This week I didn't teach at Jordan. Part of Artsbridge criteria in partnering with schools is that the partner teacher be present, and as I learned the other day: teaching with a substitute is very difficult. I feel really bad about not being there on Thursday, as I told the students I would be there every Thursday, and even assigned a journal entry. I don't want to add to the list of people who have walked out on the kids, that's not who I am. However, Amy and I worked it out, and I'll be teaching there again when my partner teacher returns from surgery. We have also made arrangements for me to start teaching at Dorsey High School in March. I'm excited about Dorsey... I'll be working with advanced students who sound incredible. Everything happens for a reason, I'm just going to go with the flow.
Last Thursday, several classes from Jordan came to our campus to see the "Flesh and Blood" show and the Condom dress exhibit. I met them and the student who was the most excited to see me was the girl who had been testing me and giving me a hard time, how funny. That was a wonderful field trip, it was such a blessing to see the eyes of all the students lit up and inspired. It was obvious that this trip got them excited about the possibilities for their own futures, many of them were saying, "I want to come here!"
For me, the day served as a good dose of medicine, it countered the last Thursday and left me feeling inspired.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Journal#3
I'm writing this account of my most recent lesson at Jordan over a week later. I showed up ready and excited to teach the first workshop of my residency, but the excitement slowly vanished as I waited locked outside with students, until a substitute teacher showed up 15 minutes late. I introduced myself, and was asked "Who are you?" and "What is Artsbridge?" I explained and then she told me that was fine, I could give my lesson, she would facilitate. How ironic,I thought to myself, "a good teacher is a good facilitator."
I was told I would have a lot of the same students I taught at the workshop I taught two weeks ago, but all the students were new. It was the first day of classes in their new semester, and as I soon found out about half of them were only taking the class as a requirement and had no desire to dance. When I introduced myself to the class I felt as if I were just talking to myself, they seemed closed and were definitely lacking enthusiasm.I told them "Today we're going to explore rhythm in Hip-Hop music. And asked, "What's rhythm?" They answer, "The beat", "How you move", etc. When I started my warm up, I soon noted I had a few students who didn't yet grasp the concept of rhythm. And we worked on step touch as well as how to count out the beats in the music and respond to those beats with movement. The students got it and soon we all danced in unison.
After about 15 min. of class one of the students from the workshop I taught showed up. She is a very advanced dancer and had some real issues with me teaching at a slower pace for the beginners, at one point she was laying on the floor in the middle of all the other students, because she was so frustrated. I had to ask her to be respectful,and though she got up she continued testing me until the end of class.
As the students were walking out the door, one of the students mentioned something about how another student is pregnant. The substitute overheard, and then scolded the girl and told her she was stupid to go and get pregnant. Another student defended the girl, saying "Hey what's done is done. Leave her alone, she's Latina and in her culture they don't believe in birth control." I felt so uncomfortable, the sub was so rude and out of line to say the things she said. I also felt my body tighten with sorrow, as I looked at the 15 year old girl, who looks like she's 12, who is expecting a baby.
I didn't have a second period class, and had some time so I decided to take a walk around the school. As I walked I realized the school is surrounded by projects, and I saw a young student with her baby. And then the sadness really started to sink in. When I got back to my apartment I sat down and cried. Though my class had gone good, and the students were enthusiastic by the end, I felt so beat up and sad for the reality those students face.
I found myself wondering why the best dancer was testing me and being so awful to me. And as the days pass I have come to understand that really she just wanted my attention. I was not able to write about the class until now, because to be honest it just made me so sad. I have been relfecting and am still reflecting on that day because it was a big slap in the face and though I handled it well, I am currently in the process of growing and learning from that day.
I was told I would have a lot of the same students I taught at the workshop I taught two weeks ago, but all the students were new. It was the first day of classes in their new semester, and as I soon found out about half of them were only taking the class as a requirement and had no desire to dance. When I introduced myself to the class I felt as if I were just talking to myself, they seemed closed and were definitely lacking enthusiasm.I told them "Today we're going to explore rhythm in Hip-Hop music. And asked, "What's rhythm?" They answer, "The beat", "How you move", etc. When I started my warm up, I soon noted I had a few students who didn't yet grasp the concept of rhythm. And we worked on step touch as well as how to count out the beats in the music and respond to those beats with movement. The students got it and soon we all danced in unison.
After about 15 min. of class one of the students from the workshop I taught showed up. She is a very advanced dancer and had some real issues with me teaching at a slower pace for the beginners, at one point she was laying on the floor in the middle of all the other students, because she was so frustrated. I had to ask her to be respectful,and though she got up she continued testing me until the end of class.
As the students were walking out the door, one of the students mentioned something about how another student is pregnant. The substitute overheard, and then scolded the girl and told her she was stupid to go and get pregnant. Another student defended the girl, saying "Hey what's done is done. Leave her alone, she's Latina and in her culture they don't believe in birth control." I felt so uncomfortable, the sub was so rude and out of line to say the things she said. I also felt my body tighten with sorrow, as I looked at the 15 year old girl, who looks like she's 12, who is expecting a baby.
I didn't have a second period class, and had some time so I decided to take a walk around the school. As I walked I realized the school is surrounded by projects, and I saw a young student with her baby. And then the sadness really started to sink in. When I got back to my apartment I sat down and cried. Though my class had gone good, and the students were enthusiastic by the end, I felt so beat up and sad for the reality those students face.
I found myself wondering why the best dancer was testing me and being so awful to me. And as the days pass I have come to understand that really she just wanted my attention. I was not able to write about the class until now, because to be honest it just made me so sad. I have been relfecting and am still reflecting on that day because it was a big slap in the face and though I handled it well, I am currently in the process of growing and learning from that day.
Journal#2
Journal#2
It’s crazy how you can forget some of your best moments when your overall excitement and relief take control. Today I feel I can reflect upon my workshop I taught at Jordan with more clarity than I could last week. How could I forget the best moment of the class? Last week in Artsbridge class, Amy reminded me of the moment when she walked in the classroom and the students were so overcome with joy that they were jumping up and down and rolling on the floor smiling and laughing. Amy noted that moment as the happiest she has ever seen students at Jordan High School. Somehow when I finished teaching all I could remember was “Alright, that went well.” In actuality it went fantastic and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with and share my knowledge and passion for Hip-Hop with such enthusiastic students. I also have a lot to learn from the students and my partner teacher; they have some steps and energy that I definitely want.
The students are so hungry with desire to learn dance and to execute every move, they inspire me. Some students were trying so hard, that when they would finally get the movement in their bodies they almost couldn’t handle their pride in their accomplishment. They loved each song I played, especially the saddest song, where the hook goes “What you gonna do when your baby’s crying on the floor ‘cause he’s hungry, and the only thing you can do is sleep with a man for a little bit of money, and his daddy’s gone.” When I played that song they room was filled with singing and I understood that this song was more than just a good beat, the words touched these students deeper. When we danced to that song it felt like therapy. There was a sense of healing and joy. That class was more than just a workshop, for the students and for me it was church, it was beautiful joy.
It’s crazy how you can forget some of your best moments when your overall excitement and relief take control. Today I feel I can reflect upon my workshop I taught at Jordan with more clarity than I could last week. How could I forget the best moment of the class? Last week in Artsbridge class, Amy reminded me of the moment when she walked in the classroom and the students were so overcome with joy that they were jumping up and down and rolling on the floor smiling and laughing. Amy noted that moment as the happiest she has ever seen students at Jordan High School. Somehow when I finished teaching all I could remember was “Alright, that went well.” In actuality it went fantastic and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with and share my knowledge and passion for Hip-Hop with such enthusiastic students. I also have a lot to learn from the students and my partner teacher; they have some steps and energy that I definitely want.
The students are so hungry with desire to learn dance and to execute every move, they inspire me. Some students were trying so hard, that when they would finally get the movement in their bodies they almost couldn’t handle their pride in their accomplishment. They loved each song I played, especially the saddest song, where the hook goes “What you gonna do when your baby’s crying on the floor ‘cause he’s hungry, and the only thing you can do is sleep with a man for a little bit of money, and his daddy’s gone.” When I played that song they room was filled with singing and I understood that this song was more than just a good beat, the words touched these students deeper. When we danced to that song it felt like therapy. There was a sense of healing and joy. That class was more than just a workshop, for the students and for me it was church, it was beautiful joy.
Journal#1
Journal #1
Today I taught a Hip-Hop dance workshop at Jordan High. The class is packed and at times I feel a little intimidated, but I don’t let them see that. The class is a mixture of levels, some students already consider themselves dancers, and others are still searching for the rhythm. There are so many personalities and groups of friends in the class, today was really good in the sense that I got to observe as I was teaching. I’m really happy I took advantage of this opportunity because now I see more of what I can offer them as well as where they already are in their understanding of Hip-Hop dance. In a way today is about assessing prior knowledge, though I will further asses in the coming weeks. It’s really wonderful to meet so many young people and dance with all of them. There are some really helpful students that always help me push the right button or whatever I need and those students really make me feel welcome. Today is also a very exciting beginning and I can not wait until I get into my sequential lessons.
Today I taught a Hip-Hop dance workshop at Jordan High. The class is packed and at times I feel a little intimidated, but I don’t let them see that. The class is a mixture of levels, some students already consider themselves dancers, and others are still searching for the rhythm. There are so many personalities and groups of friends in the class, today was really good in the sense that I got to observe as I was teaching. I’m really happy I took advantage of this opportunity because now I see more of what I can offer them as well as where they already are in their understanding of Hip-Hop dance. In a way today is about assessing prior knowledge, though I will further asses in the coming weeks. It’s really wonderful to meet so many young people and dance with all of them. There are some really helpful students that always help me push the right button or whatever I need and those students really make me feel welcome. Today is also a very exciting beginning and I can not wait until I get into my sequential lessons.
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