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| The trouble with help from the teachers is that it creates too many bosses for the kids.
Patty is almost always in charge of getting the kids into an order on the stage but Ana wants to also give orders in that direction. Today, with both of them, giving out different instructions to key helpers on the stage, we had great confusion with the students. This is something we're really going to have to work on for next year. If someone has an assignment, we need to stick to that one person being in charge, instead of every teacher feeling like they can mess with each part of putting the play together.
This morning, we went through the musical two times and then worked over a few problem areas. It was the first time to have all the children get into their different costumes, as we worked on timing - particularly for the Nativity part of the musical. It turns out there is enough time to get kids off the stage and into their various Nativity outfits, so that is a big relief. Even Rachel, Eric and Maya manage to do a quick change out of contestant and into manger mode in the very few minutes between their last appearances on stage and when we begin the Jesus, Name Above All Names song.
The musical is cute and my students sound good. Today, as I listened and watched the activity going on, I could only feel a sense of relief that, after one more day, I'll be able to put "The Christmas County Spelling Bee" in the archives and not listen to it again for a very long time.
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| Frank told Cindy that my students seem further along than they usually are for the first rehearsal and that the musical (based on the bits and pieces he heard) seems very cute. Marie made a point of complimenting me, on behalf of the kids, for the way she could understand every single word they sang.
I'll take those positive comments to offset the kindergarten choreography chaos! | | |
| I love many things about my job - the first day of dress rehearsals is not one of them! In fact, that day stands out as one to be endured and this year was no exception.
Martin came early and that was nice because he could help me set up for the kids. I didn't need much from him but he was able to hang that giant banner I worried about and he also brought some chairs down from upstairs. Just having him there was a comfort.
Too bad Martin doesn't know anything about sound systems! We finally called Frank and he said he'd come in about five or ten minutes. I'm not sure what route he took but it was a good 45 minutes before he came. The kids were there, mayhem was ruling and the teachers were all bugging me about how I planned to set up the microphones. Like I'm such a genius at that kind of thing!!!!
Normally we practice awhile and then let the kids run off their excess energy out on the lawn but that wasn't about to happen on Monday since it was pouring rain. Somehow we got through the morning - the kids did a great job overall and I muddled through.
There are definitely things to worry about! While the idea of the busy bee choreography for the kindergartners looked good on paper, it looks like total chaos on the stage. I tried a few variations, only to come up with the same messy result. The only thing I can say is I'm going to have to bank on how absolutely adorable those little ones look in their bumblebee shirts and antennas.
I could make a list of things that need "fixed" but, at this point, it's too late to worry about many of the particulars. | | |
| It's hard to believe that tomorrow begins the last week of dress rehearsals and final prep for the musical! I feel such a feeling of disconnect with the cohesive flow of this musical - while I can see it in pieces and bits, I just can't get any sense of confidence that everything is going to come together.
Missing more Mondays than usual this fall semester has certainly contributed to my near-panic about the state of the kids' readiness. Compounding the absences is the uneasy feeling that, even when I've been in the classroom, I just haven't had a good pulse on what needed to be done.
The kindergarten class is a BIG worry. Even though they'll be leaving the stage for part of the musical, I don't think they know what they're doing as much as other classes have. I blame this mostly on myself, though this class is definitely immature and greatly hampered by a few kids who take up so much time in their need for constant discipline.
I am always nervous in the final days before a Christmas musical but, it's been a few years since I've had such a complete feeling of doom and gloom - not to mention complete inadequacy. | | |
| Artyom looked up at me, with teacher adoration in his eyes, and asked if he could be the one who gives me the flowers the night of the Christmas program. How sweet is that?
I won't rat him out to Terri, since the flowers are supposed to be a big "surprise"! | | |
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