“Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania,” reads Karl off the script. He looks confused, “I’m ill?” he looks puzzled. “Am I sick?” “You’re not sick…We are having a fight!” responds an irritated Nicole, who is playing the fairy queen. She continues to read: “What, jealous Oberon! Fairies, skip hence:/I have forsworn his bed and company.” […]
Fine Arts
Posted inFeatured, Fine Arts, From the Front Lines
Drama in the Classroom
Everyone likes drama. No, not the kind of drama that happens on Monday nights during “The Bachelor” (I know I have better things to do, it’s just that or “Hoarders” at the gym). People enjoy the kind of drama that holds your attention – the kind that makes you gasp, laugh, cry and smile. Students […]
Posted inFine Arts, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
Based on a True Story: A Critical Look at Teachers in Movies
I remember having a romanticized view of teaching while I was in college. Though I can attribute some of this to a few overly idealistic professors, I mostly blame the movies. It was probably one week into student teaching when I came to the painful realization that I did not have the ability to magically […]
Posted inFine Arts, Instruction & Curriculum
The Arts Are Important Also!
It never fails, after every performance done by my Theatre students, I hear the countless accolades. “Your students are so talented! You do such a great job with these kids! This program adds so much to our school!” We receive all praises until the performance is forgotten. I am then back in the same position I […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Fine Arts, How to Fix Education, Uncategorized
If You Build It, They Will Come: How to Build a Successful Choir Program – Educate the Administrative Team
By Anne Guess Read part one here. Part 2: Educate the Administrative Team In all my years in the Texas public school system, both as a student and a teacher, I have met very few school administrators that were ever music educators. By very few, I mean I can count them all […]
Posted inFine Arts, Instruction & Curriculum, Uncategorized
If You Build It, They Will Come: How to Build a Successful Choir Program
By Anne Guess Part 1: Educate the Children Building a choir program from nothing is a daunting task. I am always amazed at the number of directors that leave floundering choir programs and play the blame game. Directors will blame everyone from the “untalented” student body, their administration that has it “out to get them”, […]