Comments from Peers on PLP

David: I love how you were able to share with us about how to motivate our students while giving us pointers on how we can implement each idea in the classroom. You provided us with feedback on your research. You spoke very clearly and I could tell that you took time in preparing your speech. Thanks for sharing.

Louise: Even though I am not a music teacher, I really took a lot from your presentation that I can start to apply in my classroom. You consistently talked about how we could motivate our children and what we could do to be better. You were very energetic in your approach and you gave us enough sources to prove that you knew what you were talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know that it would be a total success at the MENC conference.

Wimba Week 4

On this wimba, I got a lot of insight as to how the website we have created ties into everything. It kind of makes me nervous to think that I am about to turn it all in for a grade. I think I am so used to assignments where you have to turn it in before 2 weeks is out, that a year long assignment makes me kind of edgy.

Thank you for being a wonderful teacher and answering any questions that I needed. I always appreciate good teachers that are there for you because I have had some that were just there for the check and really didn't care if you learned or not. So thank you!!!!!!! Wish you all the best!!!!

Comments: Stephania Vereen

Week 4 Reading - The Art of Possibility Ch 9-12

http://www.el3mentsofwellness.com/living-in-your-possibilities

Reading through this book was like one big exhale.  Each of the chapters provided great insight and fit into my life at the very moment as I was reading it.  Maybe it was me allowing the possibilities of what I can learn from this book to take over.  Whatever it was, I found this book to be thought provoking, engaging and a reality check in so many ways.  Each chapter provided direct insight into thought processes that I needed to deconstruct and new ideas to approaching life.  It opened up my eyes and reinforced some lessons I have been learning through my own personal journey of growth.

http://www.en-derin.com/artworks/faux-photoshop-15-incredible-images-that-look-altered-but-aren’t

Sharing the things I've learned in this book is one of the main ways that I will "pay forward from my universe of possibility".  I think it will benefit those around me to see me processing things and living life a bit more open to understand the impact of this mind shift and hopefully see how it can work for them.  The possibilities are truly endless and my own creation of those possibilities for myself opens up my world to a brand new existence.  I am rejuvenated, I am free, I am able to inspire and reach more than I thought I could.  My passion and enthusiasm have always been what draws others to me and what propels me to share things that inspire me.  After reading this book, I think my spark will shift to an eternal flame.

http://asads.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/possibilities/

Wow, I really enjoyed reading this! It was like an expression of how you felt that didn't deal with a summarization of what you read, those words came from the heart. i'm glad that you are rejuvenated and willing to do anything that you put your mind to. Thanks for being so artistic in your approach!

Comments: Helen Xiong

Wk 4 Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12

Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Gallery

As I continued to piece together what I wanted to write about this week's reading...I came to the conclusion I am going to blog backwards...the ending to the 9th chapter. Roz and Ben were very storng throughout the reading and continued to end the book with WE being emphasized and I think it needs to...they are sooo right. We can't do anything on our own and that will continue to make us put strong judgements upon ourselves but we need to learn to accept the things around us and to adapt and understand what WE can do and what WE can evaluate and fix and accomplish. It is funny but the last chapter a lot of their examples, words, and sayings really hit me but every time I came to a capitalized 'WE' it made me reflect upon myself and how I need to use this methodology of WE more often. It made me really reflect upon my CBR and how WE (students and myself) made it work but they were the WE. I always tell my students that WE work as a classroom and WE need to support one another...like we are a team and a building structure that leans upon each brick. Ben and Roz really pushed for the WE aspect and to do a clear reflection on weather or not we are considered the board. 

As I also reflected upon the reading, it made me really realize that we need to take everything we go through one day and one example at a time. Roz and Ben gave so many enlightening stories that we need to be aware of the things around us and to take advantage of giving others A and a chance to make mistakes and be themselves. I strongly believe that everyone needs to read this book and that I NEED to reread this book during the winter slump in great old Wisconsin because the snow really does drain us of the lacking recesses and fresh air that is highly needed to keep us motivate and open minded to keep moving forward. 

Ben showed great characterization when he reflected upon his own life and examples and what he didn't understand or deal with when he went to be on the board. He really interpreted the things around him and noticed that he was wrong and he told the truth of what was going on even though he didn't want to hear it himself. We as humans need to do this and understand that pride is one thing but being prideful is another. 

We need to continue to see the world in the half full aspect and that we aren't always right. We need to be the board and challenge ourselves to really dig deep and reflect upon ourselves. 

The story that hit me the hardest this reading was the story of Ben and the Eastlea school and it really made me reflect upon my goals as a high schooler wanting to teach inner city and make a difference in the lives of my students...the lives of those less fortunate...that didn't have the things that I did or the family stronghold I did. I continued to look back at this a regret not doing what I was passionate about. But after reading Being the Board and being the conductor and spark....I can be the difference maker in the school I am in and touch the lives of each of my students I have now by allowing them to be the conductor and the board and the spark and giving them an a.....

You are so right! WE do make a difference and there is no I when it comes to educating the students. As they learn, we learn! Thank you for sharing your take from this week's reading! Through reading your post, I feel that you know more about your worth as a teacher!

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership project part 2 of 2: MENC is for me!

While I was in college pursuing my Music Education degree, one of our requirements was to attend 5 sessions at the annual MENC conference. I went to school in Greensboro, NC and the conferences were held in Winston Salem, NC every year. They would send out the memo for the entire 4 day conference and throughout the day you could attend whatever sessions you thought suited you. This is the venue in which I want to share my research and findings through a presentation.

I would present all of my information in the form of a key note presentation and provide them with some quotes from my research that details my findings. MENC caters to all of the music educators in that district and surrounding areas. I would love to present something different every year as well as showing them how I implemented all of my ideas into my classroom.  I would give the music educators pointers and things that worked for me and we could all share on our personal experiences. We all know that each class and student is different but by working together we can better educate our students.

After presenting to the other music educators, I would share emails so that we can keep a email chain going and share ideas more than just once a year. Some days I think it would just be good to hear how certain things worked for others.

Here is a copy of my presentation that I would make during the conference.

files.me.com/ladytee2/mwvcvw.key.zip

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership Project Part 1 of 2: Making choices

For my Publishing Leadership Project, I was given the option of submitting an article or doing a presentation. I have decided to do a presentation. I have decided that this is the best way to get my ideas across and help other people like myself. This presentation will discuss my research and how I was able to implement my findings in the classroom. I would want to show this to other music educators and I am still looking for the platform that best fits what I am trying to do.

Week 4 reading: It's Just Better That Way

Our society today has changed drastically from what it was before. So many people use cell phones as a means of communication and even to handle business. I had to learn the hard way that some things just really need to be done in person. I love the story that he told about his father and how he father taught him a valuable lesson: "Some things are just better to handle in person". When texting no one knows your true emotion or how you said it so in the long run it can lead to more trouble when you could have just met up with the person to have the conversation.

I love this fact he stated in this book which says "I am the framework for everything that happens in my life". I work at an Elementary school and we all know that these grade level students are always quick to blame someone else when caught doing something wrong. In actuality, we as adults still have this problem sometimes. We blame someone else so that we can feel right!! I wish that he would have took the story from a different standpoint like this when talking about the car wreck issue. So here is my way of describing this story: A drunken, young girl immediately slams on her brakes to stop for a car in front of her and the person riding behind this young girl runs into the back of her car. In North Carolina if you hit someone from behind you are at fault regardless. If you look at the story, the person that would automatically be blamed in a line up is the drunken, young girl because she is drunk. So we must remember that we are the framework for everything that happens in our lives. We control ourselves!

Last but not least, Love is neither about self-determination nor sacrifice. It is a context in which two people build the life they want together. In a marriage, we may have to sacrifice some but the most important part is that we are building a life together and the more you build the happier you are as a unit.