And I'm Still Working . . .

After 35 years in the classroom one would think I have enough "stuff" for my students to do and that I could just coast through the next couple of years. Phone it in. Slide by.

Not me.

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that's not how I am wired. So at 3:54 PM on a Tuesday when I could be doing anything else, I am sitting at my desk in a hot classroom  researching new ways to do an old project because I am still concerned about how to engage my students who have seemed disengaged this year. At first I thought, "Well, it's me. I must be doing something wrong." I quickly realized it's not me as much as it's them -- the kids just don't want to do anything. I am competing with cell phones and airpods. No matter how enthusiastic or excited I am about a topic, it doesn't seem to matter.  

So at 3:54 on a Tuesday afternoon I'm revising lessons in an effort to spark something when we begin the music unit. The opening topic is "Why Music Matters."

I'm not so sure they know the "why" behind music. All of them listen to music daily, yet I'm not so sure they understand what it is that music does for them. After surfing several sites and reading some fascinating research, I have been caught up in the whys behind music. The information is more than I'll be able to digest in a single sitting and I realize at some point I'll just need to stop. How can I get my students to dive into reading with the same passion I have for learning? How can I explain how intricately our brains are wired and music is an important part of development in young brains? How can I share my fascination with Alzheimer's research that indicates the importance of music in the lives of patients? How can I share how music can help students engage in stress relief? 

The topics are endless, but the question is the same -- how to get my students engaged.

I am also intrigued by "walk-through" feedback which indicates students are not engaged. Just how does someone on a 10-minute visit know that? More importantly, can the person explain to me how to get my students more engaged? That's the million dollar question.

How?