It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge prompt. Our current membership consists of Deb’s World, Suzy Turner, Within a World of My Own, Once Upon a Time, Happily Ever After, Cat’s Wire, Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa, and me. Suzy chose this month’s theme so I’m excited to read her post! Debbie is still traveling the world with her sister, mother, and aunt so she’ll be with us in spirit only (but I can’t wait to read about her adventures once she’s back). On top of the wonderfully different opinions and thoughts, the writing itself is wonderful! I hope you’ll visit all of these blogs because you are going to be amazed at, not only the diversity of ideas, but the stories of each person. As we consider ourselves a global group, if you’d like to join us, please let one of us know. We’d love to have more people from all over the planet! There’s also a link party at the end of this post!
If you’d like to join us, here are the prompts for the coming months:
- August – A Day in the Life
- September –
- October – Birthday
- November – Superstition
A little history…
About five years into my teaching career, I started going to CLASS (Connected Learning Assures Student Success) conferences. This was Indiana’s version of HET (Highly Effective Teaching) which had been ITI (Integrated Thematic Instruction). I gave up weeks during the summer to attend them. Then, when our school was finally admitted to the CLASS program, the state pulled funding. Our corporation decided to continue with it and contracted with the originator of the whole program, Susan Kovalik. I’ve written about that before (you can find that here). While there were a lot of things I didn’t really like or even find useful, one of the things the program included was the need for movement throughout the day. Basically, they were saying, “If you sit on your butt too long, your brain quits learning.” So, we would have brain breaks. Some times, that was as easy as taking a biology break. My classroom was the last one at the end of the hallway, and the restroom was at the other end. That got the blood flowing for my students. But, a lot of the time, we would dance!
Groove bones…
I’ve mentioned this before (just recently, I think) that my students would actually beg me not to sing! I still did. The thing is I dance much worse than I sing. For some reason, though, the kids seemed to like that! I have absolutely no groove bones…not even in my little fingers! The photo above actually looks a lot like my classroom though my hair never got quite that bad. But, that was pretty much the orientation of my room…weird how AI (I know, Cat, I know) can do things like that. Anyway, the last five or so years of my career I had a SMARTboard which was an interactive white board. One of the things you could do with it was to put up videos or songs. There was one the kids loved, but search as I might, I could not find it. It had windshield wipers, lawn mowers, the Carlton dance, and so many other things. Oh, it even included part of the dance from “Saturday Night Fever.” My kids loved it, and so did I. After dancing for a bit, we’d go back to work, and, quite honestly, the kids were less antsy and paid better attention.
These days…
I look back on my teaching days with so much love and regret and hope. I absolutely loved being a teacher, and I truly believe it is the best job in the entire world. I regret, almost every day, retiring early. My hope is that each and every one of my students continues to dance. To lift up their hands in celebration, move their feet joyously, and, perhaps, remember that weird but fun and kooky fourth grade teacher they had. I hope they have so many reasons to move through this world with wonder, delight, and high expectations. I hope they are dancing with joy, with happiness, with sadness, and with anger. I hope they are dancing to the tunes only they know. I hope each and every one of them is daring to dance even when that’s the last thing they want to do. I hope each one has a special dance of gratitude and thankfulness. I just really hope they “dance like no one’s watching” because that’s the best dancing there is. I know it sounds corny, but when you do that kinda dancing, you know there’s something powerful at work.
Dancing…
One of the things I always wanted Nigel to do was to take ballroom dancing lessons because he can’t dance, either! I never pressed him on it, but I surely wish I had. Even though I don’t have any groove bones, that doesn’t stop me from dancing, especially when no one is looking! When the feeling hits, you just have to move. You may be awkward. You may be a total klutz. But, if you’re moving to the music (even if it’s in your head), you’re surely dancing because it feels right.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I think this was all over the place, but that’s what you do when you dance, right? I see dancers of all kinds and wish I could get my body to move like that. I mean, I can’t even get my hands to bend into those graceful shapes you see ballerinas make. Does that mean I don’t dance when the feeling hits? Nope…well…it depends on where I am! I hope I made a little bit of sense here! So, can we talk? Do you have any groove bones? Where do you dance? Have you ever taken dance lessons? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
What others are saying…
Suzy “shares why dancing has meant so much throughout her life, and how one night on the dance floor changed everything forever.”
Cat “has ambivalent feelings about dancing.”
Sally “discusses why she can play music but she can’t dance to it.”
Amy “shares thoughts on dance through quotes and lyrics as pertaining to her life history thus far…”
Leslie writes, “this month’s prompt – dancing – brings lots of things to mind: a favorite memory, ballet, and a great Ginger Rogers quote. Which will she write about?”
And, now, it’s your turn!
If you’d like to link up your posts about sunshine, you may link up here or at any of the other blogs!
I once called myself a strict chair dancer. I move to the rhythm, but I don’t dance. Who knows, maybe it would have been different if I had been in your class. You say you can’t dance. Seeing you doing it, anyway, might have helped with ignoring the own awkwardness?
I like the idea of breaks like that in general, especially for younger students.
Thanks, Cat! I am a car dancer! If a song comes on with a really good beat, I’ll crank up the radio, and dance away!! Nope, I honestly can’t dance…I had an instructional assistant tell me it was funny to watch me try to catch the rhythm!! But, fourth graders don’t care if you’re Gene Kelly or not. I think they actually liked that I was so bad…except for the singing! We would even just march around the room for a few minutes if no one wanted to dance. But, that was rare.
I bet all your students remember you with such fondness, Marsha! I know I would have done! A teacher who lets everyone dance for a little while throughout the day? That’s just brilliant!!!
I’ve never been able to get my fingers to do that graceful thing either LOL!!
Brilliant post, Marsha!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks, Suzy! We were always doing things in my classroom. One year, I had a special needs student who struggled with attention as well as flaccid muscles. When I suggested a balance ball, everyone thought that was a wonderful idea. Well, of course, the rest of the students wanted their own so I let them. The only problem I had was when I fell off the daggone ball! We did have to figure out a place to put their actual chairs, though. I just loved teaching and making it fun as well as educational!
I’m glad to know even you can’t do that graceful hand thing! How do they do that?
LOL it’s always baffled me too!
I so wish you had been my teacher!!!
xx
It would have been fun being your teacher, but I would have been only about 18!
I can’t believe I forgot to talk about dancing in my classroom! I bet you were the best teacher, Marsha. Kids do need to get up and move. In high school, I would try to get them up at least once a period (50 minutes) even if it was to pick up a paper or something silly that I could have done for them. I even told them why I was intentional about that. I made up some dances to help them learn things, too. Some did the moves and some just stared at me. Fun memories!
Thank you, Amy! We had so much fun in my classroom…thank goodness it was at the farthest point from the office! Our principal liked kids in their seats and quiet! But, where’s the fun in that? I can’t take credit for getting them to move, but I can claim a bit of credit for having them dance! We had chants and cheers we would do that went with our classroom themes, too. Yeah, there are always those kids who don’t want to embarrass themselves…even at 9 and 10 years old. I’m surprised you didn’t talk about dancing, too!
I love dancing Marsha, but do it badly. I dance when I’m cooking, cleaning etc.
My in-laws ( husbands parents) where champion ball room dancers but my husband doesn’t dance – on,y dad dancing.
Keep dancing Marsha and what an inspirational teacher you were.
Aww, thank you so much, Linda! I do hope I inspired some of my kids. I should dance when I clean…it would make it more fun! I tend to car dance a lot! Now, that is cool that your in-laws were champion ballroom dancers! But, that would be a bit intimidating at the same time.
You know, they say that sitting is the new smoking, and you were way ahead of that curve.
And dancing is very subjective, so just moving and grooving is a good thing
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I can’t take credit for the moving…that was part of the HET mindset. But, the crazy dancing…maybe! We also danced to REM’s “Stand” when we were learning cardinal directions!
Classroom dancing sounds like fun.
Thanks, Rosie! We had a lot of fun! I always wondered why my classroom was so loud. Then, I realized it was me! I was always doing things to make the kids loud! I’m hoping they look back on those years and laugh a little bit. I also hope how much I loved reading to them.
Oh you must have been such a amazing teacher! I’ll bet you changed a few lives. On my 20s I used to dance all night in the clubs, loved it!
Oh, thank you, Nancy! I really hope I did. I wish I’d done things like that in my 20s, but I had three little kids then. While I wish I had done that, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t have my kids or my grands. I can just see you in the clubs, though! I bet you’ve got some moves!!
Less on dance, but the regret of retiring early is proof that you loved what you did. Retiring at any age would have probably filled you with regret. So I think you can appreciate a life well lived. And that for many people is rare. Yes, getting lost in dance is the best feeling….
Thank you for that thought, Lydia! You are so right; I would have regretted retiring at any age. Oh, you have made my day! Dancing with my students was one of the best things ever! And, getting lost in dance or music or art…any of it is wonderful! Thank you again!
This is so fun! Your kiddos were lucky to have to. And I hope you and Nigel do eventually take ballroom lessons. I feel like dance is such a beautiful way to connect to each other 💃🏾
Thank you, Edi! I hope my students enjoyed my classroom. I know I did though, and Jordan can corroborate this, there were some tough times, too! I really hope we can, but being able to do it and getting him to do it are two different things (as I’m sure you’re learning). I have this feeling you’re a very beautiful dancer!
My kindergartners loved to dance. We even had a dance residency as part of our curriculum and I was always reminded of how some children who didn’t always shine in other areas of the school day would come alive during this time. We need to keep the arts in our schools and not lose sight of the impact it can have on all students! Our daughters were dancers and at one point even danced seven days a week. They were both part of a professional troupe for a while which could be stressful (for all of us) but also gave them such a creative outlet! These days, I love watching our grandkids dance around the house and, of course, I have to join in, too!
Thanks, Laura! That is absolutely amazing you had a dance residency as part of your curriculum. Did you study the various intelligences? We were encouraged to try to find the intelligence in which a student shined and then polish it up while helping along the others. That’s so wonderful your daughters were dancers. I really would have loved to have taken dance lessons when I was younger. But, I can’t even say I have two left feet because my left foot is the really messed up one! There really is nothing like watching your grands dance, sing, and enjoy life! I remember dancing with mine, but all three of them are teenagers and too cool for that now.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the kind of teacher students never ever forget. And because you did break into song and dance with them, I am certain they tried their best to follow directions, exhibit their best behavior and do their best work. I am sure they all had impressive growth during their 4th grade year with you. In Texas, 3rd grade is the first dreaded state testing year and so much of the fun of learning drops off for benchmarks. If only everyone could return to teaching with joy and enthusiasm.
In subbing, I try to give brain breaks, too. But sometimes I find that I give the kids a little structured down time and they have trouble returning to task when the time comes. I have never been a firm disciplinarian so maybe I let things go too far??
Marsha, I loved this post. I so enjoy hearing about your passion for teaching, the things you did, and your continued love for you students and wishes for their lives. Thank you again for being THAT teacher.
Aww, Leslie, now you’re going to make me cry! I do hope my students remember me with kindness and maybe even a bit of love. Well, we did sing and dance, but that didn’t guarantee good behavior. In fact, I always wondered why my classroom was so loud. I finally figured it out…I was always winding them up!! When I retired, that testing began in second grade in Indiana. But, we had standardized testing beginning in kindergarten in our corporation. It felt like that’s all we did. I don’t know anymore (I’ve been retired 14 years already) if it’s this way anymore, but we actually had a time table from the state on when we had to teach what. And, if your class or a student didn’t get it, you still had to keep going in order to cover all the standards before the tests. It really did suck some of the joy right out of the teaching. But, gosh, how I loved teaching and still do! When my kids walked in the door in the morning, it was SHOW TIME!!! I really loved making teaching creative and fun for them and me!
Maybe, you’re giving them a little too much time. I think I read it varies by age just like homework. I was never a really firm disciplinarian, preferring to get to the bottom of the problem by talking and problem solving with the student and/or class. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. If I knew how to put a heart on here, I would do it!
Hi, Marsha – I just love that feature photo and thank you for the humorous writing! I enjoyed this – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I was honestly shocked when I saw it because it was almost exactly the way my classroom was before the SMARTboard was installed. It even has something about 4th grade. It’s almost spooky! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post!
When talking goofy schoolroom dancing, I can’t help but think of this Matt Damon SNL skit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuMFryxHmD0
OH, MY GOSH!!! Those were the looks I’d get from my students when I’d bust out a song! That was hilarious…I can’t believe I never saw it. Poor Rick…