A small moment of inspiration for one person, a great joy for another.

I do want to record those small moments of joy, something that touches your heart, even though it may be just a small moment.  It may mean nothing to anyone else, but for you, the participant, it is meaningful and precious.  Is it even worth an entire blog post?  Probably not, but why should a small moment not be immortalised here?

In year 5, yesterday, I began teaching the children about the start of the history of European 'classical' music: the Medieval era.   Some people look surprised when I say I am teaching the children what I am teaching but it's often been the unit of work where I see the greatest surprises and how much the children enjoy it. Last year, when I taught it- the learning really stuck and even now, the children in year 6 can remember the vocabulary, composers and features of the music in great detail. One class, when the children were composing their own inspired plainchant, every single child was willing and brave enough to take the role of cantor/soloist, leading the rest of the group to imitate their lines.

But yesterday,  I began the unit. I started with talking about how we lack a lot of knowledge about the secular music of ordinary people.  The music we DO know about is the vocal music that took place in the monasteries and convents in Europe.  I introduced the children to possibly the first famous composer in Europe, Hildegard Von Bingen, a nun who was famed throughout Europe for her writings on Theology, Natural Science, Medicine and on her visions she had received since she was a young girl.  In addition, she wrote many large scale religious works.   After setting the children a series of questions to listen out for (such as whether the voices were Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass, whether the melody was a stepwise melody, whether it was accompanied or not, etc etc- questions which would help them to understand the typical features of Medieval plainchant, we listened to Columba Aspexit

We probably listened to it about 4-5 times, allowing the children to have time to listen, contemplate and have time to consider their answers and then we went through the answers.  At the end of this, the last question had given the children an opportunity to write about any other features they had noticed or wished to comment on.   Y, a lovely girl, commented that the music was very soothing.  She said to me, "I absolutely LOVE this music. It's so soothing, I just want to listen to it all the time." I told her that if she liked it that much, that she should find it on Youtube and listen to it, and that there was lots of other music by Hildegard Von Bingen available too.  She replied that that was an absolutely brilliant idea and she would do that tonight. She added that she had real trouble getting to sleep and sometimes couldn't fall asleep until midnight and she thought that the music of Hildegard would definitely help her to relax and sleep.  And so, in that one moment, perhaps a life-long love of Medieval vocal singing has begun? Perhaps, she may go on to be a researcher on Medieval sacred music.  Or perhaps it was one moment of happiness, clarity, understanding and enjoyment that will mean nothing.  But for me, the educator, to be party to that conversation, to hear that that music had had that impact on that child in that moment, was a special moment. One to cherish, remember, rejoice in and draw upon when times might not be that good.   Anyone who says you have to teach children the music and things they like already clearly hasn't had one of those moments where you show someone the entrance to the secret garden and I am sorry for them.  If you have a joy, enthusiasm for something and a willingness to share it just as it is, without bells on it, without making it overly fancy, then how can the recipients fail to respond?

One small moment of inspiration for her, one moment of great joy for me.

Have you had a moment like that?

xx

If it makes you smile, laugh or giggle...

Reminder to self- do not plop your head on top of a sign with your hair stuck behind yourself, you look like Mr Potato-head!  I love this sign that came in my stocking from J and WOMOTM- it's really sweet!

Today was a GOOD.DAY.  It was.  I smiled through the day, I was calm, I didn't shout, get frustrated. I enjoyed. I laughed.  I praised. I got results.  I used to dread Wednesdays, but apart from the fact I don't get a break all day, the classes I have are doing well. Music with Year 3 is great fun and they really do listen and take my advice, they seem to love learning the recorder.  Orchestra is now not a battle but enjoyable- I have 4 percussionists instead of 12 naughty year 6's like last year and they all listen and actually have a great aptitude for it, I had great fun with Year 5 in the afternoon discussing sea-shanties, performing arrangements of What shall we do with the drunken sailor and all of us enjoying it.  I went to church which was lovely in the evening.  It helped that I didn't lie awake for hours last night- although I did go to bed very late (2ish)because I was so worried about lying there wide-awake, I slept!

Like Laura, I revelled in bright colours- I wore this jumper and skirt combo with yellow belt and felt cosy and bright.  I had to laugh when I thought about both the jumper and skirt. Both of them are purchases I made when CBC let me 'off the leash' when near/in shops (he always says that I don't buy anything with him and then like a bolt of lightning, I'll buy something when he takes his eye off me. The skirt was purchased in Monsoon when he went to pay in a cheque in the high-street as we were about to drive to Northumberland.  He looked staggered when he drew up in the car and I had 2 skirts in a bag! Same with the jumper- High Wycombe reccie into Sainsbury's to buy a torch and bam, I had a jumper!).  I

Speaking of giggles, just chatting to my big sister (the big bossy-boots one, as opposed to the small bossy one.  I am the only pushover) on the phone, she told me that her daughter had been sick in her bed (and hasn't been sick before in her conscious-toddler memory) and she laughed because she said (or so I misheard)

Child:  (in a distressed voice). Mummy, there's something in my bed.  It's sunny spit!"

There I was thinking, "Oh how poetic she is, she's a genius!!! We have a prodigy in the family!"
In fact, she said, "There's funny spit in my bed,".  Not as poetic, but still very descriptive for a 4-year old who hasn't been sick before!

How's you then?

Caped crusader!

Hello there!  How are you?  Well, I hope!  It's rather chilly over here in the South East! Have you had any of the white stuff yet?  I was at CBC's yesterday morning and when I looked out the window massive snowflakes were coming down onto an already thick carpet of snow.  I looked with instant dismay at my blue desert boots (the ones worn with the tartan dress) as they have zero grip (literally smooth as an ice-rink!) and the polka dot mini-dress, red knee-length socks and black leggings I had brought to wear (although along with parka-coat, velvet hat and thin scarf) . 

CBC and I set off at 7.15 in his car for him to drop me at the station.  We had a horrid near-miss when his brakes failed to stop him and we carried on skidding and just missed the BMW in front of us by scraping the lamp-post.  The traffic was at total grid-lock and as we nervously advanced, the car seemed autonomous to the steering wheel.  After a huge yellow double decker bus skidded by us rather like Nemo being passed by a Tanker, we decided to park up and walked the rest of the way, very gingerly.  I persuaded CBC to put on his very unflattering wellies from the bootand I held his brown shoes in my hand whilst he took my trolley-bag. As we climbed the hill to the station, a car stalled on the hill and as it miraculously, though laboriously made its way up the hill (CBC took a photo of the pathof its tires which looked as meandering as the River Thames on aerial maps).  Luckily, there were only minor delays on the train but by that time, both CBC and I were late for school.  However, when I reached school, there was NOT a drop of snow to be seen!!!! I felt like a complete fraud! How could it be so thick further out in Essex and yet none where school is?!

The outfit in the above photos features a few favourite items- I adore this Art-deco looking dress (from Miss Selfridge an age ago) and thought to team it with my lovely cape that CBC bought me from Spitalfields last birthday.  Silver-sequinned ballet pumps and a pearl-studded beret (H&M).   The pearl collar necklace was a vintage find in a St Frances Hospice charity shop! (Black turtle neck and cardie for warmth added! School sale and Tescos respectively)

This afternoon the choir and I made our way to a residential care home for elderly (and some younger citizens) with severe care needs at the local hospital.  This is something that was begun before I went to the school.  Every year, I never fail to be humbled by the reaction that a group of beautiful children's voices singing Christmas carols, can produce in these worthy, humble people.  And the children too.  They never fail to be affected by their experience.  I watched one girl (she's sweet but she's a bit lairy) watching delightedly as she saw any reaction whatsoever from the residents.  As we proceeded from one communal bay to another, she told me, "That man named Ron, he was singing along with The First Nowell and then he laughed and clapped and waved to us,".  Her eyes were sparkling and I could sense the compassion and affection for these people she had just met.  We have one lovely little Polish girl who had a chat to a Polish old man.  He was so delighted.  As she left, she had tears in her eyes, since talking to him, she told me, reminded me of her Grandma back in Poland who was also in a residential home.   All of them buzzed with tales, excitement and appreciation of the experience as we returned.  Not a moan in sight as we marched the mile and 3/4 back in the bitter cold back to school but excited chatter! I am so thankful for the legacy of my predecessors, that I get to experience this joy and sense of humility as we share the gift of singing. 
Next Thursday, I am taking my little singing army of 30 children back to another Senior citizens care home and  I look forward to it with a lightness of heart.  I feel the heart of Christmas in these places- sharing, giving love and giving what gift we can.  It's not about a big flamboyant gesture, but about caring and giving of our hearts.

Lunch

My lunchtime eating habits are mostly very sporadic- I have lots on at lunchtime at school and despite my best efforts I often miss it. However, that is my choice and look out. I have the resources there at home or in my purse to make lunch but I don't lack the resources, just the organisation.  Whereas, there are children in Britain in low-income families who receive free-school meals, who in the holidays, must go without lunch because they don't have the food at home because there just isn't the money there. A friend, Rach, who introduced me to blogging, has let me know about a grass-roots charity called Lunch which she has been involved with.

I've reblogged this from her blog, so please go to her link Rach to  leave comments for her or the link below.

There is a video which you can watch here at http://www.makelunch.org.uk/blog/entry/new-lunch-video  please watch it, it's only short, but it is real thinking material.



Here's how Rach got involved:

In the summer of 2011 I watched a documentary about children living in poverty in the UK. It changed my life. That's a much overused phrase, but this time it really did. I've put the story below but the short version is that in summer 2011 we saw three community groups open centres to serve meals during school holidays for children who'd get free school meals in term time. We served over 300 meals that summer, and grew that to over 3000 meals in 13 locations across the UK in summer 2012. And it's still growing. All the previous locations are planning to open again and even this week I've had enquiries from at least 4 potential new teams.

If you want to know more, or are moved by the video above or the story below, do get in touch, or head on over to the Lunch website where you'll find information on how to get involved.

Here's the story:

On 7th June 2011, the BBC screened a documentary called Poor Kids. Made by Jezza Neumann at TrueVision, the programme showed what life is like for the 3.5million children who live in poverty in the UK. Three children from different areas of the country were the narrators, covering various aspects of life including housing, income, holidays and food.

If you missed Poor Kids when it was on I'd really recommend you check it out. You can watch the trailer at the TrueVision TV website and order the DVD there if you want to see more.

Sam, Paige and Courtney's honest account of life was moving and hugely challenging. It's hard to watch children facing difficulties and not be left feeling that something must be done to change things. But 3.5 million children is no small number, and it's the tip of the iceberg, representing families who are struggling with debt, unemployment, addiction... the list is endless. There's no one simple problem here, not one single reason for all these instances of child poverty and therefore no simple solution.

During the programme, 8 year old Courtney shows us what's in her fridge - a bottle of milk, some margarine and 2 bottles of medicine. Later she talks about what she eats during the day:

Courtney: For dinner we have a big version of a sausage roll

Interviewer: What about breakfast?

C: Nowt. Cos I sometimes forget to make myself some toast or something or we're going to be late for school.

I: Do you ever go without lunch?

C: I go without dinner when I'm at home but when I'm at school I get dinner. I have tea when I'm at home but I sometimes go without dinner because my mum hasn't got enough money and she owes people money.

According to the documentary, 1 in 5 children from low income families say they sometimes go without food. Children from single parent families are twice as likely to miss meals.

Later on in the programme, 11 year old Sam tells us that he's recently started receiving free meals at school. He says it's a good thing because he's getting fed, but the pressure on the family increases during holiday time as his dad has to find £10 extra per week just to feed him. This is true for Sam and many other families - school holidays mean time off school, but bring additional struggles in terms of providing childcare whilst the parent is working, not having enough money to take the children to activities and having to find extra money for food.

It's these simple stories from Paige and Sam that have inspired Lunch. Lunch aims to see the 1.2 million children who receive free meals at school fed during school holidays by local community groups. It's not going to solve the whole problem of child poverty in the UK, but feeding children who might otherwise be hungry during the holidays seems like a good place to start."

Here's that link again:  http://www.makelunch.org.uk/blog/entry/new-lunch-video


It's certainly given me things to think about and how I could get involved.  As Rach says in the video, it can be a small committment,  but it will make a difference.  Even providing one lunch for one day in the holiday could be a help to a child somewhere.  Because, regardless of what you think about what the parents' situation, that child doesn't deserve to be going hungry.

What do you think?  Please go over to the link and leave a comment!

(Reblogged from Rach)