Well, the voice is better, mostly. So it's back to school tomorrow! We'll be working on recorder music in grades 4-6, and all grades will be watching a portion of "Peter and the Wolf" with music by Sergei Prokofiev. Maybe I'll be able to preserve the voice till Christmas!
The past few weeks, I've been having some problems with my voice. In doing some research, I've learned about a condition called "teacher's throat" that results from having to project the voice to the back of a classroom over the noise of the students. Talking through so many classes each week, combined with four after-school choruses, has resulted in a hoarse, uneven speaking voice. My singing voice has become virtually non-existent, unless I push it beyond what I should.
Next Thursday and Friday are what my school district calls "fall break." I took off Tuesday and Wednesday as well. (I'm off on Mondays.) So, beginning today, I'm hoping to manage 11 days of rest--vocal rest, that is. I have some SERIOUS housecleaning to do!
So if I don't answer the phone, don't take it personally! I'm trying to keep my mouth shut. (Yeah, yeah, I know...a virtually impossible task for me!)
Mary Travers, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, passed away today from leukemia. She had battled the illness for several years, even received a bone marrow transplant that blessed her with temporary remission.
I remember my dad and I would sit and listen to one of their first albums, back when albums were pressed on vinyl. Our favorite song was "500 Miles." But of course, he taught me to sing "Puff, the Magic Dragon," when I was a young child.
Enjoy the videos. Mary Travers.
"Leavin' on a Jet Plane" was written by John Denver, another wonderful folk singer. He's in the video, too.
Isn't it sad, how many wonderful performers we've lost recently?
What a wonderful concert must be going on in heaven!
I've struggled a bit, trying to get prepared for school this year. Lots of "stuff" to sort through, lots of plans to make... I've had to force myself to "get with the program," so to speak.
In one of my first grade classes, there's a little boy who I will call "Paul." "Paul" suffers from a congenital deformity of both arms that resulted in shortened arms, misplacement of the elbow and wrist joints (or complete absence of the joints), and insufficient digits on the left hand. I don't know the name of the deformity or the cause, although I suspect from his physical appearance that it might be in conjunction with other issues.
I was teaching "Paul's" class a song this week about loving summertime. The kids were really excited about the song and about the opportunity to dance while they sang. Since I tend to participate in the singing and dancing with great enthusiasm, the kids also respond and participate with uninhibited enthusiasm. I looked over at little "Paul," whose face was shining with joy as he sang with all his might about loving summer. And I realized: here is a little boy who has been faced with difficulties his entire life, who cannot even go to the bathroom without assistance since his arms are so short. Every aspect of his schooling has to be different, to accommodate his physical limitations. But that day, in my classroom, "Paul" was just like everybody else. He was a six-year-old boy who was loving the music and singing with complete abandonment. For that moment in his life, he was no different from anyone else in the room.
To be able to give that child a moment during which he was the same as everyone else--what a great blessing! Suddenly the struggles to prepare for this school year clicked into perspective.
Yep. "Paul" made the struggles worth every second.
Finally, finally, FINALLY...we hear someone in Washington, D.C., who actually GETS what this proposed "health plan" is REALLY about! "Anti-health plan," is more accurate. Kudos to the Congressman from Michigan!
I had forgotten that my alarm clock has a "5:30 a.m." on it! Getting out of bed at that ungodly hour was pretty tough this morning. Today the teachers returned to school for the first of three professional development days. (I've been there every week, but not all day!) None of the teachers I spoke with are ready for school to start. It seems as if the summer has just FLOWN by!
Let's see...I took a week-long class on "Creating a Learning Environment." Marissa moved here the second week in June. My dear hubby and sweet girl took a four-day-long, 32-mile Trek in the northern part of the state, with handcarts . Dear Hubby also started a new job and is preparing to start a new business. Marissa went to Girls' Camp with several girls in our ward. And I've been preparing all summer to sing in one of the dedication choirs at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication (specifically, the Saturday choir at 3:00 p.m. this weekend). So I can't imagine why the summer seems to have flown!
I struggled getting up, as I mentioned. The drive to school--47 miles--seemed long today. Once I arrived there, however, I enjoyed seeing several of my colleagues again. We have six new teachers at our school, and meeting them was a pleasure. As the day wore on, I realized how blessed I was that Marissa had helped me sort HUNDREDS of flash cards given to me by a colleague. She probably saved me a day-and-a-half prep time.
I think it's gonna be a good year! I guess I'll find out when the students arrive on Thursday morning bright and early.
I chatted with a cousin on Facebook tonight--a cousin I haven't seen or spoken with in probably almost 20 years. We spent about 40 minutes reminiscing and then catching up. We were very close as kids, just two years apart in age and close friends throughout childhood. When she married, we drifted apart as people sometimes do.
I found the timing interesting. Today is my sister's birthday (Stardancer), so I've been thinking about family today. My cousin lives next to her mom. Her children and grandchildren live next door. I couldn't help but contrast that to my own life--children and grandchildren in Arkansas, Tampa, and here in Utah. (Only one lives with me--my youngest, Marissa.)
Talking with my cousin seemed to ignite a desire in me to reconnect with family. Some I've stayed in contact with, but some I haven't. I think it's time to renew family ties.
Mary Travers. 
. Dear Hubby also started a new job and is preparing to start a new business. Marissa went to Girls' Camp with several girls in our ward. And I've been preparing all summer to sing in one of the dedication choirs at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication (specifically, the Saturday choir at 3:00 p.m. this weekend). So I can't imagine why the summer seems to have flown!
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