A Good Teacher's Influence

I LOVE it when I come across great quotes, and I just read some amazing quotes about the power a good teacher can have on the lives of others. Albert Einstein said, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." I am sure that we can all remember one or more teachers who truly stand out as one who inspired us by their passion, knowledge, and dedication to discover and explore, to create and push ourselves beyond what we thought was possible. I am so grateful for the many wonderful teachers I've had who not only taught me knowledge and skills that have brought great joy into my life, but who also inspired me by their kindness, patience, encouragement, and love.

I love being a teacher. It is amazing to me how much I am constantly learning... about kids, about myself, how to create a positive learning environment, how to successfully resolve tough situations, the joy that follows a successful lesson. In one of my education classes, I learned that teachers are salesmen- we have to sell our subject matter to our students, and in a way that inspires and promotes them to understand its importance, and want to apply it in their lives.

I can remember a specific teacher I had in college who was just fabulous at creating an atmosphere where you felt so important and comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings. I felt like I left a better person each time I attended her class. I want my classroom to be like that, where my students are encouraged and inspired to work hard, and they know they are important, and that it is okay and good to push yourself and take risks. I heard on another occasion the thought, "I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care." Love is power. I think we are all teachers in one way or another. Our good examples and passion behind what we do, in the end, carries over into the lives of our students, or others, even more than the subject matter we teach.

"A teacher affects eternity;

he can never tell where his influence stops."

-Henry Brooks Adams

Supersticious

So, I laughed today at work when I read a note that I received from a little boy who told me last week that he wanted to quit music. I reminded him of the contract he and his parents had signed at the beginning of the year, which clearly stated that students are not allowed to quit music halfway through the year. It is a full year commitment. It's really not fair to quit when I have so many students who want to sign up for band, and need a school instrument to receive the opportunity. And this little boy has been using a school instrument, so I asked if he felt good about taking away that opportunity from someone else who would have used that flute all year. Well, I talked to his classroom teacher, who said she would talk to him about it. She counseled him that it was his choice, and he would have to deal with the consequences later on for quitting. Sure enough, he was set on quitting, so today he turned in his instrument, and I had him write me an apology note for quitting. His family is Vietnamese, and he wrote, "my parents recently heard that playing the flute is bad luck, and there have been bad things happening in my family lately, so I am quitting." I thought that was so funny!! (Not the part that bad things have happened, but it really made me laugh that they think the flute caused them), and I thought to myself "playing the flute has sure brought so many good things into my life!" :) Kids say the funniest things!

Valentine's Day Weekend

Abby and Jenny came up to UT this past week, and we had a great time playing with Abby, eating yummy food, going shopping, etc... I think Abby is going to be a great little musician when she grows up! She likes to sing and dance, and when we went on an outing to the Discovery center at the Gateway Mall, she really liked playing with the mallet percussion instruments that were provided for the kids to play with. I am so impressed how she is able to feel a beat whenever music is played. When I was playing the piano at home, Abby came in the room, and wanted to play, so I picked her up, and she sat on my lap, and "played the piano" for a while. It was really cute!!
This picture probably looks like Abby going down the slide, but it wasn't very slick, and cute little Abby got stuck before the ride ended.
Our budding musician. Abby can make a buzzing sound with her lips even better than some of my music students in elementary school who are learning to play a brass instrument!

This year was a good Valentine's day. Jenny and I decided to make "chicken curry in a hurry," and it turned out great! I got the recipe at a RS enrichment this past month, where we were given recipes that were healthy, and yummy. I love it when I find great recipes that taste good, and are easy to make. Have you ever heard of making brownies using prunes? I hadn't, and I decided to eat one at our activity. I know that it doesn't really sound that great, but they weren't that bad, more like the texture of cake, with fewer calories. Although, I'll probably stick to baking the double chocolate fudge kind of brownies that are always a winner. When it comes to chocolate, especially after having experienced the most amazing chocolate over in Europe, my taste buds crave the very best!!

New Instruments!!!!

Well, I received 25 brand new instruments from my grant for my music program this past week, and pulled them all out of the wrapping, and they are now officially a part of my eight school wide inventory!!! I am thrilled to have them for my students! And they are so excited!! I wish you could see the looks on their faces when I hand them a brand new instrument that they have waited for since the beginning of this school year. And now, after being so patient, and diligent in learning all of their fingerings and songs just at school, not only do they have their very own to take home and practice on -- it's brand new, and no one has ever played it before. They have been so sincere in their thank you's, and it has brought me great joy to be able to pass out these new instruments to my students in need. I was thinking how this experience is similar to how the Lord works. He blesses us so much, and I can only imagine His joy when we are truly thankful for what He gives us. I know that God wants us to be happy, and as we are faithful and patient, our blessings are added upon, according to His timing-- and things work out for the best.