Today, a dear friend and colleague of mine was giving a fundraiser presentation for my classes and we had some extra time with my JV girls choir. I have really been struggling this year with sight-reading with this group. I have used every way I knew how to teach sight-reading to this girls since the beginning of the year and they are still struggling. I was discussing this with my friend during lunch and he offered to help me by leading them through sight-reading today during our extra time. I was given the opportunity to watch a veteran teacher work with my kids and I discovered something: I am giving 100% of my efforts to make them the best I can, but if they don't believe that they can be good, they will not be good. He worked them HARD. And I saw some awesome things happen. He said some inspiring things to them that also inspired me! So in reflection of this exercise today I wrote this letter to my students. My hope is that it inspires them and that it could also inspire you today.
To my students:
You are wonderful, smart young men and women. You have amazing potential to achieve your goals and dreams. First and foremost, I want you to know that I care deeply for you and love you. I am here to help guide you, laugh with you, cry with you, and mold you into the best singers I can. But there is a catch: I can only do so much. You are smart. You can do this. But in order to do this YOU need to believe in yourself. YOU need to believe in your TEAM. Every person in your class is relevant and matters to the success of your team. Your voice matters. If you believe that you are just OK, you will only be just OK. It takes everyone to make us good. It takes everyone giving 100% to be successful. Your attitude and energy is what will make you the best. Give 100%. I believe that you can do this. I believe that I teach the best kids in the world. I want you to believe it too. I WILL work you hard. I WILL be honest with you and I WILL be tough on you. Because you are worth my effort. Work your hardest so that you can the GIFT of music to everyone who hears you. You give me the greatest gift every day: the gift of teaching you. I want you to be able to share the gift of your talents with everyone. To BE the best you have to have the best ATTITUDE also. YOU are loved. YOU are wanted. YOU are capable of conquering whatever you put your mind to.
Love,
Mrs. Hamil
