touched by the kindness of a child
This week might be called a work-aholic week for Ms. Sieber the music teacher. To summarize we are preparing to perform some songs from High School Musical and I am the director, stage manager, prop designer, stage hand, sound manager, choreographer, vocal coach and snack provider for my 3rd and 4th grade students. Needless to say, this has been a trying week. Since we began practices in late January I have struggled to get my students on the same page, as in we need to take practices seriously. So when half of my cast disappeared while I was helping a girl from the variety show who had broken her ankle I was less than happy. When I went to find my cast I saw all of my leads standing in a room. I walked in to hear my main male character lecturing the other students on how they need to step it up. The most touching part occurred when he mentioned that it isn't fair that Ms. Sieber loose her voice due to yelling. To explain a little better, previously in one of my classes the students had asked me to give a live performance and I explained that I'm out of shape and I have also found it difficult to sing since I started teaching due to the amount of yelling I've done since I began teaching. I can't express how touched I was that he would say this to the students and then mention it later to the entire cast. Even more amazing was when I entered the room I saw the students preparing to run through a scene, without being asked to get ready. My leads had taken charge and I sat back while they learned how to direct each other through their scenes. I did eventually step in, but to watch them jump in and take over, but for the rest of the practice they were much more attentive and when attentions seemed to run low I had several students yelling encouragements that each student listen and be prepared to perform the next song. I am very proud!