You know how we teach our students to have a growth mindset, to recognize that just because they can't do something today, doesn't mean they'll never be able to do it? We teach our students that sometimes they have to step out of their comfort zone and do something they don't like — such as speaking in public, writing an essay, or higher-level math.
I'm sure you've read all the same articles and been through the same professional development I have that encourages teachers to model our lessons. If we want students to write an essay, then we should show them how we write an essay…
Yeah, I had a chance this past semester to put my money where my mouth is, to jump out of my own box.
I'd just like to add for the record that I have successfully avoided participating in a talent show since the fourth grade. Now, I have performed in black light puppet shows, but I'm not sure that it counts when the lights are off and no one can see you.
That's me right there in the front. (For copyright reasons, you'll have to play Hello by Adele on your computer as you watch this…)
This isn't all. I didn't realize it when the other teachers extended the invitation, but this was a lip sync battle with the seniors. This was just the first round. The seniors performed after us, but I was in the bathroom changing my costume for Round 2 and trying not to think about it. I decided to enact the Scarlet O'Hara method for handling social anxiety: I'll think about that tomorrow…
A few of our talented underclassmen peformed, and then it was time for the seniors to throw down their lip sync rendition of N'Sync's Bye Bye Bye:
Moments later, it was up to the teachers. This is where I had to just turn my brain off (That's really hard to do, which explains why I'm writing this post at 1:33 in the morning…) and go with the flow…
Not only is this the first time I've been in a talent show in literally decades, but WE WON THE BATTLE!
It's amazing what can happen when you leap out of your box in the name of entertainment, or education, or showing the people that you care about that they can do this, too.
With that thought in mind, everyone who graced that stage is a winner…