handwritten on May 31, 2019
I have never witnessed a more magical moment. Truly, May 31, 2019 was probably ( to date) one of my proudest moments as an educator. I had a discussion back with my principal (Dr. Fischbaugh) at the end of last year. My ending question was, "What is it that I need to improve upon as an educator." The words back were the following: "I would like to see you as more of a leader in the community."
Therefore, when I found out I had the opportunity to create my own action-research project this year, I was quite excited. I think the purpose of a good action-research project is one that:
Forces you to think about your weaknesses
Pushes you to reflect upon an issue within education and actually "...
handwritten on May 30, 2019
Today was a day of sleep deprivation and jitters. Quite literally, it felt like everything was shaking inside of me. Interestingly, I reflected upon the times in which the jitters had occurred and I came up with the following memories:
Tryouts (any instrumental tryout)
Recitals
Important tests
Final performances
Singing in Church
Listening to others perform
Watching the Sunset
A large community race before the gun sounds
My first day of my first job
The last day of school
Teaching alone for the very first time
Playing the piano in a room with glass windows overlooking the beach in High School
You know, I used to think these jitters were a sign of pure nervousness. Now, more than ever...
handwritten on May 29, 2019
Due to childcare, lots of schools have done away with what is known as the “half day blues.” Our school however still implements these half day schedules into our calendars. As a creature of habit, I constantly looked upon these half days as half empty cups of despair. Students complete half the work containing half the magic with half the smiles and half the laughter and somehow double the stress. But today, for whatever reason, that glass half empty was half-full. I think sometimes we need to realize that magic isn’t always created with a full cup. A half cup gives you a sprinkling of lives and allows you to focus in on more intimate problems and their solutions. I had a conversation...
handwritten on May 28, 2019
Today was our Tedx rehearsal and it would be an understatement to say that I felt a tsunami wave of anxiety roll over me. Nothing is more unwhimsical than bringing 13 students to the middle school and realizing they aren’t ready. You aren’t ready. No one is ready. Which brings me to my perception and reflection regarding readiness. If readiness indicates whimsy or lack thereof. Then, in my life, I’m always without whimsy. As someone who is type A, I constantly equate readiness with perfection. Except, I never feel ready. Half-way through our rehearsal, I was reminded of a quote I head read just a few hours earlier-one chosen as the “favorite quote of the year” by one of my students. “A...
handwritten on May 28, 2019
Today was one of those days. It was one of those days where you put your clothes on backwards accidentally and then you put the socks on the wrong feet, you spill your coffee, you accidentally print your papers single sided instead of double sided and everything feels just a little bit off.
I'm a creature of habit, so anytime I see a day going off the track a bit, I do get a bit disheartened. Not to say I completely shut down, but it's like when you know you are wearing your shirt backwards and you're trying to make it through your day but that little tag keeps scratching your neck as a reminder that even though you are trying to make things right..things are still a bit topsy turvy.
We...
