_0301IMG_0299

 

 

 

 

 

 

One-Way Streets

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

Have you ever driven down a one-way street, all lanes occupied-when suddenly a car is heading directly toward you-obviously going the wrong direction?  This happened to me today.

I was going the right direction.  Other cars on the  road were also going the right way. The wrong way driver didn’t appear to be slowing, so swift action was needed.  Even though the other drivers continued moving ahead, I slowed down and began to honk my horn.

Thankfully this got their attention. The wandering driver swerved across the lanes of traffic and into a parking lot.  A little shaken, but safe, I continued to my destination.  Part of me wanted to make sure the confused driver was ok, but turning around was not possible.

The experience made me think-people are sometimes like the cars on the street today.  We move along this path of life full speed ahead, confident in our choices and direction.  Surrounded by fellow travelers, we encourage each other to remain on the right road.

But what happens when we meet a confused wanderer going the wrong way?  

We could do nothing, resulting in a clash.  Arguments over who was right would certainly ensue.  Neither party taking time to listen.  We might swerve and go around, leaving them in their state of confusion.  Or maybe we should slow down, stop, and meet the stranger right where they are-in the middle of the road.

Before answering the question, we must remember-at some point each of us is the wandering traveler, confused, and in need of guidance. Especially when going the wrong direction down a one-way street.

Strength in Numbers

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Sometimes I think we are misguided in our striving for independence.  A “taking on the world alone” mentality is not the way we were meant to live.  Don’t misunderstand, there are certain things we need to learn to do for ourselves.  As parents for example, we teach children to take care of basic needs and encourage them to grow to be confident adults.  However, we must take care not to promote independence at the expense of missing out on important relationships.  We all need loving, supportive people in our lives!  Each of us will experience being “someone in need” or “someone who has the ability to meet a need.”  That has certainly  been true in my life.

My prayer today-courage to ask for help when needed and willingness to offer help when able, accepting the strength that comes in numbers-numbers of extraordinary people who cross my path.

“No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”  I Corinthians 10:24