It is February already! How did that happen?! Is your vision still in focus? Have you transformed from tiptoeing to high-kicking closer to your goals?
February is filled with many observances, including National Cancer Prevention Month, American Heart Month, Black History Month, romance, and more! Most importantly, it is filled with kindness. February 17 is designated as national Random Acts of Kindness Day in the United States. However, let's ensure that kindness is not saved for only one day.
How are we spreading kindness in our home, classroom, school, organization, and profession? How are we making students, colleagues, and supporters feel? Are we acknowledging, including, and celebrating them in the curriculum, the decision-making process, and the vision? Kindness can impact listening, learning, and loving.
As we continue to embrace our uniqueness, let's embrace the uniqueness of everyone we encounter. Spread joy, love, and kindness each day! These can be gifts enjoyed by both the recipient and the giver.
Embrace uniqueness!
💗 Lori
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Featured Reading
The Meaning of Mentorship
"The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves." — Steven Spielberg
January was National Mentoring Month. Consider reflecting on the mentoring relationships you have experienced in your life. Who supported you? Who has offered guidance? Who have you supported and guided? As a mentor/mentee, to whom would you like to reach out? Mentorship can occur at any stage of our life. We may be surprised when we require it and how often we need it. Let's embrace the wisdom, creativity, and kindness that meaningful mentorship can offer.
It was delightful and inspiring to interview Dr. Neil Anderson, Steve Litwiller, and Dr. Jamila McWhirter for the August edition of Teaching Music Magazine.
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Quote
“Be kind whenever possible.
It is always possible.”
— Dalai Lama XIV
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Recording
How will you make key changes this month to promote kindness in your classroom, studio, school, or organization with students, families, colleagues, and supporters? Watch the short video. |
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Reflection
How are we spreading kindness in our home, classroom, organization, and profession? How are we making students, colleagues, and supporters feel? Are we extending our efforts to every corner of the school, community, organization, and profession to ensure that all students, families, colleagues, and supporters feel welcome, included, heard, celebrated, and recruited? Are we involving these stakeholders in the curriculum, the decision-making process, and the vision? How are we acknowledging them? Are we even acknowledging them?
How do you feel when you are treated with kindness? How can we reciprocate kindness while also embracing uniqueness?
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Reading #1
Everyday Networking: Forget the Rules and Just Be YOU!
"I don't believe what you say. I believe what you do." — Anonymous
There are numerous resources on how to network and advance in your career. But in addition to searching those out, you may also want to consider how you act each day — even when no colleagues are around. Is kindness at the forefront of your networking techniques?
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Reading #2
Live Life Rosie(r): Spread Love Everywhere You Go
As educators, we should treat our students as an extension of our family—expecting the most from them, while caring for them and enjoying their presence. It is possible to teach them to be excellent learners, such as artists, athletes, engineers, readers, writers (and so on!) and inspire kindness. Mother Teresa said, “Spread love everywhere you go: First of all, in your own house . . . let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
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Resource
Tips for Teaching Kindness in the Classroom
Thank you to a group of PBS Digital Innovators who collaborated to share their tips for teaching kindness in the classroom.
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Student Opportunities
How can we support the goals of all students and celebrate their creative work?
Microsoft Disability Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry.
Northrop Grumman Scholarship for Employee's Children
Northrop Grumman has established a scholarship program to assist employees’ children who plan to continue full-time education for the entire academic year in college. Renewable scholarships are offered each year for full-time undergraduate study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.
Young Composer's Project
The Young Composers Project (YCP) as presented by the Maryland Music Educators Association supports Maryland music educators in their efforts to incorporate the National Standards for Music Education and the Maryland State Music Standards in their classrooms and rehearsals.
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Educator Opportunities
Texas Music Educators Conference
"Experience unparalleled professional development, inspiring performances, and the best buys on anything the music industry has to offer. Over 280 clinics and 100 performances are presented, and more than 400 companies exhibit products and services."
- February 9-12, 2022
- San Antonio, Texas
- Registration
- Lori will be presenting her session "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I Providing Opportunities Reflecting All?" on Friday, February 11 at 4 pm in room CC 220.
Searching for meaningful professional development (PD) or a mentor?
Ask Lori to design and present PD sessions to mentor or motivate educators or students in your school system or organization. Or, request mentorship or a consultation for your classroom, studio, or program. Lori can also recommend other mentors who fit your specific needs.
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February Engagements
Speaker
The University of the Arts - Collegiate Music Education Course
- February 7, 2022 - virtual
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Session: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I Providing Opportunities Reflecting All?"
Author
National Association for Music Education
- February 8, 2022
- "Keeping It Real: Authentic Experiences in Education"
- Article co-authored with Andrew B. Spang
Presenter
Texas Music Educators Association Conference
- February 11, 2022
- San Antonio, Texas
- Session: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I Providing Opportunities Reflecting All?"
Speaker
Shamong Township School District - Educator Professional Development
- February 18, 2022
- Shamong Township, New Jersey
- Session 1: "Build It and They Will Come: Recruiting and Retaining Students"
- Session 2: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I Providing Opportunities Reflecting All?"
- Session 3: "Preparation for Assessment: Preparing for Performance & Constructing Selected Response Questions"
Adjudicator
Shenandoah Junction Region Middle & High School Jazz Band Festival
- February 26, 2022
- Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia
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Collaboration
Lori enjoys the following invitations:
- designing & presenting school-based/district-wide professional learning opportunities for ALL subject area educators and students (face-to-face & virtually)
- writing stories about the amazing things people & organizations are doing to better our world
- guest conducting & adjudicating bands of all levels (concert & jazz)
Contact Lori if you have unique ideas for future collaborations. Let’s be creative and work together to make key changes in education!
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Response
How has the newsletter impacted you?
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Sponsorship
Interested in serving as a sponsor?
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