Orchestra in Middle School

Today I was an Orchestra teacher.  You have heard plenty about my previous forrays into Middle School and their less than stellar results.  Today was different.  These kids really enjoyed playing in the orchestra and were excited about the songs they have been learning. When a song didn't go well they insisted on doing it again so I wouldn't think that's how they really sounded.  It was actually pretty cute.  

I was a little nervous about this for a few reasons. For one, Middle School!  Secondly, I am not musical and don't know anything about tuning or notes or anything.  Mostly, I was afraid of listening to poorly played orchestra music that I don't much enjoy when it is professional.

I was surprised to hear how well they played their pieces and how much I really enjoyed hearing it.  They mostly sounded fantastic, and insisted on stopping and restarting when they didn't.

Too Popular?

For years, before teaching, I worked in after school programs and kindergarten enrichment.  I did this for 15 years and had the same
kids from K-6 along with their older or younger siblings.  You really get to know kids and their families this way. Now, when subbing, I go into a school and kids know me well.  By my first name.  Not only that, but they want hugs, high fives, special dances, sharing of inside jokes, etc.  If they see me, they run out of lines or jump out of their desks and come running into the hallway.  Or, come running down the hall yelling my name and JUMP into my arms.  While I love that they miss me and are so excited to see me.  I have noticed that some teachers aren't so happy about their little guys yelling my name as I walk by the classroom during their spelling test.

I always tell the kids to wait and come see me at lunch or recess, but it doesn't seem to work.

I have also noticed that some administrators, who weren't around during my many years, are giving somewhat concerned looks as well.

I don't want to get a negative reputation because of this.  I know that in the after school program world, if a leader is very popular, it is often because they let the kids do whatever they wanted and were often VERY unprofessional.  More like a kid than an adult.  I am NOT that way.  I always ran my program like a classroom with strict discipline expectations with a fair mix of organized fun and education.  I feel I connect with kids on a special level and that is what makes me popular, but that doesn't come across in this situation. 

Hmm, what to do?  I hope that my skills speak to my strength as a teacher because I really do try to treat each job like a day long job interview.

Showing Movies.......

Usually when I sub for High School it is pretty boring.  Mostly because the students are testing or silent reading or watching a movie.  I have to sit there for period after period watching the kids read, or take a test.  It's not why I got into teaching, but it pays the bills.  Today the classes are watching part of a movie, which drives me kind of nuts to see the same 45 minutes of a movie over and over, but it was my favorite movie, so I thought, "No Problem". 

The Shawshank Redemption is NOT APPROPRIATE for school!!!  I  didn't even think about it as I was reading the sub notes, but guess what, there is sex, swearing, F Bombs, talk of sex, more talk of sex, rape, beatings, and yeah MORE.  I always watched it more for the story, but all of the details STAND OUT when watching it with a room of teenagers.   The kids seemed to know they were going to watch it, so they must have discussed it ahead of time, maybe got permission slips? Although some of the kids seemed really uncomfortable.
 It's not like they were reading the book.  I haven't seen Stephen King on the approved high school reading list yet.  It seems like a different movie could have been picked.