Just as there’s a rhythm to the day or week, there’s a rhythm to the school year. In my mind, the stages of the year are: Review (Re-establish norms and basics) Run (Push instruction/challenge with new material) Reap (Watch the seeds of “review/run” come to fruition) Rest (Vacation/summer) The final step that closes the circle […]
teaching
Summer of Distractions
The summer of 2020 is the first summer I’ve ever had that won’t fulfill a specific need. At this point in the year, I’m generally desperate for some R&R, ready for a vacation, and excited to tackle new projects. The last few summers have been a busy mishmash of the three, and I’ve enjoyed them […]
Virtual World, Natural World
Every day I interact with my students through a screen. I make videos of myself teaching lessons, staring at my own reflection instead of into my students’ eyes. We communicate through stilted, typed comments instead of cheerful calls across the cafeteria and high-fives and the exuberant, cacophonous sounds of woodwinds, brass and percussion. I spend […]
To Care for Others, You Must First Care for Yourself
For about ten days in the middle of February, either I or one of my children was sick. It brought my life to a complete halt. I had to take a few sick days to care for me/us; I was hardly writing; I didn’t maintain most of my healthy habits. Everything else fell away while […]
The Value of Quiet
I had a chaotic day yesterday. From my daughter waking up early, to a rock band rehearsal in my band room when I got to school, through a busy teaching day where there was always a lesson or rehearsal going on, to my daughter’s dance studio after school, there was a constant stream of noise […]
The First Day of Band
This week is the first-ever day of band for my fourth graders. Yesterday was Beekman’s first rehearsal; today is Vail Farm’s. As my Beekman kids walked into the cafeteria in the morning, carrying their instruments to store on the stage, I called out to them. “Who’s excited for band?” When they called back, “I am!” […]