Miss D's Handling It

Barb The Art Teacher’s 2nd grade daughter, Dae, was given a music project to complete for class. Her task? Design and create a working musical instrument. The examples sent home with the assignment? None that a 2nd grade child could do on her own.

B and I brainstormed lots of fun instruments that Dae could make. But Dae was set on one idea: a xylophone. Even though B had to explain to Dae that a xylophone made from sticks would not work, Dae was not deterred. In fact, she was never even the slightest bit concerned about the project because Dae wholeheartedly believed one thing: Her project was going to be great because Miss D was handling it.

Did Miss D know that Miss D was handling Dae’s project? No. But Dae knew it. So after a very busy day at work today—2 duties, 6 classes, no planning, 1 rehearsal, and 1 meeting—Miss D went to Dae’s house to handle the project.

If you look at the picture attached to this note, then you’ll see the instrument that we created: a homemade boomwhacker xylophone. We started with golf tubes and a paper box, used all of the tools that you see on the table, and ended with this. And sure enough, it works.

During our meeting this afternoon, my staff was asked to discuss ways in which we communicate and collaborate with team members. Tonight, as B used her weaving skills to weave together the boomwhackers that I had precisely measured and cut, I said, “This is how we collaborate, B!” She laughed, yet we both know it is true. I see things she doesn’t. She sees things my mind can’t comprehend. Then we work together to make things happen.

Dae helped me measure and mark the golf tubes for cutting and then held the tubes while I sawed them off. She told me that they made different pitches depending on how big or small they were and then she and her brother happily played the tubes as boomwhackers were originally meant to be played and loudly declared, “I’m making music!”

And making music she was…good grade or not…Miss D handled it…and thanked God for friendship, teamwork, and collaboration along the way.