Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Never Give Up! (SOLS)

This week I started playing my flute again.  I played the flute throughout middles school and high school.  After that, I grew tired of it and didn't pick it up again.  A few years ago, I encouraged my daughter to take band, hoping that she would play the flute and learn to love it as I had.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen.  I was constantly reminding her to practice, I paid for extra lessons over the summer, and was present at every school performance.  Still, she didn't show much interest in learning to play the flute, and I finally gave up.  That was a couple of years ago.  I remember reassuring my husband that this flute purchase was not in vein.  That I would take the flute and learn to play it again.  That it would become MY flute.

I dug out my old flute music, along with the music books I had purchased for my daughter, and I began to practice again.  I started reviewing the notes and a lot of what I knew started to come back to me.  I'm still in the beginning stages of playing the flute, and I'm nowhere near as good as I used to be.  However, I know that little by little, I'll get better.  The more I pick up that flute and actually practice, the better I'll become.

All of this reminds me of my first grade readers.  At the start of the school year, many of them were excited but apprehensive about reading.  Could they do it?  Would reading be difficult?  How much reading would they be required to do?  I'm sure those are some of the questions that went through there heads as they embarked on their reading journeys.   Those are the same questions that are going through my head as I embark on this flute playing journey.  Months have gone by and most of my first graders are very good readers, and all of them, every single one, has shown a tremendous amount of reading growth.  Some have had to work extra hard to make the progress they have shown, but they stuck it out.  Reading success is an important achievement for first graders.  It's the grade where students show the biggest reading growth.

If my first graders can work so hard at reading, I can certainly work as hard to learn to play this flute again.  Like them, I must demonstrate determination, desire, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude toward learning.  Most of all, I can't give up.  Thank you first graders for teaching me another important lesson.  Never give up!

10 comments:

  1. There is nothing like spending our days with those fabulous first graders, I agree. My group is always teaching me something , too like perseverance AND joy! The flute is so beautiful I know it is giving you such pleasure to play once more. I have always wanted to play the flute and because of your inspiration, along with first graders examples who knows? Thank you for sharing! :)

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    1. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed playing the flute. First graders are constantly teaching me things. They teach me to laught more too. They are fabulous:)

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  2. There must be something in the air: I took out my flute last week ... as did my younger sister ... as did a co-worker! I love that you let your experience lead you to your classroom, to your students. Excellent, thoughtful slice!

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    1. I hope you are enjoying your flute as much as I'm enjoying mine. My first graders are the best. They're beginning to look like second graders now.

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  3. Valerie,
    I think it is terrific you have started playing the flute again. I would bet you will pick it up in no time. I enjoy the way you connect so many of your experiences to the learning in your classroom. Your students are so lucky to have you.

    Cathy

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    1. Cathy,
      I really enjoy teaching the little ones and looking at things through their eyes. It's the best grade to teach. They're looking like second graders now. How about your kiddos?
      Val

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  4. I love your message of never giving up!!! I try to live by those words each and every day. Good luck with the flute . . . I believe you will soon be growing leaps and bounds!

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    1. Thanks so much. I'm enjoying the flute all over again. Fun times!

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  5. I love that you are taking inspiration from your wee ones. Sometimes I forget how hard it is to learn a new skill, like reading or writing. I also played the flute in middle school and high school. I think it's wonderful that you're playing again. It's hard work, but I remember it giving me much joy as well.

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    1. Mardie,
      I really do enjoy playing the flute again. Do you still have your flute? I love working with the wee ones. They are a joy to teach.

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