I told myself that the first couple of weeks of summer vacation, I was not going to do any work. I’m proud to say that I succeeded (mostly). Save sending a few emails here and there, I genuinely managed to turn off the part of my brain that is seemingly obsessed with thinking about lesson planning, music activities and program possibilities. I enjoyed celebrate my sister’s graduation, travelling to Nebraska to visit my grandparents, spending a week with my girlfriend’s family in Omaha, and then returning home to relax before looking ahead to the rest of the summer. With all of that completed however, I’m electing to turn my teacher brain on for just a bit to allow myself to reflect on what was a crazy Year One. This is an attempt to organize the jumble of thoughts that arise when thinking back over the last ten months, focusing on the success, challenges, something that I would change, and where to go forward from here. 

The Successes

The most obvious success from this year is one that I think many teachers will forget about, a success that is perhaps the most simple and most significant… we actually made it through this ridiculous year. Saying “we made it” might sound like an oversimplification. I would be the last person to dismiss the fact that many (teachers, students and families alike) were affected by the pandemic in a way that might not feel like “we made it”. However, it can’t be understated how seeing the other side of this school year is an achievement in itself. Any other year and I might not see simply making it as setting the bar high, but in a year laced with a pandemic, I think the bar had to have been elevated substantially. And to be fair, sometimes all you can do is make it. 

Beyond the completion of Year One, there was much to be proud of. I worked to change the culture surrounding music at my school, adjusting perceptions in the direction of the view that Music Class can be all these things at once: a place of learning, a place of fun, and a place that need not be feared due to the possibility that all those who walk in would have to *gasp* perform in front of other people. In fact, every class in every grade level accomplished incredible feats of growth as we put on virtual performances and in-person programs to cap off the school year. After graduating college, I wanted to work at a school where I could lay the foundations for a program that I could build from the ground up, and I’m happy to say that we’re on the right track.

The Challenges

Balance is a gift more than a privilege. At any point in life, something can tip the scale to one side or the other, throwing your day or week out of whack without any warning. If you’re like me and are one of those people who have a variety of interests and passions, you’ll know how hard it is trying to work a full time job while trying to manage the urge to fulfill those interests and passions. It was an unending battle trying to find a routine that would allow me to successfully teach, sleep, exercise, practice my instrument, work on my website/brand, keep up with sports and news, spend time with loved ones, maintain healthy eating habits, win my fantasy football league, knit, write, deepen my understanding of my faith, read, binge my favorite TV shows and movies… you get the idea. I failed to appreciate how balance would also involve removing some things from either side of the scale so that the whole thing would break, especially early on. As a result, I didn’t spend as much time working on my website. I elected not to watch as much TV. I cut back on the amount of knitting I was doing. I did however continue to exercise. I kept my healthy eating habits. I read more than I ever had in college. I did in fact win my fantasy football league (2 time league champion for the record). I deepened my understanding of my faith and attended virtual bible study almost every Wednesday. I picked some of the things that were important to me and set aside the things that I felt I could do without, at least until I learned to juggle more of the proverbial balls that make up life. 

With Year 1 out of the way, I have a stronger idea of what I can include in my life that isn’t specifically teaching related without overwhelming myself. I suspect that the battle to find that balance and routine hasn’t been won though. Each year brings new challenges and new opportunities which in turn adds more items to juggle. It’ll simply be a matter of deciding what to keep tossing around in the air and what to set down.

One thing I know I will change…

Falling into the trap that is the “Week to Week” mentality is so easy as a teacher, especially since we have to regularly adjust our instruction as we collect data and monitor the growth of our students. Ultimately, we won’t be able to avoid some part of this mentality, as it is a necessary part of effective teaching. However, it’s important not to lose a long term perspective, especially when teaching music. At times I would forget to look past the moment and fail to remember that I am preparing my students to produce a product, usually in the form of a performance. I will continue to adjust my instruction based on where my students are in their learning process, but I won’t forget what I’m trying to prepare them for, or forget that fact that the true end goal is helping them take at least some small piece of their music experience forward as they grow up.

Preparing for Year Two

Looking forward, in short, I plan to rest, relax, and practice my trumpet for the next month or so. During the last two weeks of June, I will be teaching music for our district’s summer school program four days a week to make a little extra money. At least one more vacation out of town is planned for July. I can return to my classroom midway through July to begin setting up for the new school year. As the weeks go on I will retool and revamp all that I created, developed, worked on, and learned from this part year as I get ready for an exciting Year Two. I plan to allow myself some time to continue to create content to go up on the website and social media, so be on the lookout for all that is to come!

Until next time…