It’s the Small Things

Author: Alexandra Partridge

One teaching moment that has really stayed with me throughout my time in ArtistCorps happened at Moore Elementary, working with my Arts Integration team. We were cleaning up after a painting project with marbles intended to show another perspective on forces of motion (like push and pull). After we were through, we all lined up with paint covered fingers and one by one the 1st graders lined up to wash their hands. I stood by the sink to help this process along so we could move quickly to our next activity. About 5 students back from the front of the line, two girls linked up arms and then proceeded to sing our attention-grabbing jingle we use to direct the kids while sitting in our activity circles. This really struck me, because the girls were using the correct directional pitches, all on their own!! And they were smiling and joyful while doing it. Once they got closer to me in the line, they tugged on my sweater to show off proudly their song and dance, "Yes(do) we(re) will(mi) stand(fa) up(sol)", "Yes(sol) we(fa) will(mi) sit(re) down(do)", bending their knees up and down with the song. It showed a level of retention I was not anticipating, and it showed that even the smallest things we do in the classroom are making a subconscious and conscious impact on the kids. They hold onto and remember what we are showing and asking of them on a regular basis. Their decision to share the song with me felt important as well, because they were proud of learning something new, remembering, and doing it well.