Introduction
It’s no secret that teaching is not an easy profession. Everybody involved in education has one goal – the betterment of the student. However, for every one hundred people involved in the educational realm, there are at least 200 opinions as to what that betterment should look like. Regardless of setting, age group, demographic, or subject area, the world of education is a battleground of will pitted upon will on multiple fronts. Yet, amidst the chaos, panic, and disorder, moments arise that stimulate the mind, delight the heart, and give a struggling teacher the infusion of energy needed to fight again. That is what this book is about.
I am a music teacher. I have taught the full range of public school ages from kindergarten through high school. Although my specialty area is orchestra, I have taught general music and singing as well. Because I teach a subject area that requires both student and teacher to simultaneously delve into the physical, mental, and emotional realms of the human experience, I strive daily to make my classroom a haven for students to express themselves and take healthy risks. I never cease to remind them that they have entered a “safe room for mistakes” and that mistakes are merely chances to try again. I have found that a side effect of hosting an emotionally safe room is that kids drop their guard. When this happens, there is no way to predict what will be said or experienced. Through this book, you will experience what can occur when students feel safe enough to connect.
Early in my teaching career, I set up a “Sunshine Folder” in my desk. In this folder, I stored cards, notes, and other little forget-me-nots that had brought a smile upon my face. Whenever I had a bad day or began to doubt my calling, I would bring out this folder and remind myself that often the little things are the most important things. When Facebook came out, it became a handy way to keep a digital Sunshine Folder while sharing these moments with friends and family abroad. At the beginning, Facebook limited the number of characters you could use to submit a status update. This forced me to become creative in my sharings. I had to expand my vocabulary, determine which details to keep and cut, and execute multiple approaches to deliver an anecdote. Eventually Facebook eliminated the character limit, but I found it a fun challenge to convey these stories in a concise yet descriptive manner.
As I said in the last paragraph, Facebook became my Sunshine Folder. When I encountered hardships, I didn’t want to whine about it to anybody who would listen to me. I knew that would not only cause me to dig myself into a depressive hole, but it would eventually drive away the very people I would need to get through the tribulations. The stories themselves became cathartic. Not only did they encourage me to keep going, but seeing people “like” my posts reminded me that I was not facing life alone. I would also learn that my posts would brighten someone else’s day when they needed it the most. Eventually, I was able to make the changes necessary to bring myself through the trials. Looking back through Facebook, especially through the eyes of Timehop, I am able to see how these stories bonded me with my friends and family. I was able to keep my eyes on the big picture through the love and support they gave me in a reply or even a simple little “thumbs-up.”
So to all those people who reminded me what life is really about, whether you read my stories or you WERE my stories, thank you.