Obsession with Happiness!

#2 "Obsession with Happiness"

Great afternoon with Show Choir-2014

So as a human being, what defines our hopes and life goals?  Our levels of happiness?

With a recent Masters in Education Psychology (2012), I began reflecting on so many things this past year.

As an Educator;

#1. I want to help all my students reach their potential in their music studies.
#2. I want the learning process to have a purpose (meaningful).

Favorite Poodle Skirt pose-2012

#3. I want these precious children to walk away from more than a music education; I want them to be great people who love diversity and will go out into the world and make their mark as productive citizens, interesting musicians, exceptional community contributors, and then maybe even develop a since of "Happiness for the World".

The first two thoughts rest on my shoulders as I constantly consider upgrades understanding individual student's need and then also about ideas regarding improvements with class curriculum each year.  Being a creative and positive person helps keep me on track.




But in my area of public school teaching sometimes I work with educators who are not like me and on a different track.  Where is their "Happiness"? Too many people are unhappy.

First beach day on the Carolina Coast-1994

Since 1992, I have been teaching (private and publically) or parenting in some kind of capacity.  Music Education is my degree subject, but I also have acquired some qualities with no
-degree that I have become an expert in, (or so I think).

In another world, I would have been an exceptional photographer.  My camera is always by my side and I feel it is the best way to capture those meaningful experiences just so we will never forget them long after our memory displaces them with new ones.  I live for catching a moment even if it's something simple like a flower that just surfaced from the ground or a red bird hanging out in a dormant, snowy tree.  Photography brings me happiness!

Bishop Baraga Shrine Statue-Upper Peninsula, MI-2014

Wonderful mother/ daughter moment-2013

So at the end of the long, extended, Northwest-Indiana school year, I found myself digging for ideas to teach my students about; What is Happy?  Yes, summer would finally be here and all the testing was over, thank you IDOE, and for some we all just needed to feel happier.

I promoted an completion assignment to my middle schoolers for the last day.

I love creativity and thought a 45-60 second video using their Ipad (App-IMovie), with their favorite music streaming in the background while sharing their happy thoughts through photography or video in a voiced over project would be a great finish to an extended year of school.  We went through some basic information and they had two days to come up with something.  To my surprise only 16 of 80 Middle School students actually completed the task.  This really shocked me, because #1. Middle School students love talking about themselves.  #2. They love sharing happy moments. And #3. They love their Ipads.

So with great disappointment like most teachers can deliver, I addressed the students and ask them, what was so hard about this project?

Answers began like:

• Mrs. Davisson, there is not so much to be happy about, sometimes.  
• Even though school is over, I won't get to see my friends all summer.
• My mom works two jobs, so I'll be babysitting my brothers and sisters each day.
• I'm just 12, I haven't reached the happy part of life yet.

Wow!  This was not what I expected.  So I listened, to them.  I tried to give encouragement and set them on the thoughts of a happy summer.  Conversation made way to great discussion and provoking thoughts.  The assignment turned into extra credit for those who made an effort and in order to stick to my "#NoOptOut" self-committment, I promised myself we will return to this project when school resumes in August, maybe with time off they will discover some things that bring them happiness.

Celebrating my dad's 75th birthday-Dad/ Mom-great sports!

So this summer I'm obsessed with learning about "Happiness".  What makes people happy?  A summer commitment of listening, learning, and researching what people think about the subject.

I hope it's more than just having stuff...if you know what I mean.  To be continued...

I'll share as I go.
Blessings, SD

Hello to the world of blogging,

I love Music.  I love what Music does for people. 

I feel like Music is my best friend.  And I love learning and sharing anything about Music Education, especially singing!

 

Blogging is something new to me and so for this first blog, I'm gonna keep it short.  As an introduction; My name is Stephanie, I'm a music teacher, a mom of three, a girls' golf coach, a youth/ music leader at a sweet church, a big sister of three, an aunt, a photographer, a singer, an instrumentalist, a writer, a technology nerd, and a happily married woman for 25 years.

So, I'm gonna have a lot to share and blog about.  Music means more to me than just the plain old definition you'll find in the dictionary.  It has been a part of my life like my two wonderful sisters since I can remember and is a part of how I think, live, and love others. 

May this space on the internet be one of positive energy, education, and God's gifts through sharing ideas and learning from one another. 

Blessings, SD