It was one of those all brakes on days yesterday. We have a spring show to put on in about ten days and the kids decided that they wanted to play outside instead. Ordinarily, I would have taken their lead. It was a truly beautiful day. But we dutifully came inside and sang for about 45 minutes - a long time in the life of a child.
Twelve kids wouldn't sing. Then the twelve began to pull other kids out of the singing until we had a quasi chaos. Probably should have quit, but we pressed on till the end and twelve kids lost their happy faces. That's the most you can do with discipline. Warn, and follow through. Now they know we have to do this, and today will be better. We will reward today as well.
If we were singing five little this or that or some easy songs, it would be one thing, but our music program, although designed for fun is actually very hard. We will be performing the Praise the Lord psalm from Daniel and every child has a part. Then we will move to a song written for the psalm that has lots of parts. There is a chorus and some of the older children have solo parts.
The second song is a blending of the original Shaker song, Tis a Gift to be Simple, Arron Copeland's Appalachian suite, and the newer Lord of the Dance. There's an echo we're trying to do and it's really quite sweet.
We will be singing some for fun songs like "Would You Like To Swing on a Star, Mr. Maestro, and an African song. We will be singing a variation on the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Taps.
These are songs the children picked out. But they have to do it for it to sound like anything.
Yesterday in class, reading was tough and so was math. I suppose we are moving toward summer just like any school and the kids are restless. Otherwise, the behavior was OUTSTANDING. I have never been closer to a group of children nor feel more attached. I think Edith feels the same way. In fact yesterday we couldn't keep the hugs away. There was an actual line and that means more to us than anything.
Anybody have a tiller?
2 comments:
Hazel has a small tiller and can get her hands on a bigger one, just talk with her.
Stacy
Yes Judy we have a tiller. As you know, my other half is retiring so I might be able to lend him out with the tiller. Donna Daniel
Post a Comment