Rest Curiosity

I had a second-grade student the other day who had a couple of major breakthroughs.

1) She remembered to raise her hand AND wait to be called on! I was overjoyed. 

2) We'd just been discussing quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, and half notes, and making rhythms out of them. She asked me if there was such thing as a half rest and an eighth rest. I, beaming with pride because of the connection she made all on her own, replied, "You bet! We just haven't learned them yet." 

I live for the little a-ha moments like that. It reassures me that what I teach these previous children is making them think and helping them explore. Moments like this prove to me that I'm doing my job.