Day Cinco

This week we went into School's report cards and little about election and who gets onto what boards. I actually learned a lot this week. I also really enjoyed the game we played in class. I was a white female with average money and living conditions. I ended up without much debt or illness because of how I spent my money and resources. I did however only end up with 8 points which I thought was awesome when I heard the negative points my classmates had beside me. But then I heard how much others had across the class and they were in the 90's. Just shows how in real life that there's always someone better off than you. There's also always someone worse off.

Day Cuatro

This week I was able to go to my old high school and help teach orchestra. I also took a couple students aside who needed help. There were two students who had just switched from cello to violin and from cello to viola. It's hard to explain what someone has to go through and their thought process behind changing instruments if you yourself are not musically inclined. It's different for me because I've been playing violin for twelve years so I just have to learn to read a different clef. In layman's terms; I have to read a different language.

I have also taken on six private students this year. Three violinists, two violists, and a girl who is playing both. One of them are in college and has played piano for years so she can read music, it's just playing the violin itself is difficult. Another student is in high school but because she does not have time to be in orchestra this year she wanted to take lessons so as to not get behind when she reunites with them next semester. The rest of my students are under the age of about 11.

In class this week we focused on poverty. A lot of people don't realize how bad it really is. We have people starving daily and countries who don't have a fraction of what America has. Even in America we throw most of our food away. One third of the worlds food ends up being thrown in the trash. Even here in the county I grew up in.

We also watched a video in class relating to poverty. I thought the video was interesting and very realistic, especially since most of my friends growing up lived like the family in the video. I've been to many houses where there was trash everywhere and broken cars and walls. I just never understood how people can let this happen. We have people who can't afford a new outfit in a class sitting nest to students who buy the newest shoes and phones as soon as they come out.

Day Tres

This week was interesting. We took a quiz in class and I don't really believe in the answer it gave me. It said I was more partial to white men. But I can't say from the bottom of my heart that as a Christian, this is not true. I love and treat every race and culture with the same love and respect.

Wednesday I was at the high school that I have been placed for Student Teaching. I stayed until their last block which was Band. Their first class was a younger string chamber orchestra, mostly 9th and 10th graders. I was given a syllabus of the class as an example and some work sheets that they take home. The teacher showed me how he takes role and puts in grades. For their second block I sat in on their electronic music class. The kids had projects they were working on so while they had their headphones in me and Teacher talked about his other classes. He showed me all the music they were playing for this semester and asked if I wanted to conduct any or play in any of them. They had a lot planned on their calendar  for this year and I'm really excited that I will be a part of it.

After lunch we had the advanced string chamber orchestra, as opposed to a full orchestra which includes band instruments. This group is much smaller than usual and what will be in there next semester. This is due to certain classes only offered at certain times. So they kids are broke up into trios with their classmates which is a great experience learning method for them because they will have to work together and really be in tuned in order to produce a good sound. One kid was alone because his two partners were not there so he and I went and played together and just did some one on one. We talked about music, played a lot, and got to know each other a little bit. Afterwards the teacher asked if he talked because he is very shy in class and doesn't talk much. But we hit it off which brought so much joy to my heart. I cannot wait to go back and I think I will be able to be there twice a week.