Never a dull moment

Wow. I think that's all I can say about today. Wow. If you follow me on Twitter, I'm blogging about my most recent post, about a couple of students.

In education, especially at the elementary level, there's never a dull moment. Really, there isn't. From watching kids throw up in front of you, to the silliest things they say that make you laugh, to accidents that can happen right on your floor, there's never. a dull. moment. And yes, I've witnessed all these events first-hand, and all 3 have happened this school year. :-)

But I digress.

I love getting new students. Over the few years I've taught, I wonder what exactly it is I like about getting new students. Could it be the new face in the room, the new personality to experience? As much as both of those are significant reasons for my love of getting new kids, I think what I like the most is that when you've got a new one, there are a lot of variables in place that can affect the child's experience with you, their new peers, and the new environment. So I think what I like the most is that I have a raw opportunity to give them a *positive* classroom experience; with our activities, rules and procedures, and so forth. That being said...

My first class, 5th grade, had a new student. [Sidenote: Now with almost 3 years of teaching under my belt, I love how I can tell when a student is absent, and when a student is new.] This new boy was from Russia (RUSSIA! - FYI, I love meeting people from other countries, I really do!) but had lived in NYC for a few years. His teacher told me there was a language barrier, as his English wasn't very good.

As I do with all new students, I went over the rules in my class. I asked him how his English was. In a very thick accent, he responded, "Not bad, but not good." He did say he understood everything I was saying. I told him the only Russian I knew was Da and Niet which mean "Yes" and "No" respectively. When I said that, he smiled and nodded. :-)

Today, the 5th graders were practicing their recorders, and since we're getting closer to the end of the year, I'm teaching them the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 5th symphony, as the melody consists of all the notes they know how to play on the recorder so far. Well, the new boy said he had never played a musical instrument. He recognized the music staff, but knew nothing about it.

Once the practicing was done, most of the kids were insistent on playing a game, and we played a famous favorite called 4 Corners. He had never heard of it before, of course, but I'd glance at him during the game several times and caught a nice smile. What does it say about me wanting to be liked by a new student? I think to myself, Okay, I  really want this new kid to look forward to music class. I hope they like what we do here! Once class was over, I handed him a recorder order form so he could buy one for himself. It seemed like class went well.

Then 4th grade came. Before I discuss 4th grade's lesson, let me mention this: When I arrive at school each day, it's a little routine for me to go to my classroom, drop off my stuff, log on to my computer, check e-mail, and then I go to the front office where I greet and hug the school secretary and our head custodian. Upon entering this time, I noticed a new face. I was sure he was either 4th or 5th grade. Blond (almost red) hair, blue eyes, just a really sweet looking kid. I didn't talk to him at all, just smiled in passing. Of all days, he turned out to be in the 4th grade class I'd see that day. Though I don't divulge names on my blog, I'll say this: he's the only one with his name I've ever met, and his name is a movie title. What was so fascinating about this one? He'd been homeschooled his whole life, and today was his first day, ever, in public school. Again, another raw opportunity to provide a positive experience for a first-timer. I had the honor of being his first public school music teacher. :-)

*sigh* I love my job. I'm happy when I'm doing it. And I love, love, LOVE  the people I work with. I can honestly say I do what I like and I like what I do. I'm very blessed. I don't know how I got this lucky to be doing what I'm doing, but I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.