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Tag: Jazz and Blackboards

Jul182021

Envision (Day 5 and 6)

This week’s course focused on application of learnings from last week, which can be accessed here. Students applied their verbal, writing and visual aspects of communication to their culmination end-of-course project. In the coming days, we will centrally focus on the nonverbal aspect through practice, individually and with a coach.

Leadership and Public Speaking:

Purchase your poster board and note cards for your presentation. If you desire to move ahead, the following can be completed in preparation for Tuesday’s session:

  • Print visuals large enough for someone at the back of the room (based on our room size) to see
  • Write, or type your paragraph about the individual whom you consider to be an effective public speaker. Include why
  • Select a significant quote from each person selected. The quote will be included on the poster board
  • Start envisioning how you will design the poster board to be most reflective of your authentic and creative self

Takeaway from day 5 and 6: Envisioning how you would like to represent yourself according to the four aspects of communication is an important start for preparation. One must select which individuals most represent his/her/their idea of quality communication and leadership; this is especially the case for one who desires to learn/adopt the same qualities. Who is your epitome of a great leader and/or communicator?

Oct152020

National Kindness Week

There comes a time in every life when change is necessary. Whether the change is a result of something that has happened existentially, or a change due to biological make-up, only you can determine how it will ultimately affect your life. The pandemic, social injustices and what I’ve seen of a percentage of American political leaders has affected me significantly. I never thought that I would see the day when content that I have read in history books are right here in the present, too real for anyone to deny. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere;” I gave myself more credit than I should have when I assumed that I understood the power of these words. Today, I understand the power, firsthand.

Although I understand–at some level– how difficult this pandemic has been on a worldly scale, I have yet to grasp the full scope of our brothers and sisters who have lost a loved one to this virus; I have yet to understand the magnitude of loss that some may feel having lost dream businesses, or not having enough to pay the rent/mortgage. I do not yet understand-nor do I wish to–the suffering and pain that the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children have endured and continue to endure having experienced the loss of a loved one due to police brutality.

I’m here on this torn leather office chair, after 10pm, on a school night, trying to grapple with understanding why human beings are in such a divided state in the United States of America. Why is the school system inequitable, why? Why do citizens distrust each other, why? And what systems are in place to keep us in this revolving conundrum of inequities, inequalities and racial tensions? If the system was set in place by the founders, why are we still upholding their system when the world has drastically changed? My cellular phone requires regular updates, my laptop requires regular updates, my pedagogical approach and lessons plans are not as effective if I do not remain centered on my class dynamic and focus on what approach and plan individual students require. Similarly, our country requires modifications/alterations/unification, and perhaps, updating.

I have no grand scale solutions regarding what can be done to solve the issues at hand; I utter these words with the deepest sorrow. Instead, I write this evening to offer advice that may begin to move us in a direction of community and learning how to care for one another in a way that is most intentional, considerate, compassionate and selfless. If you have the ability at this moment to capture what it must feel like for those who can afford to have an elaborate Christmas celebration, you are capable of imagining my proposal. The country is in need of a kindness addition to our calendars; I propose National Kindness Week! A week of spreading kindness to loved ones and strangers. Mark Twain said, “Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Considering this, I’m hopeful that kindness can also be a key to help break the barriers of some suffering and move us in a direction of human beings becoming more compassionate with each other. The following is an outline:

Kindness Week Focus

–Monday: Gift to family

–Tuesday: Gift to colleagues

–Wednesday: Gift to an essential worker

–Thursday: The just ’cause gift (to anyone you choose)

–Friday: Gift to self (very important)

Gift Ideas:

  1. A letter of gratitude.
  2. One of your favorite fruits (I like to share mangoes).
  3. Write a list of 7 things you admire about the individual. write each on a separate sheets of paper and place the papers in a brown paper bag with seven Hershey’s Kisses ( or another treat of choice). When you give the individual the bag, tell them they will have a message and a kiss for seven days; enjoy!
  4. Go on a 25-30 minute walk with a person and share how they’ve inspired you (for at least five minutes of the walk).
  5. Pick a flower (season permitting) for an individual and share why they deserve it. Please be as specific as you can be (i.e. here’s a flower for being such an uplifting person. The day you said….made a huge impact on me and I want to encourage you to continue being who you are).
  6. Share a small gift from your cultural background. For example, one of my students shared an origami crane with me and shared the meaning behind it (do you know if you make 1000, you can be granted a wish?).
  7. If you’re a poet, musician, or blessed with any type of creative talent, share your gifts. A friend of mine once played a tune on the piano to serenade a special someone who felt ill. They will never forget this creative act of kindness.

I am well aware that the ails we struggle with are not going to cease with this National Kindness Week proposal. If this was the case, one Christmas would have solved all of our issues. Rather, NKW is a renewal, a modification/alteration, a step closer to unification and overall great excuse to be kind with intension, especially during a time when the need for kindness is dyer. And of course, please wear a mask and be mindful of distance as you share your love.

What steps do you believe we can take to move in a direction of unification? I’m looking forward to reading your ideas…

Aug12018

5 Steps to becoming more Positive

Image result for accentuate the positive Song by Arlen and Mercer.
Hello Friends,
Thank you for being present with me, today. Before I introduce “5 steps to becoming more positive” by accentuating the positive, allow me to first introduce myself…
A little about me: (The Educator)
I currently teach and live in a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania.
I was moved to teach when I learned that my father could not read. I learned this the day he attempted to encourage me to read a book (“The Cat in the Hat”) when he noticed that I was restless. Instead of following his suggestion to read the book on my own, I asked him to read it to me instead. That day, I learned that my father was illiterate. As an eight-year-old child, I could not fathom knowing how to do something that my father was unable to do. I simply couldn’t grasp the concept of his illiteracy. At this point, I read to him and began teaching him the words on the first page of the book. He was quite impressed and encouraged me to continue teaching him and teaching others because he thought I had a natural gift. I am a teacher today in large part because of that particular moment with my father. Although he passed away in April of 2008, I continue to feel his presence when I teach.
A little about me: (The Singer)
Subsequent to my passion for teaching, I am a passionate singer/songwriter/performer. I’ve written all of the lyrics for my debut project, “Arize, It’s Time to Shine”, amongst other works. I have performed at the Apollo Theatre, the Jacob Javits Center (in New York) and at the Celebrity Theatre (in Arizona). Currently, I am the lead singer for a twenty plus piece big band. I was moved to sing when I began creating melodies for the poetry I wrote as a middle school student. Singing brought the dark days of my teenage years to light. When I sing, I feel most in touch with my spirit.
A little about the blog title:
I’ve entitled my blog “Jazz and Blackboards” because these are the two mediums where I am most engaged in sharing information, knowledge and wisdom with students and audiences.
As you journey through “Jazz and Blackboards,” you can expect the following:
A snapshot of my inner and exterior world as an educator and singer.
Now; as I promised…

5 steps to becoming more positive (Accentuate the positive!)

  1. Reflect on the areas that make you happy– What makes you happy? What drives you to become a better person? Accentuate the positive in these areas by continually asking yourself these questions on a daily basis.  I love knowing that I can make a difference in my students’ lives.  I am also thankful that I have the talent and passion to share my voice in various ways. I am empowered when i teach and when I sing!
  2. Honor your commitments- This includes commitments made to self! For the sake of this post, I’ll continue to focus on this blog.  I actually wanted to write this blog for a number of years.  When I did not honor my commitment to publish, I felt a heaviness that came with believing that I let myself down.  yes friends! I am hard on myself at times.  However, i am only this way when I do not honor my commitments to self, which is not a regular practice-thank goodness! Accentuate the positive in this area by honoring your commitments to self and others.
  3. Be Honest- We all know the cliché, honesty is the best policy.  It’s actually more than a cliché. This is the absolute truth! be an individual of your word.
  4. Relax- Do what makes you feel light and free! Spend time away from the daily stresses and go to the spa, or read a great book, or listen to your favorite tunes.  I learned to accentuate the positive in this area because if I don’t, i simply become tense and on edge.  The way to stress and tension release is through finding outlets of relaxation.
  5. Be open to change- Change is inevitable! Now that I am a mother of an about to be fourteen month old, I know this all too well. My routine changes more than I would like to admit. I accentuate the positive by preparing for the unknown, knowing that my days are not guaranteed.  Accentuate the positive with resilience in the midst of change.

Once again, I am so thrilled to be engaged with you.  Please share some of the ways you accentuate the positive in your life.  I would love to add some of your suggestions to my personal list:)