Giving Grace

The list of limiting factors on a cart goes something like this.

- Time

- Space

- Materials

- Instruction

Time is limited more than ever because it takes time to transition students from their classroom setup to a music space. It takes time for me to set up the materials I'm using. It takes more time to clean up. It takes time to travel between classes. I used to have 45 minutes of instruction. Now, realistically, I have 30 - 35 minutes.

Space is limited both in where my desk has been placed and instruments have been stored. (In some schools, instruments are stored in multiple locations throughout the building.) Space is limited in the classrooms I are teaching in. There is so much furniture EVERYWHERE! AGGGH!!!

Materials - well, what can I fit on a cart? Can I fit my speakers, I-pad, lesson plans, rosters, Band-Aids, sick passes, bean bags, scarves and all the instruments ever? Probably not...

Instruction. Oh boy. I used to be able to teach so much more! I used to be able to teach the 1st graders a lesson on pirates, followed immediately by a butterfly music lesson in kindergarten followed by a composition activity in 2nd grade followed by an after school choir- no problem! Transitions were seamless. Nothing was impossible for me! (Well... maybe.)

So after over a year of being on a cart, this is what I have discovered.

I need to give myself grace.

I am extremely limited. I'm not complaining. That's just my reality. So, give grace.

Grace to plan shorter music lessons. Grace to do similar activities and lessons across several grade levels so I carry the same materials on the cart without having to reload all the time. Grace to do less concerts than I used to. My everyday work takes longer now- so the extra stuff I used to have time for, like evening concerts for every other grade level, have to be replaced with smaller scale performances during the school day for other grade levels.

I make my needs and limitations known to my administration. They need to understand that a loss of a classroom is a loss of some music knowledge and experiences for our students. Thank God they get it and are working so hard to get me a classroom next year. (In some places, you may want something in writing from your music supervisor or principal about how the lack of a classroom effects student learning so you aren't in hot water when your students don't musically measure up to students from other schools.)

It's so easy for this situation to overwhelm a person. Yes, our work is very important- but I can't let that weight crush me. I play with what I have. I teach with what I have. I keep my chin up and do my best.

And I give myself grace to be satisfied with doing just that - my best.