Falling into Orff

We used a few xylophones to
complement the drumming.

Ah.  I know it's the start of school and new possibilities when it's time for the first workshop of the ICCAOSA year.   Almost two years ago, the board was discussing what we would like to have presented, and someone said they wanted a drumming workshop.  Today was that day, and we had a great time of not only drumming, but singing and playing a few of the Orff instruments.

I have posted a video of one of the songs at my music blog.  It's always rejuvenating to get together with other music teachers to not only share teaching ideas, but actually get to PLAY music together.

Word for the Day?

Back before the board game Balderdash came out, my family played Dictionary.  It required a dictionary (of course) and paper and pencils. Oh yeah, a good imagination was helpful. One person looked through the dictionary to find an interesting word that no one knew.  Everyone wrote down their definition of that word, and the person who found the word wrote down the dictionary definition. After listening to all the definitions, everyone votes for what they think is the correct definition. Points are tallied and the next person searches the dictionary for another word.

Years ago, I am sure that we found the word fluffle. It is one of the words that I have remembered (another is squiffy*....). Fluffle is the cloud that cream makes when poured into coffee.  With the hot weather this week, I've been drinking iced coffee which allows me to see the fluffle because of the clear glass.

So, I thought I would find a great link for this blog post and after 15 minutes of internet-searching, I could not find MY definition of fluffle.  Well, never mind.  I will continue to use this great word.

* slightly inebriated

Jonathan Kozol in Claremont

Last night I was fortunate to hear Jonathan Kozol speak at Garrison Theater.  I am probably one of the few people in the Claremont USD who had not heard of him before this week.  An educator and author, Kozol speaks passionately about what's wrong with our current American public school system as someone who spent 20 years in inner city Boston schools.  Although he spoke about poor school districts, what he said also applies to the middle class.

As our elementary schools embark on standardized testing next week...well, I will be thinking about what our students really need.

Passing

This summer Claremont lost (at least) two treasures. I already wrote about Willard Hunter. Another loss was Carol Schowalter, El Roble English teacher. Mrs. Schowalter taught both my daughters in jr. high, probably one of the most influential teachers they had throughout their years in Claremont schools. They worked extremely hard for her and learned so much. Her page-long obituary appeared here in the Claremont Courier.