Thank you, Enrique Iglesias

After watching a few episodes of Glee (which, by the way, I do not necessarily recommend watching), I was inspired to give music class a face-lift. This meant getting slightly creative. So with the help of a fellow teacher, we picked out some songs that the kids might like doing. There is a very popular song out here by Enrique Iglesias called "Cuando me enamoro". It's a very fun, bachata-style song with a relatively relaxed tempo. Well, these boys were practically model singing students on Tuesday (Gasp! I know). I gave a few of them solos and had some of them pair up to sing the verses and they were fantastic. They still need some work (they sing too softly because they are nervous) but it was a wonderful break from the pulling-of-teeth that I face half of the time. My only concern is finding more songs that are this much of a hit with them. I gave out no "Jugs" (detentions) and did not send anyone out of the room. A miracle indeed!

Next, I had the girls. A few students and I have been working on "Take a Bow" and it went over okay. Problem is, the girls have now been taking the attitudinal-wand within the past few weeks. A good amount of them were singing and did a great job but then of course there is always the bunch that just has to talk and chatter or worse, whine. "Ayyyy, Miss!" You would think they would be grateful to have a new song because we have been working on hymns for the past few weeks. One girl literally said to me at the end of class (whining):
"But I don't know it, miss."
"Well, that is part of music class. It's about learning new songs."
"You can't force me to learn it."
Ugh. And this is a student that is usually pretty good in class. To top it off, the girl who had been chatting on and off all class decided to pass candy right in front of me. This is what happened:
"I see your candy. " (Here I stick out my hand for it)
"Miss, it's an...eraser."
"Right. Hand it over."
"It's an eraser!"
"It's not an eraser, I saw it."
Pause.
(Hand still sticking out)
Finally she hands it over. I look at it.
"Do we lie at Mt. Carmel high School?"
No's are heard along with yes's (really, people?).
I'm holding the red square in my hand trying to figure out what I'm going to do with it. I am definitely not giving it back to her. I don't have a pocket. So I did what any right-minded-volunteer-teacher-from-America-that-isn't-always-as-mean-in-class-as-she-should-be would do, I took off the wrapper and ate it. I ate it right there in front of them. As I stuck it in my mouth, I hoped that it really was candy and not an eraser.
The girls burst out:
"Oh my gosh, Miss!!"
Laughter heard everywhere.
"Good for you, Miss."
"Ahhhhh!!"

If you are wondering, it was gum and it was rather tasty.
:)