Wow, I have such a cool job
Wow, I have such a cool job.
Yes, I said it. Though the life of a teacher isn't the most glamorous and "fabtastic" most of the time, and like most people I complain about my job a LOT, I've had such a cool day of realizations today:
1) I get to work with instrumental music students for all 4 years of their high school experience. Unlike most teachers, I get to see them grow each year for more than one or 2 years, both physically and mentally. Some of my students have grown TREMENDOUSLY in their instrumental/musical skills over the past two years, and it's just a phenominal occurance to see where they were and where they're going. And to see their attitudes change and the maturity levels rise... wow...
2) I went to the Junior prom tonight. All the "Hi Mr. Goldstein's," hugs, hand shakes,.... appreciative remarks that I was there.... then being BOMBARDED with kids who want my picture with them... I may be doing something right...
3) I get to work with all the bands at NHS, but my primary responsibities this year are to the Concert Band and Symphonic Band. The Symphonic Band has GROWN like you can't believe this year. Next week starts the huge 3 weeks of performance HELL... and the Symphonic Band has made me so proud and excited about the music that we're performing. Most of this came from the music we selected for them,... challenging, yet VERY fun and exciting to play AND to listen to. Selection of literature is KEY to a successful high school band... lesson is learned! We even sneaked a slow lyrical piece in there that they didn't notice would be on the "boring" side.... lol
4) Most of the PTA is crazy about me, as I have most of their students in Band and always keep them updated. They hope the budget passes so I can keep doing so many great things with their kids next year, even when Steve's gone. They have the faith in me. :-)
5) This was faculty appreciation week, so we had special dress days. So, I wore my pajama bottoms with a shirt and tie on pajama day,... I wore one of my Hawaiian shirts with a loosened tie on Luau Day, I wore a white shirt with red tie on red and white day (our school colors),...and I wore a full suit on "dress like your students day." I LOVED the attention from both staff and students. "Why are you wearing a suit!?!?!" My answer... "This is the way I think students should dress" and I'd leave with a smirk. The next day, I saw 3 of my band students wearing ties... for no apparent reason. Wearing a suit to work was great though.... I walked the halls feeling very confident from the way I was dressed,...AND I think my students reacted to me in a more professional manner than just a shirt and tie. The difference dress makes...
(So I still wore a tie to work everyday this week regardless of the theme...lol!)
I had a good week.
Let the chaos begin on Monday.
Yes, I said it. Though the life of a teacher isn't the most glamorous and "fabtastic" most of the time, and like most people I complain about my job a LOT, I've had such a cool day of realizations today:
1) I get to work with instrumental music students for all 4 years of their high school experience. Unlike most teachers, I get to see them grow each year for more than one or 2 years, both physically and mentally. Some of my students have grown TREMENDOUSLY in their instrumental/musical skills over the past two years, and it's just a phenominal occurance to see where they were and where they're going. And to see their attitudes change and the maturity levels rise... wow...
2) I went to the Junior prom tonight. All the "Hi Mr. Goldstein's," hugs, hand shakes,.... appreciative remarks that I was there.... then being BOMBARDED with kids who want my picture with them... I may be doing something right...
3) I get to work with all the bands at NHS, but my primary responsibities this year are to the Concert Band and Symphonic Band. The Symphonic Band has GROWN like you can't believe this year. Next week starts the huge 3 weeks of performance HELL... and the Symphonic Band has made me so proud and excited about the music that we're performing. Most of this came from the music we selected for them,... challenging, yet VERY fun and exciting to play AND to listen to. Selection of literature is KEY to a successful high school band... lesson is learned! We even sneaked a slow lyrical piece in there that they didn't notice would be on the "boring" side.... lol
4) Most of the PTA is crazy about me, as I have most of their students in Band and always keep them updated. They hope the budget passes so I can keep doing so many great things with their kids next year, even when Steve's gone. They have the faith in me. :-)
5) This was faculty appreciation week, so we had special dress days. So, I wore my pajama bottoms with a shirt and tie on pajama day,... I wore one of my Hawaiian shirts with a loosened tie on Luau Day, I wore a white shirt with red tie on red and white day (our school colors),...and I wore a full suit on "dress like your students day." I LOVED the attention from both staff and students. "Why are you wearing a suit!?!?!" My answer... "This is the way I think students should dress" and I'd leave with a smirk. The next day, I saw 3 of my band students wearing ties... for no apparent reason. Wearing a suit to work was great though.... I walked the halls feeling very confident from the way I was dressed,...AND I think my students reacted to me in a more professional manner than just a shirt and tie. The difference dress makes...
(So I still wore a tie to work everyday this week regardless of the theme...lol!)
I had a good week.
Let the chaos begin on Monday.