Out sick

These past three, no probably four, weeks have been so rough. I fought off bronchitis for the first two, was out for an entire week with multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids. The following week, I saved my voice for the groups who are performing in musicals and copped out with the others by showing a movie. I felt a little bad but you wouldn't believe how productive I became while they were watching.

I'm working on filling up my "Sub crate" but it's a work in progress. One of the best things I came up with this year was a game I called (aptly) Music Memory. I created a group format of the age-old memory game that they played in teams and they loved it. The biggest praise of all was the note from the sub that said "this is the best game ever." It reinforced music concepts but required no musical knowledge on the part of the substitute. My hope is to eventually have multiple plans like this.

Any ideas for me? Even if you don't know music, is there something you always found fun or a game you think I could adapt?

Pirate Rules and Laws

I had to share this. A 5th grader named Qailah walked into class one morning and simply handed me a rolled up tube of brown construction paper. When I unrolled it, I busted out laughing. It was so clever.

This was from a student who doesn't seem to show a whole lot of interest in subject matter and simply likes to talk and be social. Just goes to show that often, they take in so much more than I think. 

Finally Got a Date!

We finally have dates for musical performances!!!!

I cannot tell you how this makes me feel. I am so tired of bugging our assistant principal (who was delegated the job of go-between) and having people ask when it was only to look like I don't know what I'm doing because I don't have a date. It's not for lack of trying people, I've been asking since September.

Anyway, the 3rd and 5th grade classes will be performing "Pirates! The Musical" on November 19th at 2:00 during school (avoids all the myriad of after-school issues) and the 1st and 2nd graders will perform "Squirm!" on November 20th at the same time. This is the week before Thanksgiving so hopefully teachers will appreciate the 'break' it will give them from having to try to instruct crazy kids. On the flip side though, that leaves me to try and corral some of those same kids into something resembling a successful performance :P but I'm confident.

I spent my last workday (hacking up my lungs with bronchitis, but that's for another post) creating a pirate ship on the back wall of our stage.

 
I also painted the "Jolly Roger" :) Who knew that acrylic paint could go through such thick fabric.... oops. Fortunately it seems like our lovely custodian managed to get most of it out of the carpet.

I'll have to get a picture of the final product, as I added a railing and portholes. I must admit, I'm a little proud of it. So imagine my feeling when I asked the 5th graders if they'd seen it and they said yeah but I thought you were building a ship for us to stand in. Who the heck do they think I am??

Anyway, we've been doing a lot of work, trying to learn lines and remember words to songs so as an extra little bit of assistance (they don't know yet) I have rigged up a projector and screen behind the curtain on the side so they can see their lines.

A full report will follow, with final pictures and eventually pictures and review of the performance but just thought I'd share my happiness on finally getting something done.

Do you have any non-responsive administration or frustrating issues like this?