Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Testing week

Stressful, apples, chewy granola bars, cheezits, and fewer glitches than usual.  I am proctoring a small group of students this year for the MEA testing, and they are students who are allowed extra time for their tests.  I was really fortunate to get these students, because they are quiet, well-behaved, take the test seriously, and use their time wisely.  One little girl sometimes, in class, blurts things out without raising her hand, but in this particular situation, she had several packs of gum, and she was quiet and discreet about everything the whole time.  I was proud of her, and proud of the whole group.  I don't know how they did on these tests, but if they didn't do well, it isn't because I didn't administer the tests correctly.  I am becoming a pro at this stuff, I never was given a group to test until the last few years, and now I am getting pretty good at it.

 I was stressed yesterday because first they put some other proctor and a different small group into my classroom when I was supposed to be teaching a class..but they fixed that.  Then, the classroom I was supposed to test in had classes in it, so they had to move me, but they fixed that too.  Finally, two of the kids didn't log in correctly, so I had to find an administrator to help me with THAT, but they fixed that too, and the rest of the day went smoothly. 

Testing seems to stress everyone out, more so the teachers than the students, because they are HIGH STAKES!! Why?  I still think there are better ways..but no one ever listens to moi, and then too many kids are labeled because of some way they performed on a state test..haven't we learned from all these years of studying this stuff?  Sadly, no..high stakes, expensive, stressful, anxiety-producing ridiculousness..who is in charge here?  Sadly, not me..but I will still do my best to make it as positive a week as possible.  Rock it, kids, and your teachers will love you forever, (and will keep teaching because you did well on a state test!!) Yikes!! 11 problems of high stakes testing obsession

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Can you stretch your limits, and be more than one person?

Ever since I watched the movie of “HIgh School Musical” and sang along with the karaoke version of the video I have wanted to do this show with my middle school players. It deals with cliques, relationships, and how people see you. Are you just the big basketball player in the school or are you capable of continuing your "macho" status while being an actor in a musical as well? Can you be the romantic lead in a show and be an intellectual too? Can you still be respected by your teammates if you stretch your limits? Can you be in two places at once?

As usual, art has been imitating life for years. In this case, we have students in this production who are also on a swim team, and others who are also on a volleyball team. These commitments have gotten in the way the whole entire time with rehearsals for the play. How fascinating is that? We are always trying to fit into everyone else's schedule, and it becomes a problem every year. Well, at least the show will document these problems, and maybe we will all learn that you have to make concessions for children to learn in many different ways, to find themselves, to experiment with all kinds of new ideas and art forms. The teachers in the show fight with each other about the importance of their disciplines, and they act like children themselves.

I have never gotten into a shouting match with any of the teachers over where my actors need to be, but I will tell you that I go home feeling quite defeated when major parts of the play leave early or show up late for rehearsals. We are now down to two more rehearsals, before the final ones in the gym, and I am hoping for the best with my actors and singers. However, there are still people who struggle to see the importance of a commitment to a production. In the end, it is not about that one person who is or isn't there, it is about the success of the entire production. It takes everyone's final commitment to make it work. All I can do is continue to have faith, and keep it real, like the drama coach in the original show.

Come see it and see for yourself: Thursday, March 29th, Friday, March 30th and Saturday, March 31st, at 7pm in the York Middle School Gymnasium. Hope to see you there, "Soaring, Flying, there's not a star in heaven that you can't reach"..

Friday, March 16, 2018

Welcome to the world of Middle School Musicals

This year is no different from any other year.  The incredible energy that is needed for this show is coming from me, not them.  I know it will all be fine when it is all done, but today I am worried, and I wake up in the middle of the night with the songs in my head, and try to teach the lyrics to the kids through osmosis.  So- the energy that I need is also lacking, because I am not sleeping, worried about all this STUFF!! That being said, I know that it will all be fine, because it always is every year. 

Every year for the past few years, for whatever reason, a student has had to drop out of the musical for one reason or another.  We end up replacing that person, often a main part, and it is often at the last minute.  This year is no exception, but the replacement is one of my all time favorite actors in the eighth grade who decided not to accept the part he was given originally, but now is thrilled to be solving a problem, thrilled to be swooping in and dealing with a crisis.  All the other cast members who know him just feel better that he is back and with us.  So- to all who may be reading this, practice your lines, your lyrics, your choreography, and let's have a great series of wonderful rehearsals and sail into tech week with all on fire and ready for prime time!!

Enjoy your Friday, and talk to you next week.  Yours always, Susan

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

More of the Twelve Bar Blues

They are particularly "blue" this year, which I love, so I will post some more..

My dog is dying, don't want him to go,
My dog is dying, don't want him to go,
It's been a month and still getting over it.

My dog is dead, don't know who to call
My dog is dead, don't know who to call
Still see him in my sleep don't know what to do.

Vacation's all done, how will I sleep in?
Vacation's all done, how will I sleep in?
Sleepy eyes, school bus already came.

Vacation comes, I'll sleep till noon
Vacation comes, I'll sleep till noon
I wish vacation would come again.

Jack's annoying, don't know what to do?
Jack's annoying, don't know what to do?
Oh ho, please just go away!!

Get off your xbox, 360, 1, and 1s
Get off your xbox, 360, 1, and 1s
Oh, well, I am now walking away.