Show choir season is upon us. It's one of my favorite times of year, and also the most stressful. There's lots to get ready...the show itself, the backup band, the costumes, the travel logistics...goodness. It can be super overwhelming at times, add to that the passing of my grandmother and time spent away from school with family, and I end up kind of a hot mess. But, it's the circle of life, and I'm pulling myself up by my bootstraps and putting on my big girl pants and getting it done. It's Iowa Assessment week at my school, a big important time for us to encourage kids to do their best and score higher than last year. As a music teacher, paper and pencil tests are not my favorite thing. Let's be honest, a student is so much more than a test score. I loved this Twitter post from last week: Yep, there are lots of personal qualities not measured by tests, and all educators know that. Yet, the powers-that-be insist that our kids need to be measured objectively by standardized tests. And the money behind the testing industry speaks loudly. Too loud, in my opinion. As long as the tests are only one small portion of a student's evaluation, I'm fine with it. Make sure we look at the whole child, how are they as people? As humans? That's our real goal in education.
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What does it really mean to be progressive in today's educational setting? Does using Twitter, blogging, and maintaining your own website make a teacher 'progressive?' I read this post on Te@chThought this morning and it made me think. Terry Heick compares the words of John Dewey in the 1940s to much of the talk we hear today in education. We must prepare students for the future, not our future, but THEIR future! Our students will work at jobs that don't even exist right now! Teach by doing, not by just telling or showing. In other words, be a progressive teacher! Go above and beyond! And a big one in districts around Iowa: Use technology! What? You don't know HOW to use the technology...well, here it is, so go be amazing! But how? Heick's argument is right on-it's time to actually "do" progress, once and for all. Often progress seems to go hand-in-hand with technology use, so how can we do better? I said this in a meeting just the other day, it's not that today's teachers are resisting the progress when it comes to technology (ok a few are) it's more about them NOT KNOWING HOW. When the expectation is to create and maintain a website, then the training must be provided accordingly. When the expectation is to use an online grading program that changes constantly, then the training must be provided. These are just two examples of places where in my opinion we are missing the boat, putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. And don't get me wrong, a little training is certainly better than none. It's a start, and sometimes, it's all the inservice time will allow. I think our students deserve more. They deserve progress. They deserve to go to a school, in the year 2015, that looks different from the schools of 1940. The only way to move forward, to 'do' progress, in terms of technology, is to effectively train teachers. We're off to a great start, my district is lucky to have two fantastic technology gurus who are encouraging and helpful. But their hands are tied where training time is concerned. We wouldn't expect our students to do something we didn't effectively teach them to do. Don't expect teachers to either. Well, the wind blows over the plains of Iowa causing a ground blizzard so our district had to cancel classes for today. Day 2. Since I only live a few blocks from my office, here I am at work. What dedication! Yeah, right. :) Working on lesson plans and choosing music...seems to be a never-ending job. Specifically, today I am unpacking the National Music Standards in depth. We're supposed to document, in our lesson plans, when we cover all the standards...and I need to make sure I am doing that correctly. The most recent standards just came out in June of 2014, and I honestly haven't spent as much time with them as I should. So, that's what today is about. Fellow music educators: are you doing what I'm doing as far as the National Standards go? What are you using if it's different? I'd love to hear from you. A Top Ten.
10. Every day is different. No two days are EVER exactly the same, and they are certainly NEVER boring. Deadlines to meet, music to choose, lesson plans (with Iowa Core coding) to complete, phone calls and emails to return, concerts to plan, music to choose, lunch duty, PBIS meetings to attend, lessons to teach, National Anthems to prepare...I could go on and on. Then there are the students...so unpredictable! So creative! So entertaining and did I mention unpredictable? :) 9. The kids. Surrounding yourself with kids, of any age, will keep you young at heart. My husband often reminds me that I am just a middle schooler disguised as a grown-up. He's so right. My students keep me that way, and I love it! Teaching all levels of vocal music is the best job on earth because I get to experience the fun of the little ones and the challenges of the older ones, all in the SAME DAY. It's good. It feeds me. 8. The cafeteria. Speaking of what feeds me, haha, I am thankful to work in a place where breakfast and lunch is prepared daily. I can eat if I want, or not. A great bonus, in my opinion. ;) 7. The ever-changing music curriculum. Music teachers have a luxury that most other teachers don't: we get to choose our curriculum (the pieces we sing or play) each concert season. For me, that is the BEST thing ever. I pick music that will not only challenge my choirs, but will keep my own brain challenged and involved. Sure, I've repeated a few tunes over the years, there are always those tried and true pieces that warrant it, but I love love love fresh new music and having the freedom to choose. 8. Students see music class as "the fun class." Yep. Most of the time, the kids love coming to music class, and let me just say, that is an awesome thing to be a part of. I'm not gonna lie, I go to great lengths to make sure the kids in my ensembles and classes are enjoying their learning. I try to teach them that learning tough music is worth the journey by allowing and encouraging them to have fun along the way. 7. Snow days. Enough said. 6. Watching students as they grow up. Music teachers get to teach students over many years of their lives. By the time they graduate, I have taught most of them for at least 6 years, and often more. That's a real gift...watching them grow and change, learning and achieving musically, developing their interests, and often becoming a true mentor to them. I'm always humbled when graduates come back to visit...so cool that we made a difference and they want to check in after they have moved on. :) 5. Having the same calendar and hours as my own children. As the mom of four amazing kiddos, family is a big deal for me. I feel lucky to be able to see my kids at school during the day and to be on the same schedule as them. It's a luxury not many parents have, and I am grateful. 4. No checking papers. Well, I check them for my Music Theory course, but that's about it. I get to be the teacher who doesn't give homework. Go me. :) 3. Hearing children of all ages sing. There is just something about hearing large (or small) groups of children sing. It feeds the soul, its heals the heart and mind, and being a part of a group increases a person's self-esteem. Singing is magical, and it goes way beyond any words that I can type here. 2. Show Biz. I love planning shows. I love picking the music, teaching and rehearsing it, and seeing it all come together for a performance. It challenges me, and I need that. The excitement behind the scenes, seeing my ideas come to fruition, and even the long rehearsals--it's all part of the process and it's the best. 1. The music. A very wise college professor told me during undergrad, "don't become a music teacher unless you can't possibly imagine doing anything else." I honestly can't imagine doing anything else. Music is my life, it's my "thing," and I am so lucky that I get to make music with kids every day! |
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