I rate this week a 3. It has been kinda an 'eh' week. I have really been struggling with all of the responsibilities. I feel like I am barely hanging on and I hate that feeling. All of these things I am responsible for at school are happening because of marching band. But I am conflicted because I still am a student and have all of these assignments. Just where is the balance? because right now I don't have any. The best part of this week was me talking to all the flutes and we are going to have a flute choir. This will be a flute choir of 12 people including myself! Non of the flute students have ever played on the bigger flutes before so I am excited to be able to give them this opportunity! This week I conducted more in front of the wind ensemble and I continue to gain more confidence. My biggest issue still deals with trust, the seniors of this program have a lot of ownership because they have built this program up. They were the first freshmen of the band and have been here all 4 years, so most of the seniors don't really trust me. That is where I have apprehension because the seniors act like I do things so wrong when I come up on the podium. I am hesitant in correcting seniors specifically because I always feel tension. If anyone has suggestions for that please let me know??!?!? One of my PDP goals is to gain more instructional technique for brass instruments and I found an article discussing how to help brass players move air. Which is what really controls most issues with brass instruments. I found the article very helpful and I took some of the info into mind for my next lesson. This week I used all my time wisely in one way another. What it boils down to is, should I sacrifice basic needs, like laundry, making food, and sleep. I rarely take time for myself soI am struggling in that aspect as well. Next week I must finish EdTPA. For data this week, I have really focused in on my freshman band and how they struggle reading music. So next week I am going to have a class period dedicated to working on sight-reading. Fellow student teachers, only advice I have taking away from this week is make sure you keep your laptop charged cause I forgot to charge it and it cutout on me during class one day this week.
NCTCS:
1) This week I really felt like I got to demonstrate leadership because I ran the entire marching band rehearsal during class on Tuesday.
2c) We have a string bass player who often feels let out because we don't really focus on him a lot since he isn't a "typical concert band" instrument. So I really wanted to make sure he knew his worth in this band and I made an effort to get him actual bass parts to all his music (instead of baritone) and I also got him music to audition for all-district and the south-central orchestra.
3b) I am focused on getting techniques to help brass. That is a priority for me right now.
4e) The bands only pit player in the marching band was having trouble identifying wrong notes when he played. So I worked with him separately and asked posing questions to get him to come to his own conclusions about what was wrong.
5) I am still doing my weekly KWL charts and I love reading what I have written week to week.
Most of my focus is still on EdTPA. My CE is doing fine. I just am looking forward to Monday when we all meet at Dr. Soja's home.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteYou're in a sticky situation with those seniors. That's probably tougher than anything the rest of us are dealing with. My advice is to just keep going no matter what and always show confidence. Even when you are wrong, embrace and confidently and quickly say you were and keep going. I think you are gonna be A O K :D:D:D
Best of luck,
Ben
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of the mid-semester slump. The important thing is that you continue to invest in the students the best you can. It seems like you are doing a great job with helping individual students-the brass player, the string bass player. I look up to you band instructors having to be comfortable with so many different instruments!
I hope the second half of the semester goes well for you. We're in this together...keep it up!
Chrysalis
There is no balance in student teaching. I wish that I could say that you’d be able to find it, but it is probably the least balanced time of your life. Teaching will be difficult, but the work will be different for sure. I think you’ll stay just as busy, but in a different way, that I think you’ll like a lot better.
ReplyDeleteFlute choir is really neat. When I watched you teach this, I really saw your joy.
I think some of the way that you can approach teaching the seniors and providing suggestions is to make sure that you give validity to what they know and ask them to try something different. Your CT also needs to back you up and essentially affirm the fact that even though you do things differently, that it’s also valid and can work. When I first got into my job, it was tough because there were some kids who really liked the previous director. And when I would do something differently than she did, that was hard. So, I always made sure to give HER methods props and say that there’s more than one way of getting to the same result, and that it would be worth it to try something new/different. It did end up working out okay for me. You may never get there with these kids. Don’t take it to hard. Those are your CT’s kids, and the seniors in particular may just never let you in. It’s not a failure on your part.
Glad you found something great for brass and used it effectively!
There are weeks in my life where I sacrifice all the things that help keep me sane. You can’t go like that forever, but there are sometimes extended periods where filth builds. I wish that weren’t the case, but it was like that even when I was teaching in K-12.
NCTCS:
So, with standard one, teaching class doesn’t really count as leadership (because that’s what you’re supposed to do anyway!)
2c) Now that, that is awesome! Yes. The poor string bass players! I’m glad you could focus on that student and help them feel important and valued (everyone needs that now and then!)
5) I love seeing your KWL charts too! I’m glad you’re doing them!
MCS
KD,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my situation with the older students wasn't as tough as yours. But my student did have a lot of ownership and leader ship. Since it's a really small student leadership staff, (1 drum major, 1 band captain, 2 wind section leaders, 1 percussion and 1 guard) they all had a lot of responsibilities and took pride in those things. After having a discussion with my CE, she addressed the leadership and things became a lot easier, and they all began to trust me a lot more.
If your CE addresses it, then maybe things will work out a little better. I do hope its gotten better since then though.
Heav