Today was test day for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. I was able to work with my students in the afternoon and get ready for upcoming programs. Some of the student were having a hard time with one piece and after some trial and error they were able to play the piece with relative ease. I tried some classroom techniques and asked them to give me one word that would sum up what they feel about themselves in relation to the piece they just played. The word I was looking for was confidence. I could see the positive reaction when I said the word. I want to try this again with my other students and see how it works. Although I have to make sure that my teaching methods will receive the same results.

I am finding now that there is a more urgent need to do well on these upcoming tests. The music teacher and PE teacher are facing schedule changes based on administrative urgency to pass and test and it is disrupting their class routine. I think these areas need to maintained and not disrupted to help stimulate the students minds in areas other than acedemics that would ultimately help with successful testing. The front office is minimizing the importance of the arts in that respect.