Think back to the time in your life when you were most happy. How old were you? While I think that we can find things at every age that make us happy I'm not sure that anything quite compares to the pure joy and excitement of when we were kids. We got excited at things that now would make us yawn. This is one of the great things about being a teacher. Kids want to be excited, they long to be happy. They beg the adults in their lives to excite them. And that is one of the reasons it can be so rewarding to be a teacher.
This month their have been a lot of firsts for my students. More than a third of the marching band this year has never marched before. While this can make a teacher's job more challenging it has also made this month very exciting. First band camp, first time memorizing music, first parent show, first parade, first time wearing a band uniform, first picture day, first time being relied on by your peers, first band night, first football game; what a thrilling time.
"My kid comes home from band every day smiling", "My kid loves marching band", "He was worried that the upper classmen would be mean but they are so nice and he loves it", "My kid is excited for school to start for the first time ever!"
These are things I have actually heard from parents in the last two weeks. And let me tell you, nothing can make me happier as a teacher. My students have grown musically this month, but so much more important is the growth that has happened in them as people.
I want to challenge you today. I have used this phrase all month with my students and I am going to ask you to do the same thing...Add Value. Whenever you come in contact with someone ask yourself if you are making them better. Don't devalue people but lift them up by adding to their value as a person. And when you encounter a young person enjoy the excitement that they have for life.
This month their have been a lot of firsts for my students. More than a third of the marching band this year has never marched before. While this can make a teacher's job more challenging it has also made this month very exciting. First band camp, first time memorizing music, first parent show, first parade, first time wearing a band uniform, first picture day, first time being relied on by your peers, first band night, first football game; what a thrilling time.
"My kid comes home from band every day smiling", "My kid loves marching band", "He was worried that the upper classmen would be mean but they are so nice and he loves it", "My kid is excited for school to start for the first time ever!"
These are things I have actually heard from parents in the last two weeks. And let me tell you, nothing can make me happier as a teacher. My students have grown musically this month, but so much more important is the growth that has happened in them as people.
I want to challenge you today. I have used this phrase all month with my students and I am going to ask you to do the same thing...Add Value. Whenever you come in contact with someone ask yourself if you are making them better. Don't devalue people but lift them up by adding to their value as a person. And when you encounter a young person enjoy the excitement that they have for life.