5 Things I am Loving This Week– July 24, 2015

This post was originally published on July 24, 2015, so links and resources may not be current.

Today is Pioneer Day here in Utah. It is a big deal because we love our pioneer heritage! My Great-Great-Great-Grandmother lived in India, married a British soldier, and eventually made her way to the great American West.  I am intensely proud of her bravery and fortitude as she pressed on across the plains, despite the death of two of her children.  (She was traveling alone, as her husband had gone ahead to set up a life for their family.) This week I am trying to channel that fortitude.
Well let’s get right to it, my dears.  Here are five things that I am just loving and are helping me be a better violin teacher this week.


One person who I am just loving is Chalene Johnson. If you don’t know who I am talking about, check out her podcast, “The Chalene Show.” Her recent podcasts on goal-setting have really changed my way of thinking. I changed some of my studio goals to reflect this new mindset. I encourage you to listen too!
Here’s another: I am crazy about Kurt Sassmannshaus’ Violin Recital Albums.  I started teaching one of my sweet students “Soldier’s March” today, and she said, “I like this book, these songs are fun.” It is so important to get kids excited about the pieces they are learning, and these books are full of fun, cool pieces.


I am obsessed with Evernote right now. I use it for absolutely everything. In fact, I am typing this post in Evernote right now! I keep my journal in Evernote and I store pictures of Milo’s drawings in Evernote. If you want to know how I use Evernote in my violin teaching business, I wrote a post about it earlier this week.
If you aren’t a member of the Suzuki Teaching Ideas-Exchange Facebook Group, you should be! It is a supportive community of Suzuki teachers who are always happy to lend a hand, or offer an encouraging word. I am there multiple times a day learning from other teachers. I just love everybody there!
Last, I got to spend a day camping with my sweet family. Bruce and Milo stayed for a couple days, but I didn’t feel up to sleeping in a tent with our four-month-old, so Graham and I only stayed for the day.  You guys, it was so fun.  Milo was in seventh heaven. he just had a blast digging in the dirt and pulling up the weeds.  He was absolutely filthy, or as he would say, “I’m a dirt-burger.”
Thanks for letting me spend some time with you today, and I hope some of these resources will help you become the teacher you aspire to be.  Here is a little more inspiration for your day!


Be plucky, my friends! Be plucky!
Love,
Brecklyn