Resolution #1: Write more blog entries

I really do think that blogging my thoughts will help me focus my energies and reflect on what occurs in the teaching world. A day where something disheartening happens can bring me down so much, but when observed against all of the positive findings it never seems quite so bad. So because it is much more productive and fulfilling to be able to think happy thoughts, I will make the concerted effort to collect my ponderings into more blog entries.

This first week back of teaching was as to be expected in many ways, and was extremely unexpected in others. The kids were unruly in many respects and definitely not ready to back from break (actually, many teachers were not ready to be back from break). And with the prediction of snow coming true but no snow days to be had, the school as a whole was simply unable to get itself back into a steady routine. Inside my own classroom, however, small yet incredibly significant changes were witnessed. Yes, I still had the same kids who could not remember to stay in their seats, got into silly arguments with me, and did not particularly feel like doing work. But their demeanor and perspective seemed different than the students I had before winter break. They seemed legitimately interested in what we were doing in class that day, not just wanting to complain about more work. They acted like they wanted to learn, not like they wanted to butt heads. I was especially surprised and heartened by the behavior of my eighth graders and the look in their eyes – a look of respect and acceptance, not distrust and annoyance. It’s as if seeing the holiday concert and the quality of what we put on stage made them all realize that I wasn’t here just to yell at them for their improper behavior then leave two months later. They have realized that I am here as their teacher, as a music mentor, and as someone who actually wants to give them the opportunity to shine.

So does this mean that all my classroom issues have been solved? No, not in the least. But three extremely important elements have finally been established that are necessary for future success: consistent procedures are setting in, interest in participating has grown much stronger, and respect is settling into the atmosphere of our classroom. This hopefully means that the coming quarter will bring opportunities for deeper and more reflective music lessons. Essentially, I am hoping that I will get to truly teach the way I have wanted to teach. At the beginning of the year, for instance, I would have died if I had incorporated any bit of music theory or the history of classical music into the curriculum. Now I’m having kids ask me if we can learn more about notes and rhythms and discuss composers like Mozart and Beethoven. What had once seemed impossible is now highly probable – my goodness, it’s a miracle!

I believe this is an excellent time to quote a lovely line from Thumbelina, a guilty pleasure movie that I just found this weekend at Target on DVD: “You’re sure to do impossible things, if you follow your heart…”