Week 4 comment rick

The Last Blog about The Art of Possibility, Week 4

We know from previous blogs how much music means to me, which is why my last blog about The Art of Possibility will focus on the last chapter, which is about the New England Conservatory Youth Orchestra. The first quote that sticks out in my mind is “When the door of eye sight closes, what door is likely to open? Listening”. When 88 people choose to work on something with a common goal in mind things either go amazingly well or tremendously wrong. This is true in a classroom, a sports team, or an orchestra. The musicians in the story had evolved from playing music from memory to play music from their heart. Dvorak’s New World Symphony is a fabulous piece of music yet very tricky play.

                                                     Nate Stemple in the Marlboro Middle School Band

                                                     Photo by Rick Stemple

On a side note, and reference to my other blogs, Dvorak is a great example of why we do need copyright laws, Dvorak died penniless, alone, and in poverty in an apartment in New York. Almost immediately after his death his music became popular and was recognized as one of the great composers of the time.

The Art of Possibility had another great moment from the author was talking about how great the performance of Dvorak had been. He said “ it was a high point not only of the to work, but also of the year, and it took place in a small town between the major engagements, where nothing of importance was likely to happen.” As an old friend of mine used to say “ the Angels are in the details”. I know the quote is “ the devil is in the details” but we always try to be positive for the students. It is not always the big performances that make education and performing great, it is the learning moments in the classroom and in the practice room that you remember the most.

The authors use a musical term to describe the ending, or in this case the code which is Italian for tail. The authors describe the book is not a self help book, but as a tool for transformation. A transformation from a person who meets challenges that life serves up, to one who designs the stage on which life plays out.  What a great idea, and how do we achieve this transformation? Through practice, lots and lots of practice.  Just like performing or teaching, you only get better by doing it over and over again. Good luck and hope you all have a great school year.

1 comments:

Edwin Moy said...

I don't think it's fair that we read this book. LOL I like your thoughts about the book considering that you are also a musical educator. I like the changing of the quote from devil to angels are in the details because you are right that we do need to be the positive ones for our students and if they only see the negative they will start to think that way as well. You sound like a music teacher telling people to practice, but you are right we are artists in our own way and if we do not use our tools they will rust.

August 27, 2011 8:39 PM

Week 4 Comment Helen

Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Gallery

As I continued to piece together what I wanted to write about this week's reading...I came to the conclusion I am going to blog backwards...the ending to the 9th chapter. Roz and Ben were very storng throughout the reading and continued to end the book with WE being emphasized and I think it needs to...they are sooo right. We can't do anything on our own and that will continue to make us put strong judgements upon ourselves but we need to learn to accept the things around us and to adapt and understand what WE can do and what WE can evaluate and fix and accomplish. It is funny but the last chapter a lot of their examples, words, and sayings really hit me but every time I came to a capitalized 'WE' it made me reflect upon myself and how I need to use this methodology of WE more often. It made me really reflect upon my CBR and how WE (students and myself) made it work but they were the WE. I always tell my students that WE work as a classroom and WE need to support one another...like we are a team and a building structure that leans upon each brick. Ben and Roz really pushed for the WE aspect and to do a clear reflection on weather or not we are considered the board. 

As I also reflected upon the reading, it made me really realize that we need to take everything we go through one day and one example at a time. Roz and Ben gave so many enlightening stories that we need to be aware of the things around us and to take advantage of giving others A and a chance to make mistakes and be themselves. I strongly believe that everyone needs to read this book and that I NEED to reread this book during the winter slump in great old Wisconsin because the snow really does drain us of the lacking recesses and fresh air that is highly needed to keep us motivate and open minded to keep moving forward. 

Ben showed great characterization when he reflected upon his own life and examples and what he didn't understand or deal with when he went to be on the board. He really interpreted the things around him and noticed that he was wrong and he told the truth of what was going on even though he didn't want to hear it himself. We as humans need to do this and understand that pride is one thing but being prideful is another. 

We need to continue to see the world in the half full aspect and that we aren't always right. We need to be the board and challenge ourselves to really dig deep and reflect upon ourselves. 

The story that hit me the hardest this reading was the story of Ben and the Eastlea school and it really made me reflect upon my goals as a high schooler wanting to teach inner city and make a difference in the lives of my students...the lives of those less fortunate...that didn't have the things that I did or the family stronghold I did. I continued to look back at this a regret not doing what I was passionate about. But after reading Being the Board and being the conductor and spark....I can be the difference maker in the school I am in and touch the lives of each of my students I have now by allowing them to be the conductor and the board and the spark and giving them an a.....

2 comments:

Edwin Moy said...

I completely agree with you. We do make a difference in the lives that we can reach. It is about how we look at things to keep us focused and not starting to think down the spiral. It is really funny how Being the Board and the student conductor stuck with you because that story is the one that really stuck with me too throughout the last reading.

August 27, 2011 8:30 PM

Wk 4- reading Art of Possibility

Photo by: Paul Keller via:Flickr

The last couple of chapters felt like a true self reflection.  Thinking about myself as a game board was a very different way of viewing the world.  We are all used to trying to explain actions and sometimes putting blame on everything including ourselves.  The reading often felt more like Buddhist philosophy in looking at the situation almost removed so you see the event with clear eyes. 

Though it sounds removed of emotion all the examples the authors put plenty of emotion into each story told.  They use topics that were mentioned in previous chapters, thinking spiral and the rule of six to keep those topics fresh.  They seem to place them in to remind the reader that there is a topic already discussed and here is another situation it can be used. 

Though the book is written towards an individual it really speaks to a larger group.  The book seems to change a culture and how you influence those around you can help those influence others.  It sounds similar to paying it forward but that is a message that can be heard in different religions, cultures and groups.  Until we put this into practice are we becoming that person that wrote the letter about why I got an A?

WK 4-Think out Loud 1 Leadership Presentation

Week 4 and thinking about a paper or creating a presentation for publishing.  With my back ground writing is not the path I would chose if ever given an option, so presentation is the path that I will be heading down as week 4 and month 12 approach.

In reviewing choices to submit I searched for conferences that were excepting submissions during the time frame of the EMDT program.  I started thinking about not looking at conferences geared towards solely teachers, but in thinking about the book The Art of Possibility I didn't want to limit and start a downward spiral of thinking so I looked at most sites.  EduComm is excepting submissions and will be located in Las Vegas next year.  The location was a factor but they are have a leadership category for presentations and I think my project would be geared towards that audience.

Now that the conference submission has been decided I guess it's time to get to work on the presentation.

Wk 3- Wimba post

Photo by frankenstoen Via Flickr

This week in Wimba I felt like my head was going to explode.  With the end of the program in sight putting together the finishing touches seems like the most complex work we have done yet or at least that's how if feels to me listening to the archive. 
Wimba covered the abstract, publishing, and final project for the program and it seems like I can see the top of the mountain and it is straight up. 
I plan on tackling it like I've done the entire program one task at a time and not focusing on too many things.  In doing so the abstract does not seem as difficult I once thought it was.  Slow and steady wins the race and goal is to make the push towards the end of the marathon. 

I have to thank Rick again as he seems to ask the questions I have while I'm watching the Wimba session.

Wk 3 comment on Christina Schraeder

Check out Christina's Blog

I was intrigued by the author’s hypothesis that our long childhood and the personality that develops in defense can get us out of childhood in one piece, but underneath wreaks havoc with our adult psyche. As I’m currently at a workshop where we are learning to teach children to write about the “small moments” in their lives, I decided to see if I could pull up one of my own early introductions the calculating self. The act of writing this story about a time when the spiral into a dim situation with the "calculating self" was cathartic. Recalling rule number 6, I lightened up trying for humor and read it to my peers here at the workshop hoping that the "central self" of those around me would hear the transformation seeking whispers of my own small moment.

“Tra la la boomsi eh…I got my tits today” he sang, chanted, taunted as he dodged before and away from the beeline I was making from the school exit to the playground. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?” I yelled back while the tears threatened. Why me? I thought, why do I have to be the only girl in third grade with boobies. It isn’t fair. I was itchy and hot despite the temperate weather, it was only April in Kansas and the horsetail clouds easily beckoned the others to a game of kickball. If only they would swat at Chris Ridder like the nasty horsefly he was. Kooite-ridden knat! Oh, why me? I needed to get away from Chris so he wouldn’t see me pulling at the bras already two sizes too small. Those, my feeble attempt to disguise my womanly demeanor. When at last, he ran to the field to join the others in the footie version of baseball, I surreptitiously snuck a hand under one of the two bras that I’d strapped on that morning to hide behind and relieve the pain. In that brief moment, I could tell that the skin under my enormous bosoms at the end of the day would look like the tops of my calves at the end of gym class. You remember, when we would all pull off those elastic-man tube socks and sigh in unison? Why is it that they say, those lines are caused by water retention? Did we actually retain water in grade three? Yet another thing that was unfair about grade school!Being present to the way things are, what is happening and present to our reactions, no matter how intense is probably the most challenging thing that our transformative selves attempt. If I had a dollar for every time I said, I was going to try and live more in the moment, well let's just say, I'd be rolling in it. I love the author's advice that the simple question, What do we want to do from here? be our new mantra when faced with adversity (as was the case with the rained out golf vacation.) I imagine such a query would open up a world of possibly. Following the week's reading, I will endeavor to be satisfied with the few dollars already in my pocket as I picnic in the present.

Source: Creative Commons playground image http://www.flickr.com/photos/enerva/4359850130/lightbox/
Rose available for free download from dreamstime.com http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-rose-rimagefree17567066-resi3743232

WK 3- Reading

Photo by benny7am via Flickr

Timing is everything.  That can be said for the week I've had and reading The Art of Possibility is the perfect timing for me to write this blog.  So I will start with the way things are.
When your computer's hard drive crashes and the program is about technology you have different ways to react.  I could have freaked out and stressed all day and night until I the computer got fixed but I thought about each aspect of school and solutions to each task instead of what I could not accomplish without my laptop that had everything on it.
That's where I think the reading is beneficial to the class and program as it gets me to think outside of the norm and not to take myself that seriously about things I may not be in control over like my hard drive crashing.  The book points to thinking in a spiral that will only lead to one direct or for different solutions.  The way the authors write their examples help to relate the story to the reader. 
The more I get into the book the more I think about a post I read last week from Bruce Kramer in his blog last week.  Since the book offers no tools but your mind and self thinking there are times that you feel a lack of control if you are not in a position to make changes.  With the state of the world it is today we are often worried about how to pay to survive instead of living.  I know this sounds pessimistic or a talking in a downward spiral, but as humans we do have emotions and worries.  All too often it revolves around money.  I start to think about this similar to putting the cart in-front of the horse and then I think about so the horse in now pushing the cart instead of pulling so in the end I answer my own concern about we can stress about all aspects of our life or we can look at each individual problem separate from each other and find solutions piece by piece.