November 29, 2001
It was a typical day at the school. Noisy, somewhat chaotic, filled with tears as well as giggles, kids roughhousing, teachers dealing with assorted angers and resentments (He did….she punched…. they hurt my feelings…etc.) as well as wonderful purposeful work, much of it quite independent. After 18 years here I am still in love with this incredible place.
Let me tell you about my day-its successes, frustrations, joys.
9:25 to 9:45, time in June’s bookcorner, because Ian can’t come upstairs for music due to allergies to Jay’s cats. A nice calm period doing two American Play Party games, singing a silly song about a horse and a flea with added percussion, learning a Peace Round for our Dec. 13 presentation. The game, Weevily Wheat reinforces classsroom work in counting by 5’s. (I am constantly looking for ways to integrate music and other studies.)
9:45 – 10:15. June’s tiniest. We start Christmas and Chanukah and Kwaanza material. They are easily distracted, constantly talk when I’m explaining something, love playing any instrument, and hate when the class ends. I love them all dearly.
10:15 – 10:50 June’s older ones. A very able group, full of very high energy, eagerly singing and playing “Oh, Chanukah”, “It’s Santa Claus” and a Ghanian game for Kwaanza. I hear, as they descend the stairs, “Orff is the greatest!” or “I wish it went on all day”. Of course this warms my heart.
11:15 -11:35 A nasty day weather wise, and so our usual Middle Class dance period can’t be outdoors on the blacktop. Amidst great noise and frustration, finally ending in joyous satisfaction, they’ve learned “grand right and left” done in square dancing.
11:40 – 12:15 Younger Middle Classers Singing and playing on recorders a Spanish song, “Riqui Rin, Riqui Ran”. This group is totally delighted with their recorders and the progress they’re making. I adore their committment and zest. We continue with “It’s Santa Claus”. By the end of class it’s almost in presentable shape. Parents will LOVE this one.
LUNCH TIME Tooting is going on all over the building. I hear them playing songs I haven’t even taught them. They teach each other new notes, corner me to play for me, and so between my yogurt and fruit bites, I listen happily to Silent Night, My Dreidl, Good King Wenceslas, and Oh Chanukah.
1:20 – 2:10 Older Middle Classers What a hit the Spanish song is! We work on singing it, playing it on soprano and alto recorders, adding xylophone and drum accompaniments, and putting it all together. Nine kids let out a shriek of delight when it’s done. I suggest calling Kathey up to hear it. “Yes, let’s.” While waiting for her, they sneak in more practicing. Then up comes Kathey. We sing it, play it on recorders, then add percussion. Kathey is mightily impressed and the kids are in heaven.
2:15 – 2:55. “The Jay Group” These eight have volunteered to be in an Orff class. They are the most challenging group I have. They are noisy, frequently interrupt, often act totally bored, and at other times, wildly enthusiastic. Today I first taught them the Peace Round we’ll do on Dec. 13. Then a drumming session, with improvization. I kind of sneak in concepts of meter: 4/4 3/4 6/8 and introduce them to a typical Balkan rhythm of 7/8. They don’t know what the word “soft” means! But they seem to enjoy the drumming. Then we review a Czech folk dance called “Doudlebska Polka” They add their contemporary movements, utterly out of keeping, but I give them room and even enjoy it. Lastly they split into two groups to present to me and to each other the improvizations on assorted instruments they’ve been working on.
I find them good enough to present on the 13th. Out they tumble at 3 PM, sounding like a group of 25 not 8. I’m left to clean up the room, my adrenalin getting me through the exhaustion, and home I go, to rave once again to my supportive husband of how much I love teaching at the New School and how I hope it can continue for a long time.