"The free play of art is the result of mastery. " --Ernst Fischer, The Necessity of Art

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." --Ladybird Johnson

"...a well-trained ear, a well-trained intelligence, a well-trained heart, and a well-trained hand...." --Zoltan Kodaly

2/26/11

Resources: Video

Today's learning link is to a two-minute (or so) video by Alan Watts....just a bit of thoughtful fun for the start of a new work week.

Watch, here.

(Surprisingly, I saw this first, not on youtube, but on a good small personal finance site called The Simple Dollar.)

2/7/11

Resources and Rejuvenation: Tunes

Some joy from Louis for your Monday morning: "St Louis Blues".

1933 talks to 2011...technology is amazing, sometimes.

Catch it, here.

2/4/11

Reality: daily life

Second Grade, this afternoon...


Me    Oh, would someone close the door?  Matt  forgot.

Arthur  (another student)   He always forgets.  He'll never learn.

Me (and other children)   Arthur!  That's not fair.  Just because someone made a mistake doesn't mean they'll never learn.

Arthur    Well,  he won't.

Me     Hey, wait a minute.  Everyone makes mistakes.

Arthur    Not me.

Me  (laughing)  All right then! In that case, that was your first one---because EVERYONE makes mistakes.  Even grownups.  It's just part of being human.

Arthur    Nope.  Not me.  I'm nearly perfect.

Me (smiling incredulously, because he was clearly utterly serious)   Well, good for you. But no one is perfect.  That's why we have to give each other some space to learn.

Arthur   Well, not me.




*Arthur and Matt are, of course, not these 7 year old students' real names.

2/3/11

Reality: daily life

From a First Grader, as she walked out of the Music Room door at the end of the line, back to her classroom:

Leslie*    I want a little sister.

Me          Really?  Little sisters rock, you know. 

Leslie*   Well.....I want Mommy to have another baby, but she said that I'd have to ask Daddy, 'cause he makes all the rules.



*Leslie is, of course, not this hopeful big sister's real name.

2/2/11

Reality: daily life

From classroom teachers' stories about talking about Martin Luther King, what racism means, and how kids can help to change things:

from the First Grade Classroom....

Teacher    Does anyone have anything they'd like to add?

Francine*    Yes! My Mom shows racism, 'specially during the winter time.

Teacher   What do you mean, Franny?  Can you explain that a little more?

Francine*   Oh yes!  She's mean to mice, she catches them in a trap, so she shows racism.

and from Fifth Grade:

Teacher   Would anyone like to add anything about the movie and discussion we had today?  Did anything confuse or surprise you?

Danny*    Well, I would.  I was surprised to hear  that Martin Luther King worked to end puberty.

Teacher    Hmmm....he worked to end puberty?

Danny*   Oh.  That's not the right word, is it?  It starts with 'p'.   Let me think about this for a minute.
 Oh!  I meant, 'poverty'...



*Danny and Francine are, of course, not these students' real names.