Sub Plans

One of my least favorite part of teaching is creating sub plans.  Most of the time it is just easier to drag myself to school and teach myself but the occasion comes when I do need to be out.  As a music teacher it can be difficult to find a sub willing to, and capable of, running a rehearsal.  So often, I leave videos and worksheets for plans.  However, there must always be a set of plans "just in case" the person who might be in for me is music teacher.

I find this difficult because I know how tough it is to be a sub.  It was how I started out in my career and it can be rough.  Middle school is just challenging in general, think back on yourself in middle school and you'll begin to remember just how challenging.  I want to leave activities for the students that are meaningful, fun, educational and won't torture the teacher, either. 

To the other music teachers out there, what do you do?

Teaching music

I was watching Treme earlier this week and Antoine said something to a kid that made me smile.  "Every jazz musician was in the school band.  It's where you learn."  Later on his co-teacher said that their band was about "More than music."  It sounds so trite when boiled down to those two sentences from an HBO show, but it really says something about what I spend my days doing.

My students are currently preparing for their concerts next week.   Yes, we are working on our music and I want them to be memorized and we are making some attempts towards real musicality at points.  We've spent hours learning correct pitches and rhythms (and some learned incorrectly that we're trying to fix!) and working on lyrics in English, Latin, Spanish and Italian.  However, it's about also learning to be a part of something.  Learning to be respectful to the other musicians and the audience.  It's about learning to listen, respond and strive towards something more.  So when my kids were singing Mozart today, it was about singing Mozart.  But it was also about so much more that they don't even understand yet.

The Final Countdown

There are only 5 more teaching days in the calendar year!  This would be even more exciting except that this is one of the most challenging weeks in the school year for the music teachers.  So many of us are fitting in evening concerts, in school performances and sing-alongs, etc.  I'm lucky that my evening concert isn't until January but I know that getting my classes to focus on it is almost impossible.  They are so hyped up and excited about all the parties and presents (and let's face it, so are the adults) that memorizing a song is low on their priority list.  I am attempting to combat this in the most basic of ways.  Bribery!

I have tempted my classes, starting last week, that if they could have 4 of their 5 songs concert ready by Wednesday we would have a movie day for their last class of the week with me.  I only see my students every other day at most and some even less so this is a big challenge for them.  It's also a challenge to me.  My ears go bonkers at this time.  I hear mistakes I've never heard before and turn into the nitpick queen.  I have to make sure I'm praising as much as I'm critiquing (sp?) their singing.  It's hard!  We all need to stay motivated and positive and not get bogged down in details.  Middle school chorus is a learning experience, not just a performance class....right?

Harry Potter

So last night I went with  my sister Erin and her husband to see the final Harry Potter movie.  They have watched and read right along with me since they were in college and I was student teaching.  Now, the movie made me cry more than once but this morning it's inspired a reflection on the last 10 years since I started reading the books.

The books were introduced to me while I was student teaching in an elementary school in Shendendehowa, NY.  I was hooked from the beginning and at the time the 4th book had only just come out.  Since then, I have taught in 7 schools in 3 districts in 2 different states.  I am at MA +57 with 60 right around the corner.  I have taught more kids than names I will ever be able to remember.  I am starting an internship that may lead me on a path towards administration...or away from it. 

I have finally found a healthy, happy relationship.  There was some trial and error along the way, and a few times that I vowed to give up and just be single forever because dating can be so absolutely horrific.  I am now married to a man with great integrity, a huge heart and who makes my heart flutter when I see him.  That smile makes me melt!  (P.S. We got to Skype last night, he's doing pretty well.  He was fixing computers for people and working on an excel spreadsheet for someone.  Some things never change.)

I have more true friends now than ever.  There was a very low point when I moved back to NY and I had a hard time finding where I wanted to be socially.  It's taken years and some failures along the way but I can say that I now have a solid group of friends who can count on me and I can rely on.

There have been constants along the way, my amazing family, my friend Michelle and "the girls" from HS.  I knew that even though we were separated by miles at times that we were always there for each other.  I was lucky for that and know they were integral to making it this far. Now, let's see where the next decade leads!

Oh, and yes, I LOVED the movie.

Back to School?

I spent this morning back at school.  Though at times a little frustrating, I realize that I actually enjoyed being there.  Considering that 3 weeks ago I couldn't wait to get out, this was refreshing.

This morning's activity was a 4 hour discussion group on "Hot Topics in Education."  The new review, observation and evaluation process for teachers (APPR)  was the majority of today's talks because it's so INSANE!  I see some of the good that is intended but overall it feels like these changes are being made so quickly with little thought that it can't help but end with more confusion that we are starting with.

After the forum I got a chance to meet with the administrator I will be working with for the next year as I complete my internship.  I am sure that there will be moments that I don't feel this way, but right now I think he's fantastic.  I appreciate that this administrator is honest, forthright and I don't feel that he's ever giving me a line.  Today he was very clear that my schedule for next year is pretty awful, as are all of the other chorus teachers in the building.  Not ideal, but I can manage with the truth instead of some sugar-coated line about spreading out the duties, blah, blah, blah.  I hope that if I am ever a principal I can be the same way.  I also suppose that I am going to have to come up with a pseudonym for this person....but am totally uninspired right now.  Maybe next week?

On a personal note, I talked to Sarge last night.  He's exhausted and busy but good.  He was eating a Hawaiian pizza and I'll admit I was a little jealous.  I love that because of Skype I can see him every now and then.  When I think about my grandparents writing letters and waiting weeks in between I know how lucky we are.

Tonight, Taste of Westchester with the family...so excited!  Getting a little dressed up and looking forward to a delicious dinner is my plan for the evening.  Pics and details to follow tomorrow!