What's in a Name?

Naming my children wasn't too bad. The first one, my wife named so that was easy: Preston Avery. The second was a little more challenging because up until the baby was delivered we told it was girl. Low and behold as the little tyke was passed to me the doctor said. Congratulations dad, it's a boy! So after getting over the shock and deliberating for 5 days, we arrived at Asher Ellington. At least I got to contribute the middle name this time. But now I find my self at the name game again. NO NO! There are no more baby Brooks' waiting in the wings. I have to come up with a name for my world drumming ensemble. Prior to my move to this new school. I had a very successful drumming ensemble we called Nankama. It means "born to do this." The kids really identified with the name and it's meaning. As a group we performed all over the city at local and major events. I had the pleasure of play at Maya Angelou's 80th birthday celebration. But all that is in the past and now I am at a new school and I'm trying determine a name for this group. It's hard because we currently lack the cohesion of my former group so I find it difficult to come up with something that unifies us in spirit. Since we are at The Main Street Academy, my wife suggested Main Street Beats but we both decided that didn't sound distinguished enough. I am playing with the idea of MSADE (pronounced mmm-sah-deh) which would stand for Main Street Academy Drumming Ensemble. I know that names are important, so I want to make good choice and I want it to mean something. I have learned that names say a lot about who are whether we want them to or not.

Week 4- Response to Justin' s Blog

My Response:

This is the chapter that spoke most to me as well. Life has certainly thrown me some curve balls this year so I appreciate the call to let go of the victim mentality. However, I did struggle with the other half of that idea: absolving those who wrong you from any guilt. This is not just about forgiveness but owning the entire situation as your own. I'm definitely going to have to re-read this chapter a few times to really understand how and why this is done.

What Justin said:

Being the Board spoke directly to me this week. I did a lot of underlining in this chapter. There is always something to say for the unexpected result. That, after all is what grace is isn’t it? It is the unexpected forgiveness or the unwarranted gift or the second chance. I probably could be a story in Zander’s book. I feel that this entire school year has locked me into a position of being the “victim” in many situations. Of course, I look at it this way, when I should just say, how did these things get on the board that I am? Tracing things back, I can very much see how they became to be. Mostly due to actions I took. Now it is what to do with these circumstances. Every since reading this book, I have calmly said, it is the way things are. I often get misguided in thinking that somehow stressing and mulling over something that has already occurred will somehow give me a satisfaction of some kind. Now every second that passes could be used to look at what opportunities lie ahead, and focus energy on those. I have to keep reminding myself that I am still quite young, and that the world is mine. How interesting it is that I so often do not feel this way, that I am somehow trapped in my circumstances. This may sound a bit stifling, but of all the months of this program at Full Sail, nothing else has spoken to me the most to force me to look at things differently. Being the board.Here’s to opportunity!

Week 4- The Art of Possibilty (9-12)

Though the chapter entitled " Being the Board" challenged me the most, I feel I need to discuss the "Creating Frameworks for Possibility" chapter. This is the heart ans sole of the book. It attempts to explain how Art of Possibility is..well.. possible. Zander says to put this into practice we must:

1. 1. Create a new distinction that replaces our current framework


2. 2. Enter the territory or embody the new framework


3. 3.Follow what's on track or off track

The rules sound simple until they are further explained in an example where a teacher shaves her head bald as an act of solidarity and empathy for a student. This is not simply just thinking positively. Zander is calling people to live boldly and without thought to social mores. One would be building their own context for living. Part me wants to embrace this but the other part fears this is dangerously close to post-modern thought where there are no absolutes. I find that this has been my experience with the book overall. There are parts that I absolutely want to ascribe to but then there are parts that struggle to see the truth in. I can say however, that it has truly challenged my thinking which I think is the goal of any book worth reading.

Week 4: Wimba

I was not able to attend the week 4 Wimba session so I met with some classmates and critical friends to receive feedback. I found it very helpful. There main piece of advice was to point more to my lit review and AR in my presentation. I did not have to necessarily change the pages to my presentation but definitely share my research to help support my presentation. Also, one classmate mentioned that my presentation talked about social networking and my AR was about specifically using facebook. So with that, I decided to change my presentation to focus on facebook. Another student said that I should point out and discuss different social networks if I wasn't going to change my focus to facebook. Lastly, what was forgotten and of course pointed out was having 300 words "per page" in my note sections. That was something that was overlooked and I thought that it was 300 words total. I'm glad this was brought to my attention.

Week 4 Publish/Leadership Project

When deciding where to present, two conferences came to mind. The Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) and the national conference sponsored by the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME). I chose the first conference primarily due to geography but also because of it's focus. What better place to present than to peers across my state who want to better use technology in the classroom. GaETC is open to all presenters who want to promote technology in the classroom therefore you can reach a full spectrum of educators. I chose the TI:ME conference because I felt I would have an audience who specifically understands the unique challenges faced by music educators. There is such a need for better means of communication between the teachers of the arts and parents. Because we are not thought of as a "core subject" we often are low on the priority list of parents wanting to be involved. This is unfortunate however, because it is often in my class where students really get to shine when they would elsewhere.

Publish/Leadership Project:files.me.com/mrbrooks625/g4tpj3

Think Out Loud #1: http://mrbrooks625.blogspot.com/2011/03/think-out-loud-1.html

Think Out Loud #2: http://mrbrooks625.blogspot.com/2011/03/think-out-loud-2.html

Think Out Loud #2

There's that feeling that you can see the finishline but getting there is taking everything you've got. I think that's where I am with this presentation. Who knew that coming up with 300 words per slide on a topic that I have developed over the last year would be tough; but it is! I find myself not wanting to sound redundant but not really knowing what to say. We'll see how this goes...

Week 3- Free Choice: It's About TI:ME!

Studying at Full Sail has really opened my eyes to whole new world of technology that I can actually use in the classroom. Riddle me this. How is it that I have taught in the classroom now for 7 years and am just now really investigating the organization TI:ME. TI:ME is the Technology Institute for Music Education. Eureka! There is actually an organization out there that help me specifically better integrate technology into the music classroom. Right in the mission statement TI:ME says they set out to "assist music educators in applying technology to improve teaching and learning in music." That's exactly what I want. I am really "jazzed" (pun intended) about taking my music class to the next level. I fully intended on going to the National Conference next year and in the interim, staying abreast of any updates that they put out. I suggest that any music educator at least visit the website to see the host of information that the organization brings to the music classroom. http://www.ti-me.org/